Zhoucun Grand Dyehouse“Number One Village Under Heaven”

Zhoucun Grand Dyehouse is located in the Zhoucun Ancient Commercial City (also known as Zhoucun Ancient Street) in Zhoucun District, Zibo City, Shandong Province. Situated at No. 90 Yinzi City Street, it is one of the most iconic attractions in the ancient town. The site was originally the old premises of Donglaisheng Silk and Cloth Shop, founded during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, and has a history of nearly 200 years.

It served as the real-life prototype and inspiration for the famous Chinese TV drama Grand Dyehouse (the “Tonghe Dyehouse” in the series was modeled after this place). The courtyard also houses a memorial hall dedicated to Chen Jie, the screenwriter of the drama.

History and Cultural Significance

Zhoucun has long been renowned as the “Silk Town” and “Dry Port” since the Ming and Qing dynasties, with a highly developed dyeing and weaving industry. By the late Qing period, the area boasted over 40 starching workshops and more than 70 dyeing houses, forming a complete industrial chain. The Grand Dyehouse followed the classic “front shop, back factory” model—purchasing raw materials, dyeing, and selling directly. At its peak, it expanded branches to Jinan, Tianjin, Beijing, and other cities.

The most striking visual feature is the towering drying racks in the front and back courtyards, covered with colorful silk and cloth fluttering in the wind like vibrant sails—an iconic, three-dimensional, and dynamic scene unique to this dyehouse.

Today, it functions as a silk culture exhibition and experience venue, displaying ancient textile machinery, the complete traditional dyeing process, and life-size sculptures recreating scenes of dyehouse workers. Visitors can also watch folk performances such as “Colorful Magic Tricks” and “Chen Liuzi Starting Work” to gain insight into age-old printing and dyeing techniques.

Highlights for Visitors

• Well-preserved two-courtyard Qing-style architecture
• Towering racks filled with a sea of multicolored fabrics
• Chen Jie Memorial Hall (background on Grand Dyehouse and Dry Port)
• Live demonstration of traditional dyeing techniques
• Interactive silk culture experiences

The Grand Dyehouse is not only a microcosm of Zhoucun’s title as the “Number One Village Under Heaven” in terms of commerce, but also a vivid witness to the development of China’s modern national industry and commerce. Stepping inside feels like traveling back to an era filled with the sounds of looms and bustling merchants.