Linzhai Ancient Village

Linzhai Ancient Village

Linzhai Ancient Village is a protected cultural heritage site of Guangdong Province.

Linzhai Ancient Village is located in Heping County, Heyuan City, and is a settlement predominantly inhabited by the Chen clan. Historical records indicate that the village was established during the Qin Dynasty, prior to 214 BCE. When Emperor Qin Shi Huang dispatched troops southward, Zhao Tuo, the King of Nanyue, assigned a General Lin under his command to build a stronghold here to defend against invaders. The settlement was later named after the general’s surname. During the Qing Dynasty and the Republican era, villagers of Linzhai constructed an extensive complex of traditional residences — the Four-Corner Towers. Each tower covers an area ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 square meters, with watchtowers at each corner standing 8 to 10 meters high. The main structures follow a three-courtyard, hall-style layout, presenting a grand and well-arranged architectural ensemble. These are classic Hakka-style square enclosed houses. Based on different historical origins, each Four-Corner Tower was given an elegant name, such as Xinchao Yi Di, Yongzhen Lou, Fuqian Lou, Qianguang Lou, Baosan Lou, Jiudong Wu, Shiměi Lou, Dangpu, and Meijin Dongnan.

The village houses over 200 ancient residences dating from the Qing Dynasty and the Republican era, forming the largest complex of Four-Corner Tower architecture in China. It served as a viewing site for the 23rd World Hakka Conference and has been recognized as one of the province's first ancient villages, as well as being listed among the “Top Ten Most Beautiful Ancient Villages in Guangdong,” and as a “Famous Village in Chinese Ethnic Architectural Cultural Heritage.” The ancient towers, lanes, wells, stone carvings, wood carvings, paintings, and calligraphy by notable figures offer significant value for both appreciation and archaeology.

During the Qing Dynasty and the Republican era, villagers of Linzhai built an extensive complex of traditional residences, which are classic Hakka-style square enclosed houses. Each covers an area ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 square meters, with watchtowers at each corner standing 8 to 10 meters high. The main structures follow a three-courtyard, hall-style layout.

Linzhai Ancient Village boasts a history of over two thousand years and preserves unique “Eight Antiquities”: ancient lanes, wells, walls, roads, temples, pavilions, bridges, and trees. In addition to inheriting Hakka culture, it also integrates elements of Cantonese, Hoklo, and even Western cultures. Various cultures have coexisted and merged here. Through the convergence, evolution, and transformation of these diverse influences, the village has developed the distinctive “Eight Wonders of the Ancient Village,” including “boats climbing stairs,” “mugwort and wormwood hanging above doorways,” “long-lived elders throughout the village,” “wearing wooden clogs as if riding horses,” “playing finger-guessing games by the streams,” “the Dragon King daring to be sunbaked,” “streets never flooded,” and “burning garbage in bonfires.” Towering amidst the village’s streets and fields is what may be the largest and best-preserved complex of Hakka-style Four-Corner Watchtower residences in China, still standing proudly.

Near the southern gate of the ancient village lies the Sima Di residence, initially built during the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty. It is said that the scholar-official Chen Hongming purchased this auspicious piece of land by laying out silver as flooring. Since it consists of three buildings connected in sequence to form nine units, it is also called Jiudong Wu (Nine-Unit House). After the liberation, it served as the canteen of Lijiang Commune and a Mao Zedong Thought cultural room, but it has now been renovated into an agricultural exhibition hall.

“Sima” was an ancient central government official title, equivalent to a ministerial-level position, similar to positions such as Zhongxian Dafu, Fengzheng Dafu, and Chao Yi Dafu. This building, also called Jiudong Wu, refers to the collective name for three buildings — Sima Di, Chao Yi Di, and Shangxin Wu — connected in sequence to form nine units. Built in the second year of the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty, over 200 years ago, it was constructed by Chen Hongming, who held the title of Chao Yi Dafu.

The lintel of the main gate features a carved design of “A Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate,” symbolizing the Hakka people’s emphasis on education and the pursuit of academic success. The plaque above the gate, inscribed with “Sima Di,” was written by Huang Jinji, a local scholar and former magistrate of Xinning. The couplet reads: “Sima guards the virtues of the ages; steeds gallop toward the future.” The building has been converted into an “Agricultural Museum,” displaying various tools used in rural production and the processing of agricultural by-products.

