Duozhu Huangshi Ancient Walled Village (Huangsiyang Ancient Walled Village)

Duozhu Huangshi Ancient Walled Village (Huangsiyang Ancient Walled Village)

Duozhu Huangshi Ancient Walled Village is located 25 kilometers east of Huidong County and was built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Covering an area of over 200,000 square meters, it remains well-preserved to this day, exuding an ancient charm and atmosphere, with traces of its former glory still visible. The structure of the walled village is unique and imposing, with dry walls made of blue bricks and stone slabs spread throughout, and vivid auspicious totems such as dragons, phoenixes, deer, and cranes can be seen everywhere. Dozens of siheyuan-style buildings, represented by the “Wukui Tower,” have been preserved to this day. Stepping into the ancient residential complex, one will find gate towers, residences, study rooms, ancestral halls, temples, memorial archways, gardens, and wells arranged in a delightful layout. Exquisite wood carvings, stone carvings, brick carvings, lime sculptures, pottery sculptures, and murals—architectural crafts—are found everywhere. Every blade of grass and tree, every brick and tile, has become a vessel for history and culture. Being there allows one to appreciate the lingering charm of the ancient paths paved with cobblestones connecting a series of courtyards rich in Lingnan architectural style. The village’s residents mostly bear the surname Xiao, a family that produced martial arts candidates and tribute students during the Qing dynasty. In the 49th year of the Qianlong reign, Xiao Fenglai, a martial arts imperial examinee, emerged from the family and eventually rose to the rank of Guangxi Regional Commander with the official title of Second Rank. The two existing city gates stand majestically against the mountain terrain. The first gate upon entering the village is called “Huangsiyang,” and the second, “Daxing Gate,” was built during the Jiaqing era of the Qing dynasty. Due to several generations of the Xiao family serving as officials, the Xiao family ancestral hall proudly displays imperial plaques inscribed with “Imperially Bestowed Flower Feather” and “By Imperial Order Awarded Blue Feather.” The ancient residential buildings of the village silently record the lives of four families—the Xiao, Yang, Xu, and Zheng—for over 400 years.

The ancient residential complex of Huangshi Village consists of an outer city and an inner city. The outer city wall is formed by perimeter walls (most of which have been destroyed) and ancient residential walls, enclosing the various-sized siheyuan-style buildings and cobblestone alleys within the inner city, resembling a fortress. In recent years, Huangshi Ancient Walled Village has attracted attention from the fields of cultural relics archaeology due to its unique historical appearance and cultural heritage.

Currently housed in the home of villager Xiao** in Huangsiyang Village, Duozhu Town. There are two imperial edicts, A and B, both made of silk and linen material and dyed, with texts written respectively in Manchu and Chinese. Both are dated “19th day of the 8th month of the 11th year of the Xianfeng reign.” Edict A is 200 cm long and 32 cm wide, with most of the characters still legible. Its content concerns Emperor Xianfeng posthumously conferring the title of Zhao Wu Duwei (a military title) on Xiao ××, father of Xiao Xianzhang, who held the rank of Dusi (military officer) and was a priority candidate for the position of Camp Defender. It also posthumously conferred the title of Gongren (a noble title for women) on Xiao Xianzhang’s mother, Lady Lü, and birth mother, Lady Xiong. Edict B, incomplete, is 160 cm long and 32 cm wide. It concerns Emperor Xianfeng posthumously conferring the title of Zhao Wu Duwei on Xiao ××, grandfather of Xiao Xianzhang, who held the rank of Dusi and was a priority candidate for the position of Camp Defender, and also posthumously conferred the title of Gongren on his grandmother, Lady Chen.

Address: Duozhu Town, Huidong County, Huizhou City (near National Highway 356)

Type: Ancient town and village

Recommended visiting time: 2–3 hours

Opening hours:

Open all day

Ticket information:

No admission fee.