Hakka Walled House —— Bilian Building (Former Residence of Yap Ah Loy)

Hakka Walled House —— Bilian Building (Former Residence of Yap Ah Loy)

Hakka Walled House —— Bilian Building (Former Residence of Yap Ah Loy) is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

Bilian Building is located in Zhoutian Village, Qiuchang Subdistrict. It was the former residence of Yap Ah Loy, a renowned overseas Chinese leader in the Qing Dynasty known as the "Father of Kuala Lumpur," and is about 1 kilometer away from the Ye Clan Ancestral Hall. Built in 1889, it was donated and constructed by Yap Ah Loy after he became prosperous and returned to his hometown, symbolizing his success.

Hakka Walled House —— Bilian Building

Bilian Building was constructed using traditional Hakka architectural techniques. Inside, there are courtyards of various shapes, with a practical and well-arranged structure. It is a typical traditional four-sided Hakka walled house in the Huizhou area, with the main gate opening onto a spacious open-air courtyard. In front lies a semi-circular pond, at either end of which stand symmetrically paired flagpole stands (achievement steles). The building has a rectangular floor plan, over 60 meters in length and nearly 37 meters in width, with a construction area of nearly 2,000 square meters.

From a distance, it stands majestically against the mountain. The luxury of the past can still be seen in its grand and imposing architecture. Compared to many other ancient residences, Bilian Building is particularly magnificent, with its layered roof, ornate outer eaves, and finely carved beams, tile edges, and panels. The interior walls are adorned with exquisite murals.

The stone-carved plaque inscribed with the three characters “Bilian Building,” embedded above the main gate, was written by Jiang Fengchen, a famous literary talent of the Qing Dynasty. Above it stands a decorative archway, with the upper section of the wall featuring double-curved ridge ends with upturned corners. The watchtower’s ridge ends are decorated with gray plaster carvings of classical patterns, and its vertical ridges also have curved upturned corners, adding liveliness and elegance. Upon entering the gate tower, one encounters a courtyard connected to three inner doors aligned horizontally. The walled house is divided vertically into three sections; the central inner door leads to a three-courtyard-deep traditional ancestral hall, while the other two inner doors lead to residential sections on either side. These residential areas are separated by wide courtyards, each further divided into units with “sky wells,” forming an architectural marvel known as the “nine skies and eighteen wells.” The gate tower, ancestral hall, living quarters, and watchtower are all interconnected via corridors, walkways, and verandas, with courtyards arranged in an engaging layout. The spatial arrangement is highly rational and practical, making the entire structure cohesive and majestic.

The artistic decorations of the walled house are primarily found on the exterior and inside the ancestral hall, while the living quarters focus more on practicality. The outer walls and corner watchtowers feature flying eaves that not only protect the walls but also add layers of visual interest. The central ancestral hall adopts a post-and-lintel construction style, with an elegant tone and exquisitely detailed ornamentation. The front hall and central chamber each have screen doors. The left and right wing rooms of the front courtyard, the central chamber, and both sides of the front eaves are equipped with carved wooden screens. Beams, columns, bracket sets, and spandrels are all adorned with bas-relief and openwork carvings featuring themes of flowers, birds, animals, and more. These are further enhanced with gold lacquer and colorful paintings, giving a luxurious and splendid impression. Inside, traditional-themed calligraphy and paintings add a refined and tasteful touch alongside their visual appeal.

In 2010, the People’s Government of Guangdong Province designated it as part of the sixth batch of cultural relic protection units in the province.

Location

Zhoutian Village, Qiuchang Subdistrict, Huiyang District, Huizhou City, Guangdong Province

Source: Local Chronicles Office of Huiyang District, Huizhou City

Yap Ah Loy (1837–1885)

Yap Ah Loy, originally named Maolan and styled Delai, was from Zhoutian Village, Qiuchang Town, Huiyang County, Guangdong. Born into a poor farming family, he attended private school for two years before starting to earn a living herding cattle or doing odd jobs at the age of 14.

In 1854, during the fourth year of the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty, Yap Ah Loy went abroad with fellow villagers to Malaya, rich in tin mines, in search of a livelihood. He first worked at a fish farming pond in the small town of Lukut, about 10 miles north of Malacca. Four months later, through the introduction of a clan uncle, he became an assistant at a grocery store in Kisah. In early 1856, during the sixth year of Xianfeng, guided by fellow villagers, he began working at a tin mine... [More details about Yap Ah Loy]

Zhoutian Village: Zhoutian Village embodies the "millennial Hakka culture, century-old revolutionary heritage, and overseas Chinese culture" of Qiuchang Town all within one village. It is the site of the former residences of Yap Ah Loy, Ye Ting, and Liao Siguang. As a revolutionary village, it produced six generals from both the modern bourgeois revolution and the proletarian revolution, along with over forty proletarian revolutionary martyrs. The Ye Ting Memorial Park, standing in Zhoutian Village, is a national patriotic education base. It forms a classic coastal red tourism destination through the integration of Hakka culture, overseas Chinese culture, red culture, and natural ecological resources. In May 2014, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development awarded Zhoutian Village... [More details about Zhoutian Village]

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units in Guangdong Province