Jiaxia Village

Jiaxia Village

Jiaxia Village is located in Xinwei, Nanmen Village, Doumen Town, covering an area of approximately 53,500 square meters. It is the best-preserved Qing Dynasty ancient village manor in Zhuhai.

When it comes to Nanmen Village, people naturally become nostalgic and seek out history, tracing back through the trials and tribulations of the past. In the late Song Dynasty, due to the incompetence of the imperial court, amid the invasions of northern nomadic tribes, the regime was on the brink of collapse, and royal and noble families sought refuge elsewhere. The descendants of Kuangmei, the younger brother of Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin of the Song Dynasty—commonly referred to as the Wei King lineage—migrated through Hebei, Jiangxi, and Guangdong. Among them, the 11th-generation descendant of Wei King Tingmei, Zhao Guangtai, moved from Dachikan to Dalieqi in 1403 (the first year of the Yongle era during the Ming Dynasty), becoming the founding ancestor of the Nanmen Zhao clan. After more than 600 years, the descendants of the Nanmen Zhao clan have grown into a large family, expanding to 10 natural villages with a population of over 5,000.

It is said that Zhao Weimao, a descendant of the “Wei King lineage,” made his fortune trading in traditional Chinese medicine. Later, feeling that life in the long-established, densely populated, and cramped main village—then nearly 400 years old—was no longer satisfying, he began to consider relocating.

He set his sights on the scenic environment north of the main village, where clear waters and lush trees abound. With Xialing Mountain nearby and a river running through, he believed it to be an auspicious feng shui site ideal for settlement and prosperity, and was determined to establish a new village there.

Initially, three earthen houses were built. Later, his intelligent and capable second son, Xiangrong, propelled Jiaxia Village into its golden age.

During this period, under the vigorous management of the “patriarch” Zhao Xiangrong, the family business flourished, making them immensely wealthy. Fourteen large residences were built within the manor, most with three-courtyard layouts, and some with five. During the Qing Dynasty’s Tongzhi era, every household’s residence was separated by a “Qingyun Alley,” also known as the Horse-Riding Stone Path at the time. Gate towers were erected at the entrances, creating a spectacular sight. Alongside the Horse-Riding Stone Path, gray-brick tile houses were constructed, each consisting of three, four, or five rooms in a uniform layout featuring one hall and two bedrooms, along with side rooms and a backyard garden. There were also studies and art galleries, with flower courtyards in front of the gates and flower beds behind.

During this golden age, the patriarch built a Children’s Pond, a Literary Hall, a Martial Hall, a Warm Pavilion, stables, and dormitories for gardeners for the entire family. He also constructed a lotus pond spanning nearly 1,000 square meters, complete with a pavilion. A 13.2-meter-long, 6.6-meter-wide ornamental stone boat was situated on the pond, connected by zigzagging stone bridges to both the pavilion and the flower garden, allowing residents to take boat rides to escape the heat and admire the lotuses.

The manor also featured a stone-paved path over 100 meters long, lined with rows of green bamboo, leading to the garden. The garden was planted with various flowers and plants, lush and vibrant, filled with birdsong, floral fragrance, bees, and butterflies.

The manor included a grand Chongji Hall, consisting of three connected buildings covering 1,000 square meters with 72 doorways. This magnificent structure resembled the Foshan Ancestral Temple and was designed and built by craftsmen from Foshan. Materials such as brick carvings and foundation stones were transported from Foshan at the time.

The manor was surrounded by a lotus pond and green bamboo on its east, west, and north sides, while the south was enclosed by a protective moat and a four-meter-high wall. A river flowed from east to west, then turned north toward the Children’s Pond. Behind the manor, in the southeast, lay large sand dunes known as Xialing Mountain, formed from so-called “fairy sand” (a high-quality material for glassmaking). The mountain was covered with dense, highly ornamental sago palm forests, and in front of the mountain stood the bustling Guan Di Temple.

The entire manor was not only picturesque but also meticulously laid out, elegant and unique.

In its heyday, Jiaxia Village rivaled the grandeur of the Jia Family’s Grand View Garden from Cao Xueqin’s novel, and produced many notable individuals who brought prestige to the royal and noble families, earning admiration from the world.

The founding ancestor Weimao was granted an honorary title due to his descendants holding official positions. At its peak, the “patriarch” Xiangrong, skilled in socializing and business, turned the family into local magnates. Xiangrong’s eldest son, Dagang, was appointed as a Lang official in the Shandong Criminal Ministry’s Clear History Department and bestowed the honorary title of Fengzheng Doctor, enjoying a smooth career that reached the fourth rank... Three or four generations of Weimao’s descendants were part of the official class, producing one successful candidate in the imperial examinations, thirteen literary and martial scholars, and many others who held official positions or received honorary titles, some even adorned with peacock or blue feather ornaments.

For such a prominent and wealthy family, constructing such a grand manor was unquestionably fitting. However, due to the decline in social morals in the late Qing Dynasty, the incompetence of later generations within the clan, and a lack of business talent, the family gradually squandered their wealth and fell into irreversible decline. Thus, with the end of the Qing Dynasty, the once-flourishing and grand Jiaxia Manor gradually declined. Its Sino-Western hybrid architecture fell into long-term disrepair—some structures became dilapidated, others were altered or relocated, leaving the site completely unrecognizable. Even the once-luxurious Chongji Hall was eventually demolished, Xialing Mountain was hollowed out and sold off for its “fairy sand” (a premium material for glass production), and the once-thriving Guan Di Temple was also destroyed.

In August 2011, the local government launched a restoration plan, repairing foundational projects such as the protective moat, roads, greening, drainage, and sewage systems. Today, Jiaxia Village once again captivates history enthusiasts and tourists alike with its deep-rooted heritage and colorful allure. (By Liang Weiweng)

Address: Nanmen Village, Doumen Town, Doumen District

Transportation: Take bus routes 609 or 402, and get off at Nanmen Station

Information source: Doumen Town Government Website

Nanmen Village: Located at the foot of Huangyang Mountain, Nanmen Village covers an area of approximately 16 square kilometers, with arable land spanning 5,628 mu. This includes 500 mu of fish ponds, 1,450 mu of rice paddies, and 1,354 mu of cash crops. The village has a permanent population of 5,502 people across 1,426 households. Nanmen Village consists of 12 natural villages: Nanbianli, Zhongxinli, Beibianli, Tangzu, Zhuyuan, Sisheng, Xinwei, Chongkou, Xinxu, Yuxiu, Beidishui, and Fisheries, comprising a total of 23 villager groups with 46 villager representatives.

The village hosts a Communist Youth League branch, the Nanmen Village Militia Camp, the Nanmen Women’s Association... More detailed information about Nanmen Village ++