[2025 Huai'an Attraction] Travel Guide for Shen Kun Zhuang Yuan Fu (Updated Jul)

📍 Address No. 39, Zhuxiang Street, Hexia Ancient Town, Huai'an District, Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province. 🚌 Transportation - By car: Navigate to "Wu Cheng'en's Former Residence Parking Lot" (about a 5-minute walk to Zhuangyuan Mansion). - Public transport: Take a bus to Hexia Ancient Town Station, then walk through the ancient town's stone-paved road to reach the destination; or take a taxi directly from the city center (about 15 yuan). 🏯 Introduction Shen Kun was the top scholar (Zhuangyuan) in Huai'an during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty and a hero who fought against Japanese pirates! He sold his family property to form the "Zhuangyuan Army" to repel the pirates but was framed and died unjustly in prison, leading a tragic yet legendary life. The Zhuangyuan Mansion consists of an old residence and a garden, covering 13,000 square meters and divided into six areas: 1. Zhuangyuan Tower: Displays imperial examination culture, with the plaque "Jiao Teng Bi Zhao" symbolizing the rise of literary fortune. 2. Martial Arts Area: Recreates scenes of anti-pirate training, featuring impressive arrow formations and shield mazes. 3. Old Residence Area: Traditional Jiangnan-style houses with blue bricks and black tiles, featuring the exquisitely carved "Bamboo Companion Study." 4. Garden Area: A winding Suzhou-style garden, said to be the inspiration for the heavenly palace scenes in "Journey to the West"! Wu Cheng'en, Shen Kun's classmate, often borrowed the scenery for his writing. 🎫 Travel Tips - Recommended route: Zhuangyuan Tower → Old Residence Area → Martial Arts Area → Study Area → Garden Area → Memorial Area (about 2-3 hours). - Must-visit spots: - 🌟 The "Kui" character arch at Zhuangyuan Tower: Soak in the scholarly aura. - ⚔️ Firearms exhibition in the Martial Arts Area: Touch models of anti-pirate weapons, with interactive projections being super fun. - 🌿 Yue Ru Pavilion in the Garden Area: Sip "Zhuangyuan Red" tea and taste Jidi porridge (about 20 yuan per person). - 📜 Filial Piety Hall: Listen to the story of Shen Kun's "mourning and anti-pirate" deeds, with the touching plaque "Filial and Friendly Family." - Night tour bonus: Open during summer vacations and holidays! Light projections recreate Ming Dynasty scenes, requiring a separate ticket. 💡 Suggestions - Tickets: 40 yuan for adults, half-price for students/seniors aged 60-70, free for those over 70. - Hours: 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM (last entry at 5:00 PM). Weekends are crowded, so arriving early is recommended. - Tips: - ✅ Hire a guide (4 sessions daily) or scan QR codes for audio tours to avoid missing historical details. - 📸 Photo spots: Garden area's carved windows, Zhuangyuan Tower's plaque, and the bamboo wall at Bamboo Companion Study. - 🚫 No pets allowed. Wear comfortable shoes for the stone-paved paths. 🍜 Food Recommendations - Inside Zhuangyuan Mansion: "Zhuangyuan Cake" (glutinous rice with red bean filling, 5 yuan/piece) at Yue Ru Pavilion. - Hexia Ancient Town: - Lao Huai'an·Huai'an Cuisine (Chuxiangge Branch): Try soft-braised eel and Pingqiao tofu, about 80 yuan per person. - Wenlou Soup Dumplings: Famous for their crab roe soup dumplings, with thin skins and rich broth. 🛏️ Accommodation Recommendations - Scholar's Mansion·Huai Cui Lou: Located in Bailu Lake Villa, featuring classical courtyard style, a 15-minute walk to Zhuangyuan Mansion, starting at 500 yuan/night. - Huai'an New Century Grand Hotel: 3 km from the attraction, 5-star amenities with breakfast included, starting at 600 yuan/night. 🚶 Nearby Attractions 1. Wu Cheng'en's Former Residence: Just 192 meters away! Visit the "Sheyang Yi" study, with a plaque originally inscribed by Shen Kun (original lost). 2. Hexia Ancient Town Core Area: Stone-paved streets and century-old pharmacies, free to explore and perfect for vintage photos. 3. Xiaohu Scenic Area: Climb the 42.7-meter Zhuangyuan Pavilion for a lake view, built in memory of Shen Kun's unjust death. 4. Huai'an Government Office: The largest Ming-Qing government office in China, featuring shocking torture exhibits, 2 km away. 💎 Four-visit summary: Arrive at 9 AM to avoid crowds → Listen to guides for deep insights into anti-pirate stories → Relax with tea in the garden → Combine with Wu Cheng'en's Former Residence and Hexia Ancient Town for a day of Huai'an's cultural essence!

