Jiadongli

Jiadongli

Jiadongli is a cultural heritage protection unit of Guangdong Province.

Jiadongli is located in Dongjiao Village, Xinxing Subdistrict, Rongcheng District, Jieyang City. Originally built in the 10th year of the Tongzhi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1871), it is one of the largest and most intact complexes of "three-winged" traditional residential buildings still existing in the urban area. In 2010, it was designated as part of the sixth batch of cultural heritage protection units by the People's Government of Guangdong Province.

Jiadongli and the former residence of Ding Richang on Yuanding Road in Rongcheng District of Jieyang City were both built around the same time, featuring the same "Xing"-style layout. They are typical examples of traditional Chaoshan architecture that combine ancestral worship and residential functions, reflecting the structural, material, and craftsmanship characteristics of traditional buildings in the Chaoshan region during the Qing Dynasty, as well as strong regional and temporal features.

Covering an area of approximately 9,000 square meters, Jiadongli faces south with a symmetrical layout on its left and right sides, making it one of the largest and most intact complexes of traditional Chaoshan "three-winged" residential buildings still found in the urban area.

The main hall of the Guo Family Ancestral Temple in Jiadongli was built to commemorate Guo Zhiqi, who served as the Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall and Minister of Rites during the Ming Dynasty. It follows a five-bay, three-courtyard layout. In front of the temple stand a pair of stone drums and a pair of stone lions. A high-relief carved qilin screen wall and a fengshui pond are situated in front of the open courtyard. To the left and right of the temple are two "Four-Point Gold"-style residences named Tongfeng Mansion and Qiuguan Mansion. There are two fire lanes on the east and west sides, each with four small courtyards (pasishi), and the northern part consists of rear-row houses. The entire complex includes about 100 rooms of various sizes, exemplifying the classic style of ancestral temples in the Chaoshan region, commonly referred to as "a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix." The overall architectural complex is grand in scale, exquisitely decorated, and functionally practical, preserving the traditional structural, material, and craftsmanship characteristics of Chaoshan architecture. It stands out as a remarkable example among ancient architectural complexes in the region. The main structure, along with the east and west study rooms, the Dragon-Tiger Gate Towers, the screen wall, the open courtyard, and the fengshui pond, have remained well-preserved despite 140 years of historical weathering. This provides a valuable physical example for the study of traditional Chaoshan architecture that integrates ancestral worship and residential functions. Its rich cultural and historical information offers significant historical, artistic, and scientific value for researching the history of commercial activities and clan culture in Chaoshan during the late Qing Dynasty. The Guo Shengyu family has nearly a thousand descendants scattered across Europe, America, Hong Kong, Macau, Southeast Asia, and various parts of China. They regularly return to Jiadongli (the Guo Family Ancestral Temple) to pay respects to their ancestors, making Jiadongli a historical testament to the development of Chaoshan merchants and the traditional culture of clan-based residential communities.

Xinxing Subdistrict: The Xinxing Subdistrict Office is located in the southeastern part of the urban area and serves as the seat of the district government. It borders Fenglin Village of Rongdong Subdistrict to the east, extends to Dongfeng River to the west, is bounded by the southern branch of the Rong River to the south, and reaches Jinxianmen Avenue to the north. The subdistrict covers an area of 3.31 square kilometers, with a population of 50,545. It administers three administrative villages—Dongjiao, Shangyi, and Xiayi—and five community neighborhood committees: Xinxing South, Yihenorth, Yisouth, Henan Road, and Xingdong. … More details about Xinxing Subdistrict ++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Heritage Protection Units of Guangdong Province