Peitian Ancient Village

Peitian Ancient Village

Peitian Ancient Village is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Peitian residences refer to the ancient Ming and Qing architectural complex of traditional houses located in Peitian, Liancheng County, in the mountainous region of western Fujian Province. This 800-year-old village is one of China’s best-preserved complexes of Hakka residential architecture from the Ming and Qing periods. It rivals the Fujian Tulou of Yongding and the Weilongwu enclosed houses of Meizhou, and is considered a classic example of Hakka architectural culture.

The ancient residential complex of Peitian Village mainly consists of six schools, two academies, three temples, two shrines, two memorial archways, as well as 20 ancestral halls, over 30 residential buildings, a thousand-meter-long ancient street, five lanes, and two water channels running through the village. The construction materials used are primarily wood and brick. The overall layout of the Ming and Qing residential complex in Peitian demonstrates a high level of sophistication, with careful and harmonious planning of clan ancestral halls, residences, temples, memorial archways, streets, waterways, and bridges. Each type of building, in terms of function, exterior structure, and decorative coloration, is executed to an exceptional standard.

Peitian Village is located in Xuanhe Township, Liancheng County. The ancestors of this small village left behind a remarkable legacy: thirty large residences, twenty-one ancestral halls, six academies, a thousand-meter-long ancient street, two cross-street memorial archways, four temples and Taoist shrines—many of which still stand today—covering a total area of 70,000 square meters. Its grand architecture, excellent preservation, abundant cultural relics, and profound historical heritage have consistently amazed outsiders since its discovery.

The Peitian ancient residential group is represented by structures such as “Da Fu Di” (The Grand Mansion), “Yan Qing Tang” (Hall of Extended Celebration), and “Guan Ting” (Official Hall). These not only exhibit the majestic style of imperial architecture but also incorporate the structural styles of Huizhou architecture and the layout aesthetics of Jiangsu-style gardens. The courtyards are deep yet meticulously arranged, with a varying number of rooms around each central courtyard, all accessible via freely operable doors leading outside—when the doors are closed, each courtyard becomes an independent unit.

Da Fu Di (The Grand Mansion): Also known as “Ji Shu Tang” (Hall of Continuation), it was built in 1829 and took 11 years to complete. Its most distinctive feature is the innovative creation of the uniquely styled Hakka mansion form known as “Nine Halls and Eighteen Courtyards,” developed on the basis of the Central Plains courtyard architectural model and tailored to the rainy and humid southern climate. The so-called “Nine Halls” refer to nine main halls: the Gate Tower Hall, Lower Hall, Middle Hall, Upper Hall, Lower Floor Hall, Upper Floor Hall, Rear Floor Hall, Left Flower Hall, and Right Flower Hall. The “Eighteen Courtyards” include five courtyards in the five-section hall, ten courtyards from the two rows of side wings (five each), and three courtyards in the Rear Floor Hall. The Grand Mansion also scientifically employs a post-and-lintel frame structure, enabling the complex to withstand over ten earthquakes ranging from magnitude 4.5 to 6.9, and remain intact to this day.

Yan Qing Tang (Hall of Extended Celebration): A Ming Dynasty structure, its architectural layout is largely similar to that of Da Fu Di, but it features a winding lotus pond outside the gate and stone lions guarding the entrance. A pair of “door knockers and matching door panels” symbolize the hopes and aspirations of the Central Plains migrants, now settled afar, for the continuity and prosperity of their clans.

Guan Ting (Official Hall): Originally called “Da Wu” (The Big House), it earned the name “Official Hall” because the Wu family used it to receive passing officials. With tall walls and a fully enclosed layout, the estate features a special three-foot-wide water channel inside the walls, reserved for women to do laundry. The layout of Guan Ting is unique and exquisitely designed: the main hall includes a “Tai Jie” (a raised platform), with different restrictions and rules applied depending on the rank of visiting officials; the carvings between the beams and pillars, as well as those in the lattice frames of the middle hall, are all double-sided openwork carvings of exceptional craftsmanship; the rear hall serves as the clan’s meeting room, while the left and right flower halls are reserved for the owners’ leisure and entertaining guests; the lower floor hall functions as a schoolhouse, and the upper floor hall as a library, which once housed over ten thousand ancient books.

Divided by the thousand-meter-long ancient street, the inner side mostly consists of ancestral halls. The architecture of these ancestral halls places great emphasis on gatehouse design, bracket arm carvings, and wood lacquer paintings, all of which are extremely ornate and luxurious. For example, the “Heng Gong” Ancestral Hall and the “Jiu Gong” Ancestral Hall, which inherit the architectural style of Beijing’s Meridian Gate, feature fine brushwork paintings such as “Third Mother Teaching Her Son” and “The Number One Scholar Parading the Streets.” These murals have clear lines, vividly depicted figures, and colors that have not faded over time, making them truly rare treasures.

Hiking Routes

Peitian is also part of the Guanzhai Mountain Scenic Area, located 110 kilometers from Longyan City. Travelers can first go to Longyan, then take transport to Liancheng, followed by a bus to Pengkou and then to Peitian. If getting off at Wenfang, you can wait for a bus from Pengkou or hire a motorcycle directly to Xuanhe and then to Peitian. Buses are not very punctual, so hiring a motorcycle is recommended—usually an 8-kilometer ride to Peitian for about 5 RMB.

Lianfeng Town: Lianfeng Town was established during the Song Dynasty under Emperor Zhezong’s Yuanyou era (1098–1101 AD), originally called Lianfeng Fort. In 1133 AD, when the county was officially founded during the Shaoxing reign, it was renamed Chengli (City), governing Zhushou, Zhuogui, Ying’en, and Chongru. In the fifth year of Shaoxing (1135 AD), a 300-zhang earthen wall was built. In the sixth year, Magistrate Ma Zhouqing renamed Dongtian Stone to Lianfeng Mountain. In 1514 AD during the Ming Dynasty’s Zhengde reign, a 770-zhang brick wall was constructed, featuring several large and small city gates. By the seventh year of the Qing Shunzhi reign (1650 AD), the town had 23 crisscrossing streets, dozens of shops, and a bustling market. In the 22nd year of the Republic of China… [Lianfeng Town detailed information++]