Ancient Architectural Complex of Nanping Village

Ancient Architectural Complex of Nanping Village

The Ancient Architectural Complex of Nanping Village is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Nanping Village is situated four kilometers southwest of Yixian County in Anhui Province and is named after the Nanping Mountain, which resembles a protective screen to the south of the village. This large-scale ancient village was established during the Yuan and Ming dynasties, with a population of over a thousand from the Ye, Cheng, and Li families. It still preserves eight ancient ancestral halls that symbolize clan authority, arranged in sequence along an approximately 200-meter-long axis. The ancestral halls vary in scale—some are grand while others are more delicate—and together they form a rare collection of ancient clan hall architecture in China, serving as a living museum that offers modern visitors insight into China’s feudal clan system. Additionally, the village features more than 300 ancient residential buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, distributed along 72 lanes, creating a labyrinthine layout. Not to mention the ancient halls and houses—just the maze-like layers of these lanes and alleys are enough to enchant countless visitors.

The distinctive feature of Guanlu is its “Eight Greats” residence complex, home to eight brothers of the Wang family. These structures were built starting from the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, taking shape over a period of more than 200 years. The complex includes 16 buildings, 2 quadrangle residences, 1 school hall, and 1 study room, covering an area of about 6,000 square meters. The “Eight Greats” is not just a group of eight separate houses—it is a series of exquisitely designed, ingeniously laid out, and beautifully constructed traditional Huizhou-style residences. Each unit comes with its own distinct main house, wing rooms, kitchen, and courtyard, functioning as an independent entity. Yet, these units are also interconnected, with doorways linking upper and lower levels, binding the “Eight Greats” into a cohesive whole. The ingenuity of its structure is extremely rare among ancient Huizhou residences. Not to mention outsiders who might feel lost upon entering, even those who grew up there rarely grasp the full layout.

Therefore, when we step into any one of the “homes” in Guanlu Village, it becomes impossible to distinguish one from another in terms of rank, direction, or prominence.

Ancient Architectural Complex of Nanping Village (15 photos) — their seamless unity and unique individuality make it impossible to get enough of them in just one visit, leaving visitors eager to return and explore further.

The most distinctive architecture in Nanping is its cluster of ancestral halls. “The local tradition has long emphasized the clan system, with each surname having its own ancestral hall. Branches within clans have separate branch halls.” Nanping still retains eight ancestral halls, most of which are situated along the approximately 200-meter central axis of Hengdian Street at the front of the village. These include “clan ancestral halls” owned by the entire clan, “branch ancestral halls” belonging to sub-lineages, as well as “family ancestral halls” owned by individual families or small groups.

The clan ancestral halls are grand in scale, while the family ones are delicate and refined, forming a mysterious and classic cluster of ancient halls. The Ye family’s ancestral hall in Nanping, known as the “Xuzhitang Hall,” is a grand ancient structure covering 2,000 square meters, featuring a hip-and-gable roof and an open, dignified layout. In front of the hall stands a screen wall, and the gate tower is tall and imposing, flanked by a pair of stone drums over a person’s height, intricately carved. Four large stone pillars support the crossbeam, adorned with carvings of ritual vessels such as ancient tripods and precious vases. Xuzhitang is divided into upper, middle, and lower halls. As you enter the main gate, you are greeted by 80 massive wooden pillars supporting the grand structure, with plaques hanging from the pillars bearing couplets such as “The Stone Grove Lineage Extends Far, the Martial Waters Flow with Renewed Vigor.” The crossbeams are hung with plaques commemorating honors and achievements, such as “Tribute Scholar,” “Advanced Scholar,” “Top Scorer,” “Pine and Bamboo Integrity,” and “Inspiration for the Young.” The lower hall serves as a space for music performances and can also be used to stage plays. The middle hall functions as a ceremonial auditorium for conducting rituals, while the upper hall is a shrine hall where ancestral tablets are enshrined on the upper floor. The middle and upper halls can accommodate hundreds of people during ceremonies. The main gate of Xuzhitang was traditionally only opened during major festivals, with daily access through side gates. Its gate is taller than those of the other seven ancestral halls, and no branch or family hall of the same surname may surpass it in height. Xuzhitang was the primary filming location for Zhang Yimou’s movie “Ju Dou” and remains preserved just as it was during the shoot. Posters from the film are displayed on the walls, and the hall features dyeing racks, drying frames, pulleys, and dye vats, with the plaque “Old Yang’s Dye Workshop” hanging prominently above the entrance—making it a highlight for visitors.

The ancestral halls are built tall, spacious, magnificent, and imposing, matching the grandeur that various clans sought in their ritual ceremonies, evoking a sense of solemnity and reverence. Participation in these rituals follows strict regulations, including attire appropriate to one’s status and standardized offerings. By taking part in these grand and elaborate ceremonies, clan members strengthen their pride in their lineage. Some families even mandate that boys of a certain age participate in clan rituals and etiquette activities, teaching them life norms, proper manners, and shaping specific ways of thinking from a young age. In essence, the ancestral hall is a sacred site for the spiritual education of the family.

National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Protected Area: East and west boundaries of Nanping Village extend 50 meters beyond the streams, the southern boundary extends 50 meters beyond the southern edge of the village, and the northern boundary extends 50 meters beyond the Xigua River, covering an area of 26.4 hectares.

Construction Control Zone: Beyond the protected area, the southern boundary follows the ridge line of Nanping Mountain, the eastern and western boundaries extend to the adjacent low hills, and the northern boundary reaches the Yixi Highway.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units