Ancient Village of Xuri

Ancient Village of Xuri

The Ancient Village of Xuri is situated in Longhua Town, Boluo County, Huizhou. It faces the Dong River, borders the Sha River on the left, is flanked by Taiping Mountain on the right, and leans against Luofu Mountain. There are over 600 surviving ancient residential buildings, most of which are built with brick and tile, forming an architectural complex of Lingnan ancient villages from the Ming and Qing periods. With a history spanning more than 400 years, it is acclaimed as a “model of Lingnan ancient residential architecture” and “Luofu’s No. 1 Ancient Village.” It is also known for a famous “bride’s path.”

With a history of over 400 years, the village has been recognized by experts and scholars as a “model of Lingnan ancient residential architecture.” The architectural complex of Xuri Village features a rigorous layout and a majestic ambiance. It is one of the larger and better-preserved ancient villages in the Lingnan region, reflecting the political, economic, cultural, and folk characteristics of the Ming and Qing periods. The entire village shares a single surname—Chen. The settlement follows a “mountain-water-village-field” spatial pattern. The village retains ancient building complexes from the Ming, Qing, and Republican periods, all distinctly characterized by Lingnan features.

The village currently preserves over 600 ancient residential buildings, all built with brick and tile structures, forming an ancient architectural complex of Lingnan villages from the Ming and Qing periods. This includes components such as ancient ancestral halls, residences, and watchtowers from the Republican era. Among the well-preserved ancient structures are four ancestral halls and the former residence of Chen Baiwan. In 2010, the residence of Chen Baiwan, the Luofeng Ancestral Hall of Chen, and the Pinjun Ancestral Hall of Chen were designated as provincial-level cultural heritage protection units.

Each building in the ancient village features halls, rooms, courtyards, corridors, and more. Notably, the residence of Chen Baiwan—known as “Weiyuan,” along with the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall—preserves exquisite painted art, plaster carvings, wood carvings, and stone carvings. Its drainage system remains functional. This clan-based settlement connects homes with each other via corridors. The houses are arranged neatly and symmetrically. The entire ancient residential complex adapts to the mountainous terrain with varying heights and a well-distributed layout. Ancestral halls, courtyards, and back gardens are designed with refined elegance, incorporating profound feng shui concepts within their architectural layouts, making it a true “model of Lingnan ancient residential architecture.” The village also offers scenes of small bridges over flowing streams and pastoral landscapes, embodying the harmonious coexistence of heaven, earth, and humanity in Lingnan rural villages during the Ming and Qing eras. These elements vividly showcase the aesthetic philosophy and living sentiments rooted in the ancient farming culture of Lingnan villages.

The ancient residences in Xuri Village are mainly constructed with blue bricks, grey tiles, or rammed earth walls, featuring a timber-frame structure with three sections and two corridors, or two sections and three bays. The most representative is the residence of Chen Baiwan, also known as “Weiyuan.” Constructed in the 29th year of the Qianlong reign (1764), it took four years to complete, covering a total area of about 7,000 square meters with over 90 rooms. The architectural layout is rectangular, divided into the east gate and the main house. Entering through the east gate, one passes through corridors, a central granite-paved courtyard, side rooms, a study, and a garden. The main house is meticulously arranged with a grid of three rows and five columns, using the central hall as the axis and extending sideways with side rooms. The entire structure remains well-preserved to this day. The back garden and other areas are laid out in a refined and orderly fashion, demonstrating the grandeur of a wealthy family at the time, as well as reflecting the construction techniques and artistic standards of the era.

Address: Xuri Village, Longhua Town, Boluo County, Huizhou City, Guangdong Province

The residence of Chen Baiwan was built in the 11th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1746). It faces south and measures 46 meters in width and 32 meters in depth, covering a total area of over 1,472 square meters. It features a flush-gable roof, a dragon boat ridge, and yin-yang tiles. The lower part of the walls is built with granite, while the upper section consists of clear-water blue bricks. The entrance gate of the first section is a recessed door; upon entering, there is a lower hall with a screen door in the center and side rooms on both sides. The central courtyard floor is paved entirely with granite. The second section includes side rooms on both sides of the central hall. The third section’s upper hall houses an ancestral shrine for worshipping the family’s ancestral tablets, with side rooms on either side. According to local custom, when a boy is born in the village, a lantern is hung in the upper hall to signify the joy of adding a new family member.

The entire structure boasts a rigorous layout, a majestic presence, and remains well-preserved. The plaster carvings and murals on the walls are exquisitely crafted, and there is a spacious open area in front of the gate. It provides tangible material for the study of local Qing-era ancient architecture and folklore.

The Luofeng Ancestral Hall of Chen: Originally built in the 6th year of the Xianfeng reign (1856), it is a provincial-level cultural heritage protection unit. Chen Luofeng was the son of Chen Baiwan. This is the most ornate ancestral hall. Experts have noted that its painted art, wood carvings, stone carvings, and plaster decorations represent the highest level of craftsmanship of the time.

The Pingbo Ancestral Hall of Chen: The exact date of its establishment is unknown. Chen Pingbo was Chen Baiwan’s great-uncle. The ancestral hall is distinctive for its cultural elements, including houses, a stage, ancient trees, and clear water.

The Pinjun Ancestral Hall of Chen: Constructed in the 28th year of the Qianlong reign, it is a provincial-level cultural heritage protection unit. Chen Pinjun was Chen Baiwan’s uncle. This uniquely styled ancestral hall features red stone pillars and red stone walls—a design that only prominent individuals could afford at the time, as Chen Pinjun’s son held an official position in the imperial court. The red ancestral hall symbolized status and rank.

Xuri Village: Located in Longhua Town, Boluo County, Huizhou City, Xuri Village lies to the north of Longhua Town, approximately 1 kilometer from the Longhua market town. Covering an area of 365 mu, it consists of seven villager groups including Weiyuan and Dongyuan. It currently has 400 households with a permanent population of about 1,830 people. The jurisdiction spans around 4.5 square kilometers. The entire village shares a single surname—Chen. The main economic activity is agriculture. As the Chen ancestors were Hakka migrants from the south, the ancient village has developed the typical characteristics of a Hakka clan settlement.

Xuri Village currently preserves over 600 ancient residential buildings, all built with brick and tile structures, forming an ancient architectural complex from the Ming and Qing periods... More detailed information about Xuri Village ++