The Ancient Peng Clan Ancestral Hall in Liucha

The Ancient Peng Clan Ancestral Hall

The Ancient Peng Clan Ancestral Hall is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Ancient Peng Clan Ancestral Hall

The Peng Clan Ancestral Hall is situated in the northeastern part of Liucha Village, Yongshan Town, at the village’s central area, covering an area of about 800 square meters. It was constructed during the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty. In front of the ancient hall runs the Chexi River, and it is backed by green mountains. With its beautiful scenery of green hills and clear waters, the hall houses numerous ancient historical relics and has become one of the most famous ancestral hall buildings in Leping City.

The ancestral hall faces east and is entered through a main gate on the eastern side, flanked by four smaller gates. The wall at the main entrance is built from huge granite blocks. According to elders, these stones were tributes from Japan — they are carved with various national figures and portraits. Above the wall is a stone engraving that reads “Peng Clan Ancestral Hall” along with a design of two dragons competing for a pearl, which is particularly striking.

Entering the hall through a small gate on the southwest side, you are greeted by the ancient stage inside. The pillars and hanging beams of the stage are all carved with figures from classical Chinese operas, with the carvings vividly lifelike. Climbing onto the stage feels like stepping onto an ancient battlefield. Looking down from the stage, there is an open-air auditorium, with two-story pavilions on either side. It is said that these pavilions were reserved for wealthy young ladies and gentlemen to watch performances — the larger one being the gentlemen’s pavilion and the smaller one the ladies’ chamber. The pavilions are supported by 16 pillars, with the eight nearest to the auditorium carved with various exotic flowers and plants, and their tops adorned by eight large carp. The auditorium and stage feature six suspended corners (the number six symbolizes “smoothness in all things”), each adorned with wind chimes that tinkle melodiously in the breeze.

Behind the open-air hall lies another main hall, where a central painting hangs in the main chamber. The pillars of this hall are painted vermilion, giving it an especially luxurious appearance. The walls on both sides display poetry and prose by master calligraphers. According to elders, this hall was reserved for village elites and wealthy locals to enjoy performances. Behind this hall is a council chamber, which contains four storage rooms where the village’s valuable items are kept, and where major village decisions are made.

Exiting the hall through the north gate, you can observe the architectural layout of this ancient structure. The building features a compact and tightly arranged design, and when viewed as a whole, there is not a single flaw to be found. After several rounds of restoration, the ancestral hall is now well preserved.