Sanhuai Hall in Xitou

Sanhuai Hall in Xitou

Sanhuai Hall in Xitou is a nationally designated Major Historical and Cultural Site.

Sanhuai Hall is located in Xitou Village, five kilometers south of Xiuning County. It is a ancestral hall of the Wang family, built in the 30th year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1602 AD) under the initiative of Wang Jingtian. It got its name from the three locust trees planted in the courtyard at the time of construction and is a nationally designated Major Historical and Cultural Site protected at the national level for ancient architecture. The original structure had three courtyards and 11 bays, covering approximately 1,500 square meters, with 182 pillars ranging in girth from 80 to 100 centimeters. The entire hall contains nine smaller chambers, creating a grand and magnificent atmosphere.

Xitou Village is home to the famous national-level cultural relic protection site — Sanhuai Hall. This building was constructed during the Ming Dynasty and was the former residence of Wang Jingtian, who passed the provincial imperial examination (xiangju) in the 25th year of the Wanli era (1597 AD). According to the "History of the Song Dynasty: Biography of Wang Dan," Wang Dan’s father planted three locust trees in the courtyard and said, “My descendants will surely produce someone who achieves greatness.” Inspired by this story, the Wang family adopted the three locust trees as a symbolic reference, and thus named the hall “Sanhuai Hall.” The interior of the ancestral hall features exquisitely detailed carvings, especially renowned for its wood carvings, which are rare among Huizhou-style ancestral hall architectures. Locally, it is also referred to as the “Golden Palace.” In 2006, it was announced by the State Council as part of the sixth batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites protected at the national level.

Protection boundary: 3 meters outside the surrounding wall foundations on the east, south, west, and north sides.

Construction control zone: 40 meters outside the protection boundary on the east, south, west, and north sides.

Further reading:

· Sixth Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level