Nanshi Chen Ancestral Hall — Site of the Anti-Japanese Democratic Government of Dongguan’s Xin District

Nanshi Chen Ancestral Hall — Site of the Anti-Japanese Democratic Government of Dongguan’s Xin District

Nanshi Chen Ancestral Hall — Site of the Anti-Japanese Democratic Government of Dongguan’s Xin District is located beside No. 166, Nanshi Area, Dalang Town. Originally built during the Xuande era of the Ming Dynasty, it underwent two renovations in the fourth year of the Daoguang reign (1824) and in 2002. GPS coordinates: 22°57'02.5", 113°55'45.0", with an elevation of 26 meters.

On May 15, 1944, the Anti-Japanese Democratic Government of Dongguan’s Xin District in western Lu officially announced its establishment at Nanshi Chen Ancestral Hall in Xiangwei Village. It governed areas including Dongkeng, Meitang, and Dalang. Zhao Dusheng served as district head, while Lu Jianming, Gu Haisheng, and Chen Jianquan were district members. The government set up three committees: the Anti-Japanese Self-Defense Committee, the Production and Construction Committee, and the United Villages Committee. Among them, the Anti-Japanese Self-Defense Committee had an armed squadron of about sixty to seventy people. In June of the same year, the Meichangtang Office of the Xin District Government was established, overseeing Meitang, Changjiang, and Tangxia. The office had a guerrilla team of 5 to 7 members and a standing force of 50 to 70 people. In March 1945, the former Xin San District Anti-Japanese Democratic Government, originally based in Liaobu, was disbanded, and its jurisdiction — including Liaoxin Township, Puzhi Township, Wentang Township, Laojiu Township, Liangheng Township, and Shibei Township — was merged into Xin District. At that time, Xin District comprised 10 townships and 90 natural villages, spread along both sides of the Dongcheng Railway line, covering an area of over 230 square kilometers with a population of approximately 76,000 and arable land of more than 100,000 mu. Between 1944 and the autumn of 1945, when the First Detachment of the Dongjiang Column was stationed in Dalang, most of its troops were based at Nanshi Chen Ancestral Hall. During the Anti-Japanese War, the Xin District Government played a leading role in supporting the military, expanding forces, establishing governance, and developing the economy in the Dongbao region of western Lu, making significant contributions to fundraising and grain supply for the troops.

Dalang Town: A central town of Guangdong Province, Dalang is located in the central-southern part of Dongguan, covering an area of 118 square kilometers. It administers 28 communities (villages), with a registered population of 68,000 and a floating population of over 400,000. In the agricultural era, Dalang was known as the “Litchi Capital of China.” In recent years, it has been awarded titles such as “China’s Famous Woolen Sweater Town,” “China’s Famous Electronics Industry Town,” and “National Health Town” by the China National Textile and Apparel Council, the China Electronics Chamber of Commerce, and the National Patriotic Health Campaign Committee, respectively. It has also been recognized as a Guangdong Provincial Strong Education Town, Advanced Sports Town, Pilot Unit for Technical Innovation in Specialized Towns, and Hometown of Ethnic and Folk Arts in Guangdong... More details about Dalang Town++