Old Village Ancient Village

Old Village Ancient Village

The Old Village in Rongdong Subdistrict, Rongcheng District, has been established since the late Northern Song Dynasty, boasting a history of nearly a thousand years. The village is surrounded by streams and shaded by ancient trees. Its traditional residential architecture retains its original layout and architectural style, while the legends passed down through generations are captivating. The entire village is inhabited by the Chen clan, whose...

During the Chunxi era of the Southern Song Dynasty, to commemorate their founding ancestor, Tai Chou Gong, the Chen descendants jointly built the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, naming it “Youqing Hall.” It is said that the site of the ancestral hall is also a feng shui treasure land, locally referred to as “Yincai Land” (water spinach), because water spinach grows extremely fast. Although the population of Old Village itself is only about 2,000, the branches established from here have grown rapidly with large populations. According to Chen clan members, there are approximately 190 villages derived from Old Village, with a total population of around 1.5 million both domestically and overseas.

There is also a magical local legend about the feng shui of the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall. It is said that the qilin (mythical creature) sculpted on the screen wall in front of the hall was a living qilin, which often sneaked into nearby fields at night to steal crops. To investigate the damage to the crops, the field owner hid in the field and indeed spotted a qilin causing trouble. After the qilin had its fill, the owner quietly followed it back to the ancestral hall, where the creature disappeared right in front of the screen wall. The field owner then nailed down the qilin’s four feet with nails, and from then on, no more crops were stolen. The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall in Old Village features a three-bay, two-fire-alley, two-courtyard layout with a central courtyard and worship pavilion. It faces west and is built with a stone-and-wood bracket-supported structure. The beams are adorned with exquisitely carved wooden decorations that are delicate and vivid. Dozens of official-rank plaques hang under the beams, symbolizing the village’s legacy of producing talented individuals and carrying forward its historical and cultural heritage.

Walking across the spacious front courtyard of the village, enthusiastic villagers introduced us to another long-renowned ancient structure, locally called the “Seven Rooms Across.” This traditional folk building, covering a total area of over 3,000 square meters, is said to have been built by the fourth branch of the Chen Clan’s Youqing Hall. The entire structure has only one central hall door, with a plaque inscribed “Yingchuan Old Home,” and follows a four-courtyard, three-patio layout. Since Old Village is considered a “cow-shaped land,” and this Yingchuan Old Home was built on the “hind legs” of the cow, the descendants of this branch became particularly prosperous. Their wealth is also directly reflected in the fact that they built a “Tu Ku” behind the Seven Rooms Across, which is said to be where the fourth branch stored money and grain. The reason this structure is called a Tu Ku is mainly due to its solid and unique construction quality and style, offering strong anti-theft protection.

The ancient banyan trees in Old Village are also a unique scenic feature. Two banyan trees located at the bridgehead in front of the King’s Palace attract visitors with their distinctive shapes. Villagers explain that one of these banyan trees was originally a kapok tree, which withered for unknown reasons. The aerial roots of a nearby banyan tree then grew downward along the trunk of the kapok tree, gradually enveloping it and growing into a lush banyan tree. Today, the two trees are connected by their branches, thriving with foliage, and locals call them the “Mother and Son Trees.” Additionally, two large banyan trees located at the major intersections north of the ancient village are regarded by villagers as protectors of the old settlement. The tall and upright one is called Shengong (Banyan Father), while the other, sprawling and lush, is called Shenma (Banyan Mother). It is said that villagers take banyan branches or leaves when going out or during weddings to pray for success and peace.

Old Village: The Old Village Community borders Xizhai and Wushi villages in the experimental zone to the east and the northern river of the Rong River to the north. It has a total population of 2,400, 507 households, and covers an area of nearly 700 acres. The main crops planted are bananas, citrus fruits, and others. The community currently has over 20 individual businesses, primarily producing toy micro-motors. The community has also built a comprehensive market and improved its village appearance, striving to create a new, civilized community. … Old Village Detailed Information++