In 1869, Jiangxi merchants built a narrow, deep sanctuary on the north bank of the Han River in Fancheng. Measuring 9.6 meters wide and stretching 83.2 meters deep, the Xiaojiangxi Guild Hall served as a secure warehouse, office, and lodging. This seven-courtyard complex stands as a preserved stop along the Great Tea Road, where southern boats met northern horses.

The architecture reflects the merchants' daily realities and hopes. Towering fireproof walls rise 8.9 meters to shield the compound from neighboring fires. Inside, massive wooden pillars measuring 40 centimeters in diameter support the two-story lofts of the first five courtyards, where traders slept. In the third courtyard, a stone window carved with gold ingots and ancient coins remains cool to the touch, designed to keep out river dampness while symbolizing wealth.

In July 2023, the guild hall became the Xiangyang Traditional Lacquerware Museum. The space now preserves the Li’s Lacquerware Decoration Technique, a regional craft dating back to the Qing Dynasty. Visitors can smell the sharp, organic scent of raw lacquer mixed with rapeseed oil. Hand-polished lacquerware, rubbed with oil until it glows with a deep luster, sits displayed beneath the historic rafters. The building continues its long history of trade and craft, connecting the physical remnants of Qing commerce with the living touch of modern artisans.