Hukeng Ancient Village

Hukeng Ancient Village

Hukeng Village is located in the northern suburbs of Bomei Town, Lufeng City, Guangdong Province. In front of the village gate stands a Yao’dou Pond, beyond which paddy fields stretch from north to south, and rolling hills connect around the settlement. The Banwan River flows behind the village toward Wukan Port at the southern end. Surrounding the village are dozens of types of trees, including banyans, green bamboos, and litchi trees, with several banyan trees being 500–600 years old old!

Hukeng Village currently has thirteen ancient ancestral halls and traditional residences that date back many years. The ancestral hall styles include clan halls, family shrines, ancestral houses, and "Four-Point Gold" layouts; the architectural designs of the traditional homes include "Descending Tiger," "Two-Room Straight," "Single-Shoe," and "Enclosed Roof Wrap," among others.

The oldest structure in the village, the Lin Clan Ancestral Hall, covers an area of 326 square meters and is said to be related to Lin Deyong, a martial arts champion from Chaozhou during the Qing Dynasty. While the Ming Dynasty's Lin Dacheng, also a Chaozhou scholar-official champion, is well known, the Qing Dynasty's martial champion Lin Deyong remains relatively obscure. Legend has it that when Lin Deyong and his servant were on their way to the capital for the imperial exams, passing through Kuitan, Xiangkou, and Datoutou, they arrived in Hukeng Village as dusk fell and asked for lodging. The ancestors of the Lin family in Hukeng, seeing Lin Deyong’s dignified appearance and sharing the same surname, warmly welcomed them; they first arranged rooms for the guests and then provided generous meals. Touched by their kindness, Lin Deyong stayed for some time in Hukeng to rest and freshen up. The Hukeng ancestors not only took great care of Lin Deyong and his servant but also prayed to the gods for his success in the exams. When Lin Deyong was about to depart, the Hukeng ancestors specially donated 320 taels of silver and gold to support his journey. On the day of departure, the entire Hukeng clan saw them off respectfully to Chongkou Ferry to board the boat.

Deeply grateful for the hospitality he had received in Hukeng, Lin Deyong, after becoming the champion, returned to his hometown in glory and personally visited the Lin Clan Ancestral Hall in Hukeng Village to offer incense and pay his respects. He also presented a plaque inscribed with the word “Champion” as a token of gratitude for the kindness shown to him by the villagers. The plaque hung for many years in the central hall of the ancestral hall but unfortunately was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. However, a plaque inscribed with “Praise to the Prefecture and Promote Strategy,” gifted by the Qing official Lin Guojun, still hangs in the central hall to this day.

The Lin Clan Ancestral Hall has a history of over 500 years. Through the long passage of time and the changes of dynasties, it has been repaired across generations yet retains its original appearance.

Other significant structures in the village include the Xifeng Family Ancestral Hall, Xichi Family Ancestral Hall, and Xitao Family Ancestral Hall. The Xifeng Family Ancestral Hall follows the traditional “Descending Tiger” architectural style and covers an area of 152 square meters. The Xichi Family Ancestral Hall features a “Descending Tiger Double Reverse Reflection” design and spans 320 square meters. The Xitao Family Ancestral Hall also adopts the “Descending Tiger” style and occupies 152 square meters. All three ancestral halls were built during the Ming Dynasty and hold significant research value.

Bomei Town: Bomei Town is situated in the eastern part of Lufeng City. It borders Neihu Town to the east, Chengdong Town to the west, faces Qiaochong Town across Wukan Port to the south, and is backed by Beiyang and Bawan Towns to the north. The town covers a total area of 66 square kilometers with a population of 67,000, governing 12 village (neighborhood) committees. It is one of the major grain-producing areas in Lufeng City. Bomei Town boasts a superior geographical location and highly convenient transportation. Guangzhou–Shanwei Highway and Shenzhen–Shanwei Expressway run from west to east across the entire territory, while the Jieshi (Stone)–Bomei–Hekou Highway stretches from south to north. The town is just over 14 kilometers from downtown Lufeng and approximately 30 kilometers from Jiazi Port and Jieshi Port. … More information about Bomei Town++