This summer, 22 students from Boston’s Northeastern University came to Huangcun Village, in Xiuning County of Anhui Province, to experience Chinese rural life and understand the local culture. Huangcun boasts picturesque scenery and friendly villagers. It is located deep in the mountains, and its remoteness led to a fair amount of anonymity. But a certain building helped shine an international spotlight on this sleepy village. That building is Yinyu Hall.

Yinyu Hall enjoys a history of more than 300 years. Constructed by a businessman surnamed Huang during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it covers 4,500 square feet, and has 16 bedrooms. Eight generations of the Huang Family have lived there. But during the 1980s, the family moved out, and hall’s history as a residential home ended. According to strict criteria for determining cultural value back then, the hall did not qualify to be classified as a historic relic. The ancient structure, which was no longer suitable for habitation, could therefore expect little protection, and was soon abandoned to the elements.

Ancient Huizhou structures were all made of wood and suffered from the effects of mildew during rainy seasons. Those that were abandoned soon ran the risk of collapse. But Yinyu Hall’s rescue came unexpectedly.

 The US-based Peabody Essex Museum decided to buy the structure and ship it to America for exhibition. The museum has since invested US$125 million into renovation. The hall was dismantled into over 700 wood pieces, 8,500 bricks, and 500 stone pieces, which were carefully placed in 40 sealed containers to be transported across the Pacific. The whole transportation process took nearly six years.

On June 21, 2003, Boston held an event to celebrate the completion of Yinyu Hall’s relocation. Many distinguished guests attended, including the Massachusetts governor, the mayor of Salem, curators from more than 10 American museums, and officials and foreign diplomats from more than 10 countries including China, UK, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, and Japan. Others sent congratulatory telegrams. Yinyu Hall received around 10,000 visitors on the opening day alone. Due to capacity restrictions, there were still long queues waiting outside at 5 p.m. when the hall was about to close. Jenna Susan was amongst the waiting crowd.