Ruan Yong Ancient Village

Ruan Yong Ancient Village

Ruan Yong Village. The founding patriarch of the Qu clan in Ruan Yong, Qu Chao Yi (1143–1220), was a native of Zhuji Li in Xiongzhou and became a jinshi (advanced scholar) in the Renchen year (1172) of the Qiandao era during the Southern Song Dynasty. In the second year of Jiatai (1202), he branched off from Zhuji Lane and migrated to the territory of Duanzhou in Ruan Yong, thus abandoning Zhuji Lane and settling there, becoming the founding ancestor of the Qu clan in Jianchuan.

During the Zhizheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1341–1368), members of the Qu clan migrated here from Nanxiong Zhuji Lane, and later the Ruan family also moved in. Today, there are no longer any villagers surnamed Ruan in the village—all residents are descendants of the Qu family.

In December 2018, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development proposed to include Ruan Yong Village in the fifth batch of China’s Traditional Villages list.

Ruan Yong is located beside Hefu Road in Hecity Subdistrict. Unlike many villages and towns that are built “wherever inspiration strikes,” Ruan Yong is surrounded by mountains—the ancient Yaye Mountain, Lingyun Mountain, Nanpeng Mountain, and Meiban Mountain encircle it in sequence, cradling Ruan Yong within. A small sea and a river channel form two layers, encircling Ruan Yong in a “square shape” to protect it at the center. To the north of the small sea lies the confluence with the Xijiang River. According to ancient feng shui theory, being surrounded by mountains and embraced by clear waters signifies a place where landscape and water harmoniously converge, gathering wind and sheltering water—a geomantically superior site. The layered “jade belts” of mountains and rivers further enhance its status as a sacred land rich in spiritual energy.

Ruan Yong Ancient Village features typical Ming and Qing dynasty Lingnan residential architecture, preserved on a large scale. Most structures are the popular “wok ear” houses from the Ming and Qing periods, all facing south. Architectural decorations include grey relief carvings, brick carvings, and murals. For theft prevention, the walls of these ancient houses were built one extra brick thick compared to ordinary homes, making them exceptionally sturdy. The village is situated around water, featuring a protective moat about 10 meters wide, serving multiple functions such as transportation, water supply, and defense. The comb-like alleyway layout is mostly paved with granite, with ancestral halls and residences built along the alleys. Among the well-preserved sections are the “Eight Great Houses” ancient residential complex in Ruanbei Fang and the Ruanxi Fang ancient residential complex, as well as the Da Fu Qu Ancestral Hall, ancient vault, ancient walls, ancient alleys, ancient academies, ancient private schools, and ancient bridges—all of which hold high historical and artistic value.

On the east side of the square at the “Da Fu Di Ancestral Hall” in Rongyong Village, there are also preserved stone plaques inscribed with “Renju” and flagpole stands engraved with text such as “Selected Scholar of the Yu You Year in the First Year of Xuantong Era.”

(1) Ruanbei Ancient Residential Complex (The Eight Great Houses)

Built during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, this complex was constructed by Qu Shi Yuan, a wealthy man of the time who held the title of Feng Zhi Daifu, for his eight sons—hence it is called Da Fu Di (Ancestral Hall of the Nobles), also known as the Eight Great Houses. The layout of this ancient residential group is comb-shaped, facing south, originally consisting of 16 houses, with 13 still standing.

(2) Ruanxi Village Ancient Residences

This group currently has 41 surviving rooms, covering a total area of approximately 5,000 square meters.

(3) Linggui Pagoda

In the 29th year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1601), Qu Dalun, a jinshi from Ruan Yong Village, proposed the construction of this pagoda. It is a seven-story, octagonal, pavilion-style brick pagoda, standing 32.3 meters tall. The first floor has a diameter of 7.2 meters and an inner diameter of 2.4 meters. Originally, wooden planks were used for the floors on each level, and the exterior featured a viewing platform (later renovated with brick structures replacing the wooden stairs and iron pipes replacing wooden railings). The eaves of each level were adorned with glazed tiles. The first floor once housed two stone Buddha statues, which have since been lost. Over more than 300 years, Linggui Pagoda has endured lightning strikes, wind, and rain damage, as well as shelling and gunfire during the Japanese invasion of China, leaving the pagoda riddled with scars, its walkways destroyed, and near collapse. In 1984, the county government organized its restoration, restoring the ancient pagoda to its former glory. Visitors ascending to the top of Linggui can take in the new look of Hecity, gaze at the beautiful Xiqiao Mountain in the distance, and overlook the vast Xijiang River, offering a truly refreshing experience.

(4) Da Fu Qu Ancestral Hall

The Da Fu Qu Ancestral Hall in Rongyong Village is located in Ruanbei. Built during the Qing Dynasty, it was funded solely by Qu Shi Yuan, a Feng Zhi Daifu of the time, in memory of his father, Qu Wen Yi. The hall has three bays and two courtyards, faces south, and features wok ear gable walls and grey plastered decorative ridges. Its overall layout is intact. It represents a typical example of Qing dynasty Lingnan architectural style and serves as valuable material for studying local clan culture and ancestral hall architectural art.

Hecity Subdistrict: Located in the eastern part of Gaoming, beside the Xijiang River and embraced by both the Xijiang and Cangjiang rivers, Hecity is known as the “Pearl of the Xijiang River.” It is an important part of Foshan’s Xijiang cluster and the seat of the Gaoming District Committee and District Government. It serves as the political, economic, cultural, financial, informational, and technological hub of the entire district. Covering an area of 178.58 square kilometers, it has a permanent population of about 150,000 and a floating population of about 80,000, with 14 community neighborhood committees and 14 village committees under its jurisdiction.

The terrain of Hecity is a typical delta plain, characterized by flat and open land, crisscrossing river channels, fertile soil, and abundant rainfall... More detailed information on Hecity Subdistrict++