Guolutang Scenic Area

Guolutang Scenic Area

Guolutang is located 1.5 kilometers southeast of Jiexi County, Jieyang City, Guangdong Province. It features an ancient architectural complex dating back to the Qing Dynasty, lush green mountains, a massive "Auspicious Dragon" (99 meters long, 4.8 meters high, and 4.8 meters wide), towering ancient trees, and a ten-acre pond—its landscape resembling a fairyland from Penglai.

Hepo Guolutang in Jiexi attracts visitors from all directions with its lake and mountain views, towering ancient trees, and uniquely styled architectural complex. The beautiful water, mountains, trees, and temples create a serene rural scenery that refreshes the mind and lifts the spirit.

Guolutang is situated southeast of Hepo and about 1.5 kilometers from Jiexi County. Here, lush green mountains encircle a large pond covering over 20 acres in the shape of a mulberry leaf. A row of classic yet magnificent ancient buildings lines the pond, and a major thoroughfare leading to towns such as Pingshang, Daxi, and Qiankeng runs along its edge—hence the name “Guolutang” (Passing Road Pond).

Upon entering Guolutang, a grand and imposing Three Mountains Gate comes into view. It stands 7 meters tall and over 20 meters wide, with the inscription “Haoshengmen” (Gate of Fine Scenery) on the lintel. The left and right side lintels are inscribed with “-” and “Yuanzhu” (Far-reaching Vision) respectively. The central gate is flanked by a couplet: “Light shoots through the Dipper and oxen, spirit swallows rivers and mountains; look up to the universe, look down on ancient and modern times.”

Ancient Architectural Complex

The ancient architectural complex of Guolutang was first built in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. All structures are made of wood and earth, reflecting the architectural art and style of the Hakka people in Hepo. Among them, the most distinctive is the Lotus Pond Nunnery. Though not large in scale, it is uniquely charming, built with lime-soil structure, featuring carved beams, painted rafters, and ceramic inlays. The nunnery roof boasts ceramic works such as “Two Dragons Fighting for a Pearl,” “Two Phoenixes Flying and Singing,” and “Two Generals Dueling”—all vividly lifelike. Upon entering the nunnery gate, visitors are greeted by a statue of the laughing Maitreya Buddha, welcoming guests from all directions. The upper middle hall houses a golden statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva, while the left and right halls feature statues of the “Blessing-Giving Guanyin” and the “Child-Giving Guanyin” respectively. The north and south halls also display 18 vivid images of Guanyin. Visitors here invariably pay their respects. Guolutang also includes sites such as Heduishan Rock, Fude Altar, and Luofu Pavilion.

Key Protection and Tourism

To promote traditional Chinese culture, in 1990, the Jiexi County People’s Government, in accordance with the wishes of overseas Chinese and local residents, designated Guolutang as a key cultural relic protection unit of the county. In recent years, local authorities have further improved and beautified the environment of Guolutang by paving cement roads, building parking lots, and adding new attractions. For example, they constructed an Auspicious Dragon, inside whose belly are over 20 small attractions such as the Crystal Palace and Peacock Display—each uniquely designed. Sheltered by towering ancient trees and integrated with the lake and water scenery, the Auspicious Dragon, along with other ancient buildings, forms a beautiful rural landscape painting.

Kewan Village: Located in the eastern mountainous area of Hepo Subdistrict, Kewan Village is 2 kilometers from the county seat. The village has 421 households and a population of 1,702, with over 650 acres of arable land and over 300 acres of mountain land. Relying on the Party’s policies for prosperity, villagers work, trade, or run businesses outside, gradually improving their living standards. The village collective earns an annual income of 64,000 yuan, and the per capita income of farmers is 5,683 yuan per year. Kewan Village has one Party branch secretary, one village committee director, and 35 Party members. Guolutang, one of the four major scenic spots in the county seat, is located in Kewan Village and is a scenic area with the charm of an ancient post road. 199... Kewan Village detailed information++