A visit to the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall in Guangzhou

After visiting the Museum of the Nanyue King Mausoleum, we took the subway to the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall. The gate of the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall is inscribed with the words "Chen Clan Academy". Construction of the hall began in the 14th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty (1888) and was completed in 1893. It is an ancestral hall built with funds donated by the clans of various cities in Guangdong Province in the late Qing Dynasty. The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall is known as the "Pearl of Lingnan Architecture" and the "Masterpiece of Lingnan Folk Architectural Decoration Art". The architectural components of the hall are decorated with wood carvings, brick carvings, stone carvings, plaster sculptures, pottery sculptures, bronze and iron castings, and paintings. The decorations are rich in subject matter and color, and the craftsmanship is exquisite. The hall is a magnificent palace of folk art and decoration. In 1959, it was opened as the Guangdong Folk Art Museum, and in 1994, it was renamed the Guangdong Folk Art Museum. In 2017, it was rated as a national first-class museum.
The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall is similar to the Ancestral Temple in Foshan, with many plaster and pottery sculptures. However, the sculptures in the Ancestral Temple are mainly on the eaves, while the roofs of the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall are full of sculptures of figures and stories. There are also various sculptures on the roofs of the corridors, making the hall look magnificent and colorful. The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall is the largest, most ornate, and best-preserved traditional Lingnan ancestral hall-style building in Guangdong Province. It is known as the "Crown of Ancestral Halls in Guangdong". In 1988, the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall was listed as a national key cultural relic protection unit by the State Council. In 2002 and 2011, it was selected as one of the "Eight Sights of Yangcheng" under the name "Ancient Ancestral Hall". In 2006, it was rated as a cultural landmark of Guangzhou. In 2008, it was listed as a 4A-level tourist attraction by the National Tourism Administration. Admission is CNY 10, and there are many tourists.

Post by Rodriguez_Ann_11 | Jan 24, 2025