The Ancient Residences of Tangjiatun

The Ancient Residences of Tangjiatun

Tangjiatun belongs to Renyi Village Committee in Guanyang Town, located 1 kilometer from Renyi Village Committee and 5 kilometers from Guanyang Town. The jurisdiction covers an area of approximately 12,000 square meters, with around 580 villagers in total, across 175 households; of these, about 400 are permanent residents, while roughly 180 work away from home. The village has about 300 acres of arable land and about 3,600 acres of forested land. The main economic sources of the village are migrant work and rice cultivation, with an average annual per capita income of about 3,000 yuan.

Tangjiatun is situated at the foot of the Dupang Mountains, enjoying a prime geographical location. The village lies against the Dupang Mountains and faces the Guanjiang River, with a meandering stream (water system) encircling the settlement—backed by mountains and fronted by water, embracing yin and yang in harmony, offering a naturally superior environment. The ancient village was formed before the Yuan Dynasty, with most of its buildings constructed along the mountain contours, creating a landscape that blends nature with human culture. The village features both mountainous and flatland areas, with terrain predominantly mountainous; the forested area spans about 3,600 acres, and the rest consists of paddy fields. Overall, the terrain slopes from north to south. Surrounded by hills, the village is built on a hillside, featuring a mountainous character, with buildings constructed in harmony with the hilly and alluvial plain-dominated landscape. The soil parent materials in the village are diverse due to complex geological changes; limestone parent material and alluvial or diluvial deposits make up the majority. Coupled with factors such as climate, topography, vegetation, and human influence, the village has a variety of soil types including paddy soils with red soil, diluvial, and sandstone shale parent materials, as well as dryland soils like laterite and limestone soils, and even mixed red-yellow soils, limestone forest wasteland soils, among others. The land is relatively flat, suitable for rice cultivation.

The land layout within the village is primarily planned for agricultural production and residential use, and is fairly organized. Land use can be subdivided into: residential land, cultural heritage and historical site land, road land, agricultural and forestry land, water bodies, and burial grounds.

The ancient residences of Tangjiatun are backed by lush green mountains, with open pastoral scenery stretching out in front of the village. The Guanjiang River flows gently around the ancient settlement like a jade ribbon, while ancient camphor and ginkgo trees in the village complement each other beautifully. The flowing waters of the Guanjiang River contribute to an overall spatial layout described as “mountains like painted screens and water like a city wall, ponds like crescent moons and embankments like silk ribbons,” evoking a sense of harmony, natural beauty, and peaceful relaxation. Backed by the Dupang Mountains and facing the Guanjiang River, the riverbanks on both sides are lined with willow trees resembling a jade ribbon, while a pond to the north takes the shape of a crescent moon. The village is also graced with four gate towers at its corners, forming a distinctive landscape of mountains and water. Through careful planning and stewardship by ancestors, the ancient architectural complex features orderly houses, neat lanes, and well-placed river embankments, ancestral halls, and ancient wells, presenting a magnificent sight.

The buildings are all constructed with brick, stone, and timber structures, uniformly built with granite at the base and decorative brickwork above; interiors are paved with bluestone flooring. The lanes are neatly planned, ensuring smooth passage. Houses are arranged in terraced rows, with a clear sense of hierarchy in height. The internal wooden structures feature thick beams and columns, with double-tiered beams and carved lattice windows that allow ample natural light. The layout of the homes generally consists of one or two courtyards. Halls and side rooms are distributed logically according to the terrain, appearing grand and spacious. The architectural features of the Ming Dynasty residences include exterior walls often adorned with five-section "mountain-character" walls, interior main beams curved gracefully, wooden column bases often carved into pendant or upward-facing lotus shapes, and bracket arms extending outward—usually without bracket arms or supports. Window frames are exquisitely and simply carved. Among them, the Tang Clan Ancestral Hall is the most typical example.

The couplet in front of the Tang Clan Ancestral Hall reads: “Mountains like painted screens and water like a city wall, ponds like crescent moons and embankments like silk ribbons.” These fourteen seal script characters shine brightly, carrying deep meaning and quietly revealing the glory and splendor of the family’s founding era.

Source: Guangxi Guanyang County People's Government Website