The Sima Di residence is situated on a feng shui treasure site of the ancient village. Legend says that silver was once laid out on the ground where the house was built — however much silver covered, that much land was bought, creating the marvel known as “silver paving the earth.” The structure follows a mansion-style design, with exquisitely crafted screen partitions and uniquely styled carved woodwork. The gilded wood carvings remain remarkably well-preserved even after 200 years, representing exquisite artistry with gold leaf inlays.

The central hall is carved with the phrase “Delighting in Good Deeds Without Weariness,” reflecting the daily virtue of the owner — no act of kindness is too small; practice one daily, and joy will follow. The lower hall’s archway is inscribed with “Lv Zhong” (Following the Middle Path), meaning to practice the Doctrine of the Mean. As noted in Liu Xiang’s *Shuoyuan·Xiawen*: “Accumulate righteousness and harmony, follow the middle path, and practice good deeds.”

At the entrance of the village stands the “Xiazhen Pawnshop,” built in the 25th year of the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty. It was a rural bank jointly established by wealthy locals. Specializing in accepting pawned items and issuing high-interest loans, it offered fair rates, catered to urgent needs, and conducted business with integrity — ensuring its lasting prosperity. The site retains beautifully crafted plaques promoting the Doctrine of the Mean. It is said that the shrine to the Door God inside the building is particularly efficacious — those who pray sincerely for wealth or blessings are sure to be answered.

In front of the southern gate lies a “Thousand-Year-Old Well.” Historical records state that in the third year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, when the founding ancestor of the Chen clan, Yuankun Gong, first dredged the well, a stone tablet inscribed with the achievements of the Cai family’s top imperial scholar was unearthed, testifying to the well’s origins in the Qin or Han dynasties. The water is clean, remaining warm in winter and cool in summer. Peering into its depths, one senses its unfathomable mystery, echoing the passage of its long history. Though battered by wind and sun, the well remains unchanged — steadfastly gazing at the sky above, gushing forth crisp, clear water to nourish all who have lived, traveled, or passed through.

Xuanyi Di is a new building erected by Chen Jingzhong, the great-grandson of Xingtang. Chen Jingzhong, courtesy name Baosan, lent the building its local nickname due to an extravagant wall clock painted on the attic ceiling — a fashionable, ever-static “bagua clock” forever pointing to 9:00. Locals joked that Baosan’s clock was accurate twice a day, so they simply called the building Baosan.

Among the many Four-Corner Towers, the most representative is the Qianguang Lou, built in the ninth year of the Republic of China (1920). Its owner, Chen Yunting, was prodded into constructing it by his mother using reverse psychology. The Qianguang Lou features a five-courtyard, three-building design with 11 courtyards, 18 halls, 84 rooms per floor, totaling 324 rooms. The front has four arcaded verandas, making for a uniquely majestic appearance.

The beams and pillars are adorned with floral patterns, while the screens and plaques feature intricate gold-lacquered wood carvings of extraordinary beauty. The residence comes fully furnished and exemplifies the estate of a wealthy family. Before the liberation, it served as an important site for both Nationalist and Communist activities. The headquarters of the Second Brigade of the East River Guerrilla Forces was once stationed here, commanding troops advancing southward to liberate Guangzhou and Hainan Island, adding an air of legend to the site.

The building includes a four-story tower constructed mainly from lime plaster walls, firebricks, century-old timber, and hard granite slabs. The courtyard and corridor edges are inlaid with uneven lengths of granite. The plaques above the doors, beams, windows, and railings were crafted with exceptional finesse, featuring carved scripts, paintings, and inscriptions in gold material — all of high ornamental value. Unfortunately, in the early 21st century, a fire caused by aging wiring destroyed the northeast corner of the tower’s four, which has yet to be restored.

Chen Ruishan, the third wealthiest Chen clan member in the village, was a renowned longevity star. His new residence, the Dafu Di (Grand Official Mansion), also called Fúqiān Lóu (Fortune-Humble Tower), is said to have excellent feng shui, bringing prosperity in descendants and wealth, nurturing many talented individuals who contributed to national stability and peace.

