Chen Wanqi Old House Introduction
Xizhi Old Street primarily spans Zhongzheng Road and Jiadong Road, winding its way around the train station. Since the Qing Dynasty, this area has been the most bustling part of Xizhi. Although times have changed, stepping into the old street feels like detaching from the chaos of the outside world, allowing the mottled red bricks and traces of moss to tell us tales of the past. Located beside the Xizhi interchange is an old Baroque-style building. This two-story wooden structure was built in 1926 and has a history of over 90 years. The builder, Chen Wanqi, started his business in traditional Chinese medicine and was one of Xizhi's wealthy merchants at the time. The construction took many years to complete, with materials sourced from mainland China and designed and built by a master from Quanzhou. It features typical Baroque mixed with postmodern architecture, characterized by a gable wall that is pointed at the top, known as a "gable wall," which is a common feature in postmodernism. This building is one of the few well-preserved old structures in Xizhi Old Street. The vintage charm of the old building juxtaposed with the nearby high-rise buildings showcases a blend of different eras.
