The Mo Ancestral Hall of Machong

The Mo Ancestral Hall of Machong

The Mo Ancestral Hall of Machong is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Mo clan is one of the major communities in Machong, with their ancestors originating from Zhaoqing. In the fifth year of the Jingding era (1264) during the reign of Emperor Lizong of the Song Dynasty, the third-generation ancestor Pei Mo Donghu migrated to Machong (formerly known as ancient Meizhou). By the fourth generation, the lineage split into two branches, known as Nantang (South Sugar) and Beitang (North Sugar). The Nantang branch settled in Xinji and Dongpu (including Jiuwu), while the Beitang branch settled in Dongning (Masan), Xining, Songbaifang, and Xiangbei (territory of Ma Yi) of Machong, thus forming what was called “One Mo Clan, Three Towns.” Mo Donghu is the progenitor of the “Mo Clan Chongben Hall.” By the seventh generation, the ancestor Jian’an established the “Qiyu Mo Clan Ancestral Hall.” Among them, the Donghu Mo Ancestral Hall is located on Xinjijie in Masan Village. Built in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, it faces east with its back to the west and borders the Machong River to the east. The hall consists of three sections: the front gate, central hall, and rear chamber, constructed with blue bricks, stone bases, and a post-and-lintel structure. The Qiyu Mo Clan Ancestral Hall is situated in Yifang, Masan Village, and was built in the mid-Ming Dynasty. Covering an area of about 1,000 square meters, it has a front plaza. The front gate and central hall feature luxurious architecture, with vivid and striking murals. Delicate brick and stone carvings are subtly embedded, and the beams and pillars are exquisitely carved, with lifelike portraits. Scenes such as “Nezha’s Rampage in the Sea,” “The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea,” “The Peach Garden Oath,” “Zhao Zilong Urging His Return,” and “Diao Chan Worshiping the Moon” are arranged in sequence. The Qiyu Mo Clan Ancestral Hall was considered a top-tier ancestral hall in Machong at the time.

Machong Town: Located in the golden hinterland of the Pearl River Delta, at the border between Guangzhou and Dongguan, Machong Town lies 22 kilometers east of downtown Dongguan and 29 kilometers west of downtown Guangzhou, connected by a bridge to the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone. The town covers a total area of 91 square kilometers, with a population of approximately 110,000, including over 70,000 registered residents and 43,000 migrants. It governs 13 village committees and 2 neighborhood committees. The area enjoys a mild climate with an average annual temperature of 22°C, classified as a subtropical maritime climate. It boasts abundant land resources, vast plains, and a 35-kilometer-long coastline.

Since the reform and opening up, especially in the nineties… More details about Machong Town++