Jianliu Ancestral Hall — Site of the Anti-Japanese Democratic Government of Dongguan’s New Third District

Jianliu Ancestral Hall — Site of the Anti-Japanese Democratic Government of Dongguan’s New Third District

Jianliu Ancestral Hall — Site of the Anti-Japanese Democratic Government of Dongguan’s New Third District is located at No. 5 Quanxin Street, Quantang Village, Liaobu Town, with GPS coordinates: 22°58'57.5", 113°52'13.4", and an elevation of 17 meters.

The exact year of Jianliu Ancestral Hall’s construction is unknown, but it currently preserves architectural features from the Qing Dynasty. It faces northeast and is situated southwest, featuring a three-bay, two-courtyard layout with a width of 9.47 meters and a depth of 13.08 meters. The structure is built with a combination of brick, wood, and stone, using a mixed beam frame of raised beams and through-tenon joints. It has a flush-gable roof, with a decorative ridge in the front hall and a dragon boat ridge over the central courtyard. The entrance features a recessed porch, gray barrel tiles with dripping edges, grey brick walls, and red sandstone door frames and plinths.

In December 1944, the New Third District Anti-Japanese Democratic Government was established under the jurisdiction of the Dongguan-Bao’an Administrative Guidance Office. Long Huang served as district head, governing areas including Liaobu, Sangyuan, Liangtang, Wentang, Hengkeng, Fuzhushan, Yuwu, Zhouwu, Zengbu, and Liangping. The district government was headquartered at Jianliu Ancestral Hall in Quantang, Liaobu, where local organizations such as the Peasant Association, Women’s Salvation Association, and health clinic were also set up. Huang Jinpei served as head of the Peasant Association, Huang Tang as commander of the Militia Battalion, Han Kějiàn as the director of the Women’s Salvation Association, with political work teams led by Yuan Weimin and Zeng Ling frequently operating across Liaobu Township. Under the leadership of the New Third District government officials, villagers were organized to carry out anti-Japanese salvation activities and rent and interest reduction campaigns. They actively mobilized young people to join the anti-Japanese guerrilla forces to fight against Japanese puppet troops and counter the sabotage of the Kuomintang diehard forces.

In March 1945, the New Third District was merged into the New First District, and Jianliu Ancestral Hall came under the administration of Quantang Xinwei Village. It is now in a state of disrepair.