The ancient town of He Xia is a shining cultural landmark of Huai'an. I took an impromptu night visit, and at first, it felt average. A narrow stone street runs through it, with specialty shops and costume shops lining the street one after another. It seemed a bit boring in the dusk, until I reached the end of the road and turned the corner to Zhuang Yuan Li... The first time I saw the wood-carved gatehouse of the Wen Kui Building, I was shocked. The heaviness and grandeur presented by the large woodwork were vastly different from the narrow alleys I had just passed through. The authentic ancient architecture elevated the town by several levels. However, I soon realized that both the Huizhou-style courtyard "Wen Kui Building" and the Jiangxi-style official building "Jin Shi Di" were brought in from elsewhere. Nevertheless, He Xia has been a prosperous place for culture and talent since ancient times. The huge investment in relocating ancient houses, regardless of their origin, is a protection of tradition and a continuation of the emphasis on culture and education. This magnificent old building complex has taken on the backbone of the ancient town, crushing all the clichéd commercial forms. You may want to sit quietly in the hall for a while to feel the powerful aura of the 300-year-old house; stand under the octagonal patio and look up at the stars, and understand the convergence of the four waters and the symbiosis of heaven and earth... Not far from here, there is also the "Shen Kun Zhuang Yuan Mansion", which is a genuine local original building. Unfortunately, it was closed at night, leaving only the lights and shadows of the Zhuang Yuan Building's celebratory sculptures at the entrance of Zhuxia West Street becoming long... The most down-to-earth building in the ancient town is the "Wu Jutong Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum", which introduces the world-saving achievements and inheritance of the Shanyang School of Febrile Disease. Green bricks and brown tiles, flowers and trees, winding paths lead to secluded places. I like a couplet in the museum: Chrysanthemum, safflower, honeysuckle bloom in China, clove, fennel, and Guangmuxiang fragrance spread throughout China. p.s. 1. The ancient architectural complex of Zhuang Yuan Li is open until 9pm, which is very friendly to late-arriving tourists. The ticket price is 30, which is worth it for such a beautiful house with exquisite three-dimensional carvings. The furniture and furnishings are all open, allowing you to better integrate and experience it. 2. "Wen Lou" is famous for its crab roe soup dumplings, fried eggs and other dishes. Unexpectedly, there is a plaque with "Wu Lou" hanging opposite it. I wonder what the story is? 3. Nearby attractions also include Wu Cheng'en's Former Residence, Xiao Lake, Wensi Temple, Tianxing Temple, and Liang Hongyu Temple.

Shen Kun's mansion is located in the core area of ​​Hexia Ancient Town, close to the ancient Grand Canal. [BaseballCap]Entering the mansion, it is composed of the old house and garden of the champion during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty. There are six parts: the champion building, the old house area, the martial arts area, the school area, the garden area and the memorial area. This is an important cultural landscape of Hexia Ancient Town, because Shen Kun is Huai'an's [Sun] "first champion" [!] [Pushpin]It is understood that Shen Kun, with the name Bosheng and the nickname Shizhou, was born in a wealthy family in Zhuxiang, Hexia Town, Huai'an Prefecture in the second year of Zhengde in the Ming Dynasty (1507). In the 20th year of Jiajing (1541), he passed the imperial examination and became the first champion in Huai'an. [Pushpin] In 1541, he was appointed as the editor of the Hanlin Academy. In 1554, he was appointed as the Right Yude of the Zhanshi Mansion. In 1556, when his mother was in mourning, Japanese pirates invaded Huai County. He recruited more than a thousand local soldiers and repelled the pirates. People at that time called him [Sun] "the champion soldier". Because of his merits, Shen Kun was appointed as the chief priest of the Imperial Academy, but he was framed and imprisoned before he took office. In 1560, Shen Kun died unjustly in prison at the age of 54. Alas [!] [○] Ticket price: 40 yuan. There are discounts on the Internet. Parking: There is a parking lot in the scenic area. [○] Recommended index: [Star][Star][Star]

Only to regret and find out, this ancient town of more than 2500 years is really beautiful! I've been to many places and visited many ancient towns, but Huaian can be remembered for its elegance. Because the old buildings here are very distinctive, bluestone alley, carved civilian houses, flowers and plants full of doors, there are shadows of the bustling streets of ancient Huaian, and also the fireworks of old-fashioned folk snacks. There are many celebrities coming out of Hexia ancient town, including the anti-Japanese hero Shen Kun, the 'drum-beating to retreat gold' Liang Hongyu, and the residence of Wu Cheng'en, the author of 'Journey to the West', is not far from Hexia ancient town. The old Huaian food 'Wenlou', 'Century Sunshine', 'Yuejia Tea San', 'Qingong Meat Round' and other shops are also here. There will also be various festival activities here during the holidays. There are lotus lantern activities near Liang Hongyu Temple, and the door of Shen Kun's champion mansion is the champion's red spot. There are also 'patrolling soldiers' and tourists taking photos together. It feels that there are fewer tourists in other scenic spots in Huaian on holidays, and it is really the most lively here.