Yongzhen Lou resembles a castle in shape and features defensive structures on its roof — a covered walkway for patrolling guards. In times of threat, family soldiers would hold their ground here, making the building extremely fortified and nearly impregnable.

Yongzhen Lou is the tallest structure in the ancient village. It was the new residence of Chen Xingtang, who was honored with the title of Chao Yi Dafu (from the fourth rank) and was a candidate for prefect during the Qianlong Jiayin year of the Qing Dynasty. As one of the earlier Four-Corner Towers, Yongzhen Lou boasts a unique design and imposing presence, with winding paths, interconnected rooms, watchtowers, alleys, a well, and a stable — all essential features. It was said to be impenetrable; during the Xianfeng era, Taiping Rebellion general Shi Dakai’s forces reportedly failed to take it after a prolonged siege. Later, the imperial court ordered the removal of its four corner turrets to appease bandit concerns.

The couplet at Yongzhen Lou reads: “Eternal attainment of all blessings; enduring harmony for ten thousand years.” Currently leased by a Hong Kong businessman, the tower has been converted into a private club-style ancient castle inn. It also serves snacks — perfect for refueling with a bowl of cold jelly or pickled radish after exploring the ancient village.

Xunnan Lou was built in the sixth year of the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty (1847) as a pawnshop owned by Chen Xiangting’s grandfather, Chen Yunián, a wealthy Linzhai figure. It served as an early rural bank in the region, with branches established by its affiliates in Longchuan, Heyuan, Lianping, Xingmei, southern Jiangxi, and Guangxi — reflecting the grandeur of Dongjiang merchants.

Yingchuan Jiujia is located in Xingjing Village, Linzhai Town, Heping County, Heyuan City, Guangdong Province. It was built in 1929 by Chen Lüzhong (courtesy name Zhengqing, who served as a member of the Heping County Council in the second year of the Republic of China, a member of the Guangdong Provincial Council in the seventh year, and as magistrate of Heping County in the ninth year). The central plaque, engraved with “Yingchuan Jiujia” in regular script, is signed by Tan Zekai in the Gengwu year (1930).

The structure is square in overall plan, three stories high, with a tiled and purlin-supported framework. The layout is arranged symmetrically along a central axis in a two-courtyard, two-wing style. The central axis features, in sequence, the main gate, entrance hall, middle hall, and upper hall. The side wings are three-story, covered corridor-style buildings. A 25-meter-long, 3-meter-wide courtyard in front provides ventilation and lighting. The interior stone and wood components are richly decorated with intricate openwork and relief carvings of plants, deer, qilins, pheasants, vases, and narrative scenes — all exquisitely crafted, vividly lifelike, and still gleaming with gold lacquer.

Stone pillars in the middle hall bear a couplet composed by famed calligrapher Wu Daorong: “Auspicious omens foretold prosperity inherited from ancestors, ushering in a new realm in this noble lane; bear-like portents promise exceptional futures, urging descendants to uphold virtue and sing praises of harmony, revealing the grand scale of a house of righteousness.” Inscriptions such as “Serve the country with loyalty,” “Practice thrift in managing the household,” “Uphold filial piety and kinship,” and “Always keep the greater vision in mind” adorn the partition doors and screens. Compared to the earlier “Four-Point Gold” enclosed houses, Yingchuan Jiujia places less emphasis on defense and more on aesthetic utility. It features three external gates, allowing direct side entry into the wings without passing through the main gate. The well is also located outside on the yard, reducing indoor humidity. Larger courtyards enhance airflow and light. The wings are designed as modern corridor-style buildings, improving livability.

Xingjing Village: This ancient village settlement in Xingjing Village, Linzhai Town, Heping County, Heyuan City, Guangdong Province, is a typical representation of Hakka landlord residences, with the “Qianguang Lou,” “Yingchuan Jiujia,” and “Zhongxian Di” being the most iconic.

In September 2006, it was designated as a cultural heritage site by Heyuan City; on September 23, 2008, it was listed among the first 27 ancient villages of Guangdong by the Guangdong Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Folk Artists Association. In January 2009, it was officially awarded the title “Ancient Village of Guangdong Province.”

The ancient village of Xingjing Village has been inhabited since the ninth year of the Zhizheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1349). It lies against a small hilly ridge to the north... More details on Xingjing Village ++

Further reading:

· Eighth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Heritage Conservation Units