Chinese Assembly Hall in Hoi An Old Town, Traces of Chinese Culture
There are several Chinese assembly halls in Hoi An Old Town, the most representative of which are the Guang Zu Assembly Hall (Cantonese Assembly Hall) and the Fu Zu Assembly Hall (Hui An Assembly Hall). These assembly halls are located on Tran Phu Street and other major roads nearby, and are within easy walking distance from the center of the Old Town, so they are not difficult to find. In particular, the Fu Zu Assembly Hall is located at No. 46 Tran Phu Street, making it one of the main attractions you will naturally encounter while walking around the Old Town.
The Chinese assembly halls in Hoi An were built by Chinese merchants from China around the 17th and 18th centuries to serve as community centers. These assembly halls were not just places for gatherings, but also played an important role in continuing local beliefs and traditions. For example, the Fu Zu Assembly Hall was built by merchants from Fujian Province, and they worshipped the sea goddess Mazu to pray for the safety and prosperity of trade. Also, each hall is famous for its gorgeous Chinese-style architecture and elaborate decorations, and is a symbolic building that shows the economic and cultural prosperity of the Chinese community at the time.
The Fujo Hall that I visited was truly an impressive place. From the entrance, the gorgeous dragon carvings and intricately decorated patterns caught my eye. When I went inside, there was a large altar to the goddess Mazu, and I felt a quiet atmosphere with the smell of incense. The garden inside the hall was also very pretty, decorated with a pond and flowers, making it a great place to take pictures. Above all, this place is not only beautiful as a building, but also a place where you can get a glimpse into the lives and culture of the Chinese at the time, so it was more meaningful.
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