Meizhou Shide Hall

Meizhou Shide Hall

Meizhou Shide Hall is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Guangdong Province.

With a history of nearly 400 years, Shide Hall is located in Xiadian Village, Tongpa, Songkou Town, Meixian District, Meizhou City, Guangdong Province. It is a Hakka walled house built in the style of three halls, two wings, and three enclosed dragons, covering an area of nearly 7,000 square meters. Stepping into this ancient structure feels like walking through a grand "imperial palace," with gates outside gates and rooms within rooms—its magnificent scale is truly awe-inspiring. According to Li Hanqian, the 23rd-generation descendant of Shide Hall, the building was constructed in 1645, originally featuring 72 courtyards, 36 halls, 12 gate towers, and 299 rooms, a masterpiece of his ancestors’ wisdom and hard work.

It is said that Shide Hall also has a historical connection: during the late Ming Dynasty, the imperial scholar Li Erhe (also known as Li Shichun), who served as a tutor to the son of the last Ming emperor Chongzhen, Zhu Cixuan, fled to Fujian when the Qing army entered the capital. Upon hearing that his nephew, Li Zhijian, had built Shide Hall in their hometown of Songkou, Li Erhe returned and redesigned much of the hall in the style of an imperial palace, preparing it as a temporary residence for Zhu Cixuan in the event he reclaimed the throne and restored the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming Dynasty crown prince Zhu Cixuan also left other “traces” in Songkou. The 19th day of the third lunar month marks the day Emperor Chongzhen hanged himself. Every year on this date, Li Erhe and Zhu Cixuan would hold a memorial ceremony for the late emperor, referring to the day as the “Sun’s Birthday,” which has since been observed as a folk festival among local Hakka people. Li Hanqian told reporters that every year on the 19th of March, their extended family gathers to worship their ancestors, eat stir-fried noodles, and continue a tradition that has been passed down for generations.

On the raised earth platform of Shide Hall, there are still three tall, lush lychee trees. To the naked eye, the trees stand nearly 20 meters high and require at least four or five people to encircle their trunks. Li Hanqian explained that because the hall is situated at a higher elevation with abundant sunshine all year round—especially intense heat in the summer—his ancestors planted these lychee trees to balance the yin and yang of the residence. He also revealed that these trees were planted when the hall was first built and are as old as Shide Hall itself, with nearly 400 years of history. Originally, there were seven lychee trees, but over time, four have withered and died.

Ancient house, ancient people, ancient customs, ancient trees—all witnessed and heard firsthand by the reporter. Of course, no traditional Hakka walled house is complete without an ancient well. Exiting the main gate, turning right, and passing through two smaller doors, one encounters the weathered ancient well. Li Hanqian explained that the well has never been damaged since its construction, with water that stays cool in winter and refreshing in summer—crystal clear and sweet to the taste. Generations of his family have drunk from it, and descendants who once lived here have carried its legacy forward. The reporter observed that aside from deep rope marks along the rim, the well remains largely unchanged after nearly 400 years of use.

Finally, Li Hanqian expressed concern that although the Li descendants living in Shide Hall occasionally repair the roof tiles and walls, these efforts are only minor fixes. After centuries of wear and tear, many parts of Shide Hall have become dilapidated and urgently require comprehensive restoration and protection.

It is reported that in recent years, the Meizhou municipal government has been committed to protecting ancient villages and traditional houses in order to develop Guangdong’s Meizhou into a cultural tourism hub. Notably, the recent convening of the Second China Ancient Villages Protection and Development Symposium in Meizhou has provided strong momentum for preserving and developing the region’s ancient village resources. Locals expressed confidence that with the attention and involvement of government authorities, the intact historical charm of these ancient villages will help showcase the rich cultural heritage of Meizhou, the hometown of overseas Chinese.

On December 10, 2015, Meizhou Shide Hall was officially approved and announced by the People’s Government of Guangdong Province as part of the Eighth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites.

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites

· Second Batch of Meizhou Municipal Cultural Heritage Sites