Jinzhong merchants' homes show past wealth

Jinzhong is the hometown of Shanxi merchants, a business group active during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties who pioneered the Tea Road which became an international trade route linking South China to Russia and other countries in Europe.

There were five major families of Shanxi merchants in Jinzhong responsible for building the initial trade route. Their homes are testament to the wealth and power the families built up over the centuries.

The Qiao Family Compound in Qixian county, Jinzhong. The Qiao Family was a family of Shanxi merchants active in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). [Photo/shanxichina.gov.cn]

Carvings on a building of the Qiao Family Compound in Qixian county. The residential compound has a floor area of 4,175 square meters and was built in 1756. The compound has 313 rooms and is in the shape of two Chinese characters which mean happiness. [Photo/shanxichina.gov.cn]