Fude Hall

Fude Hall

Fude Hall is a cultural relics protection unit of Guǎngdōng Province.

Fude Hall is located in Beitang Village, Xihé Town, Dàbù County, Méizhōu City. It was first built in the second year of the Xuantong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1910) by overseas Chinese businessman Zhāng Sháoguāng, also known as Zhāng Shùnqīng (who served as the steward for the “Red-Topped Merchant” Zhāng Bìshì). Its structure, size, and layout are essentially the same as those of the provincial-level key cultural relics protection site — the former residence of Zhāng Bìshì, known as Guānglù Dì. The hall faces west and sits eastward, with lower front and higher back sections. It features a three-courtyard layout with four wing rooms and one enclosed building. The front section consists of single-story buildings, while the rear has two-story structures. On either side of the front courtyard are wing rooms, and there is a crescent-shaped pond in front of the house. The total width is 61.2 meters, the depth is 58.3 meters, and the overall floor area is about 4,500 square meters. The central section has three bays, with the three courtyards separated by atriums, comprising nine halls and eighteen courtyards. The structure uses a post-and-lintel system with load-bearing walls and features a roof of alternating yin-yang tiles. The main gate has a stone door frame, with the characters “Fude Hall” inscribed on the lintel. The arches and horizontal beams are adorned with carvings, while wooden carved spandrels flank the columns. The central columns rest on hexagonal pedestals, and the eave columns on circular ones. The wooden components of the hall are exquisitely carved. This building holds certain historical value for studying the Hakka people of Dàbù County’s emphasis on education and culture, as well as their residential architecture.

In December 2015, it was announced by the People's Government of Guǎngdōng Province as part of the eighth batch of cultural relics protection units.

Beitang Village: Located in the northwest of Xihé, Dàbù County, Méizhōu City, Beitang Village administers 28 villager groups, with 683 registered households and a population of 2,596. The village covers a total area of 10.83 square kilometers, including 898 acres of arable land. The annual average temperature is 26°C, with an annual precipitation of about 1,560 mm, characterized by a warm climate and moderate rainfall. Major cash crops include honey pomelo, watermelon, sweet corn, and vegetables. The village’s featured economic income comes from honey pomelo, watermelon, sweet corn, and vegetables. In the previous year, the total rural economic income of the village was 16.62 million yuan. …… More detailed information about Beitang Village ++

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of Cultural Relics Protection Units of Guǎngdōng Province

· Second Batch of Cultural Relics Protection Units of Méizhōu City