It is the hometown of Anhui merchants and is one of the villages scattered at the southern foot of Mount Huangshan that still retain traditional Ming and Qing dynasty houses. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, many merchants from Anhui made huge fortunes in trades such as salt, tea, ink, and paper. They brought their wealth back to their hometowns and built magnificent mansions. The result was beautiful rows of houses with white walls and black tiled roofs, reminiscent of the world of Chinese paintings. These have remained to this day, left behind by the modernization of the city. The largest building in Hongcun is called "Chengzhitang" and is the residence of the Wang family. Hongcun itself is the village of the Wang family, and "Chengzhitang" was completed in 1855 during the Qing Dynasty. It is said that the owner of the building at that time went to Yangzhou to earn money and became a successful salt merchant. There are 138 old houses remaining in the village, most of which date back to the Qing Dynasty.