The Context. Originally built during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty, Ganxi Mansion, commonly known as “Ninety-nine Rooms and A Half”, is the largest and most completed old house compound existing in large Chinese cities. Usually, Xi Nan Li district refers to an area to the south side of Ganxi Mansion, which is a representative area of Nanjing Old City South, with the boundaries of Zhongshan Road on the east, Dingxin Road on the west, Shengzhou Road on the south, and Nima Lane on the north. During the Ming dynasty, this district might be one of the most prosperous areas in China. Starting from the archway of “South Street”, continuing to the shops on “North Street”, it was filled up with crowds and offering vast arrays of goods. However, from the end of the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, wars caused the gradual decline of these blocks, and instead of business, the function began to change into residential. Since 1949, the Xi Nan Li area still runs as a residential area. With the continuous improvement of Nanjing’s urban development and city functions, overall urban renewal work starts. While carrying Ganxi Mansion, Pingshi Street, Daban Lane, and Rongzhuang Street’s historic and cultural resources, and relying on the south market culture of the old city of Nanjing, Xi Nan Li district gradually develops into a very representative historical and cultural leisure district, including opera performance, intangible cultural heritage display, time-honored brands, master studios, and other formats, reproducing the scene of Southern Capital’s commercial prosperity, illustrated by Ming Dynasty artist Qiu Ying.
