The Meihex Ancient Architectural Complex

The Meihex Ancient Architectural Complex

The Meihex Ancient Architectural Complex is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Fujian Province.

The Meihex Ancient Architectural Complex is located in Meihex Village, Hubei Town, Jiaocheng District, Ningde City, dating from the Song Dynasty to the Republican era.

Overview: It comprises fourteen structures, including three bridges (Jiutiao Bridge, Chenzi Bridge, Liujian Bridge), one gate (Shique Gate), three temples (Cheshan Temple, Dongyue Temple, Lingong Temple), one Ming Dynasty residence (Shinian Hall), five Qing Dynasty residences (Fangcuoli, Linju Bongcuo, Linju Qingcuo, Lin Du Xingcuo, Lin Zanbangcuo), and one Republican-era building (later used as a sent-down youth site). Jiutiao Bridge was first built in the Song Dynasty as a three-span corbelled stone beam bridge, measuring 25 meters in length and 2.4 meters in width. Chenzi Bridge, also known as Flower Bridge, was initially constructed in the fifth year of the Chongning era of the Song Dynasty (1106) and underwent several renovations, including in the 40th year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1775) and the 25th year of the Republican era (1936). It is a three-span stone arch and wooden corridor bridge, 36 meters long, with an 11-bay corridor roof and a hip-and-gable roof pavilion at the central bay. Liujian Bridge was built in the 6th year of the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty (1880) as a double-span stone beam column bridge, covering an area of about 11 square meters. Shique Gate was constructed in the Ming Dynasty, covering 20.5 square meters. It is a gate wall built with facing stone blocks, topped with a stone coping, with a Sumeru pedestal at the front base, a stone-paved ground between the two walls, and a five-step stone stairway in front, along with a worship stone laid on the ground in front. Cheshan Temple was built in the Qing Dynasty to enshrine the hunting deity Cheshan Gong. It has a single bay with a through-purlin gable-and-hip roof, and four stones arranged in a V-shape both inside and outside the temple symbolizing four fangs. A red wooden board at the shrine symbolizes a tongue, implying that the four fangs subdue outsiders. Dongyue Temple consists of a gate tower, open corridor, side rooms, and three parallel main halls. The two on the left were built in the 53rd year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1788), and the one on the right in the 6th year of the Guangxu era (1880). Each hall features a post-and-lintel wooden structure with three bays and a gable-and-hip roof. Lingong Temple was initially built in the Song Dynasty as Niangnai Temple, but was rebuilt in the 7th year of the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty (1857) to enshrine Lingong Zhongping Marquis. It is a single-courtyard building with a main hall of three bays and a gable-and-hip roof. Shinian Hall was built in the Ming Dynasty and renovated during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1736–1795). It is a single-courtyard residence with a main hall of three bays, seven pillars deep, featuring a through-purlin wooden structure, with the central bay having its central column removed, and a gable-and-hip roof. The Qing Dynasty residences such as Fangcuoli, Linju Bongcuo, Linju Qingcuo, Lin Du Xingcuo, and Lin Zanbangcuo are all single-courtyard homes with tall rammed earth or blue brick walls. Their main halls have three bays, two stories, and a through-purlin wooden structure, with various intricately carved hanging flower pillars and lintels at the main gate, front corridor, and front wing rooms. The Republican-era building, later used as a sent-down youth site, is a courtyard home with a gate tower. Both the outer gate tower and the main courtyard gate are built as stone archways, and the main courtyard follows traditional construction methods.

Protection boundary: Each individual structure is surrounded by a buffer zone extending 20 meters outward in all directions.

In 2018, the Meihex Ancient Architectural Complex was designated as part of the ninth batch of provincial-level cultural heritage sites by the People’s Government of Fujian Province.

Meihex Village: Located in the northwest of Hubei Township, Meihex Village is 60 kilometers from the urban area and 8 kilometers from the township government. It has 429 households and a population of 1,752. The village sits at an elevation of 600 meters. Surrounded by mountains, it features a flat plain in the center. The land is fertile, the climate mild, and the scenery beautiful, making it a gem among mountainous areas.

Meihex Village has a long history and is also known as "Shitang Lincuo." Most villagers bear the surname Lin. In the late Qing Dynasty, residents renamed the village Meihex in honor of the Song Dynasty poet Lin Hejing’s verse about plums as his wife and cranes as his children. Meihex Village is a place of illustrious heritage and has produced many notable figures. Chen Pu (Mr. Shitang), a geographer of the late Song and early Yuan Dynasties, was born here... More details about Meihex Village ++

Further reading:

· Ninth Batch of Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites in Fujian Province