If Jubao Street and Qinglong Lane in the south of the city are the most prosperous economic and trade circles in ancient Quanzhou, then West Street focuses on Quanzhou, a city of treasure, where the treasures are the largest and the crowds gathered are the most dazzling. West Street was the political, economic, cultural and religious center of Quanzhou in the early Tang and Song Dynasties. With extremely rich historical and cultural relics, it is the most authentic and complete historical block of Quanzhou ancient city.
In West Street buildings, in addition to ancient buildings and modern arcades, there are many famous mansions shining in the depths of alleys. According to statistics, there are twenty or thirty known former residences of historical celebrities in West Street. From Ouyang Zhan in Tang Dynasty, almost every dynasty had great men attached to West Street.
For example, Zeng Conglong, the prime minister of the Southern Song Dynasty, lived in Zengjing Lane. Ouyang Zhan, the first person in Quanzhou Dengkejia, is located in the first lane; Zheng Zheng, the prime minister of the Northern Song Dynasty, served as prime minister for three consecutive times, and Sanchao Lane was named after him. The talents in West Street, especially in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, reached their peak. For example, Li Tingji, the prime minister of the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, was in Gan Tang Lane; The former residence of Cai Qing, a famous neo-Confucian, is located in Xiaogan Lane. Wen Kui Lane is the former residence of Yang Tingxiang, a young official of Wanli Taibu Temple in Ming Dynasty, and Chen Minghua, deputy envoy of Guangdong and Guangxi for promoting learning.
In the past, there was also a characteristic building in the old street: the archway in feudal society that praised meritorious service, discipline, virtue and loyalty and filial piety. According to historical records, in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, there were memorial archways on the straight street from Xijietou to Wuta Lane, such as Zaoshi Square, Tuishifang, Huikui Square, Jinshifang, Father and Son Li Di, Jieyuan Square, Jinshifang and Zhuangyuan Square.
Liaozhai, No.35 Wuta Lane, with two floors and five bays, is well preserved. There are cloisters on both sides of the tree, and the wooden windows are circular in structure, which is quite distinctive; No.58, Huitong Lane, Yanzhai, with three floors and three bays, a brick wall map on the eaves, a courtyard with three bays, a brick-and-mortar vestibule building, and a leaky window on each side of the brick wall, which is well preserved.