Nantong adds six cultural sites under provincial protection

Jiangsu provincial government recently announced the ninth batch of provincial cultural relic protection sites, including six in Nantong.

As a city recognized for its historical and cultural importance, Nantong features a wealth of heritage and relics. Currently, it has 34 sites protected at the provincial level and 11 at the national level. These cultural landmarks reflect the city's evolution and hold deep historical and cultural value.

Here are three of the six newly-designated provincial cultural relic protection sites in the city.

Former site of the Women Workers' Training Institute. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Founded in 1914, the former site of the Women Workers' Training Institute was a specialized school dedicated to training embroidery artisans. The original complex included three interconnected sections, with the remaining two-story brick and wooden structure located at the southernmost point. Designed by the renowned modern Chinese architect Sun Zhixia, the building exemplifies a fusion of Chinese and Western architectural elements. Today, the site functions as the Nantong Shen Embroidery Museum and an official base for preserving national intangible cultural heritage.

Local entrepreneur Shi Chongwen (1869-1926) founded the Shi He Tai company by the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), gaining some local prominence. The business compound was built in 1912 and includes a front shop, back residence, and three courtyards. Covering about 1,550 square meters with 825.80 sq m of building space, it features architecture with raised-beam and through-joist frameworks, along with detailed brick, wood, and stone carvings that display Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) architectural influences.

Yisheng Wine Cellar Pools. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The Yisheng Wine Cellar Pools are situated within Yisheng Winery in Nantong's Haimen district. Constructed in 1905, the 42 pools are organized in six rows and covered by a brewing workshop from the 1970s. The Yisheng Wine Cellar Pools have maintained their original site, appearance, and craftsmanship since they were built, and remain in use today, offering significant historical and scientific value.