Ningxiang Guild Hall in Jinggang, Changsha, Hunan

The Ningxiang Guild Hall is a well-preserved Qing Dynasty guild hall building in Jinggang Ancient Town, also known as Bayuan Hall or Bayin Hall. Constructed in 1861 (the 11th year of Xianfeng reign) by Ningxiang natives working in Jinggang during the late Qing period, it features granite square pillars with relief-carved pedestals in its main hall and a completely preserved ancient wooden opera stage at its center. Historical couplets like "Tracing the Xiang River's southward flow" remain visible. As a guild hall, it regularly hosts intangible cultural heritage performances to recreate traditional art scenes, now serving as a core attraction showcasing Hunan's merchant culture and water transport history. The main structure, Bayuan Hall, covers 480 square meters with floral and auspicious animal reliefs carved on all sides of its granite pillar bases, and scroll-patterned wood carvings adorning its eaves beams. The ancient opera stage employs a traditional column-and-tie wooden framework, with pillars inscribed with couplets like "Singing of the Great River flowing east" and backstage preserving old photos of Qing Dynasty folk performers. The architectural complex integrates with Jinggang Ancient Town's spatial layout of "eight streets, four alleys, and seven docks," while its stilted buildings reflect characteristics of Jiangnan water towns. It's a key cultural relic protection unit of Changsha City.