Maosheng Family Residence

Maosheng Family Residence

The Maosheng Family Residence is a provincial-level cultural heritage site in Guangdong Province.

Situated on Maosheng Road in Henggang Subdistrict, Shenzhen, the Maosheng Family Residence is a typical Hakka walled village — a multifunctional architectural style unique to the Hakka people and one of China's five major types of vernacular dwellings. It is a provincial-level cultural heritage site in Guangdong Province.

This ancient Hakka walled village was built during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty and has a history of over 190 years. It is the most well-preserved large-scale Hakka residential structure in the Shenzhen area and is designated as a provincial-level cultural heritage site in Guangdong. The residences within the walled complex largely retain their original appearance, and both the crescent-shaped pond at the front and the fengshui forest at the rear have been preserved intact — features that are rare among surviving walled villages in Shenzhen.

The Maosheng Family Residence is a rectangular, fortress-like structure, 83 meters wide and 73 meters long, covering a construction area of 6,200 square meters. The surrounding walls are 7 meters high and 70 centimeters thick, built from a compact mixture of lime, sticky rice, and brown sugar — creating an exceptionally solid structure. The walls are dotted with gun ports, and watchtowers are positioned at each corner to provide mutual cover, endowing the residence with formidable defensive capabilities. These features reflect the hardships faced by the Hakka people through generations of migration and settlement in foreign lands, as well as the resulting strong sense of security awareness.

The overall layout of the Maosheng Family Residence is rigorously planned and grandly constructed. The watchtowers at each corner of the walled village share a uniform design, featuring upturned eaves and imposing ridgelines adorned with eight spear-like ornaments pointing skyward, exuding a majestic aura. Upon entering through the main gate, there are two courtyards in sequence, flanked by four symmetrical sections. The surrounding buildings face inward toward the center, clustering around the ancestral hall — a representation of familial unity and the strictness of clan hierarchy. Aside from the main gate, there are side gates on either side, embodying the saying “When the gates are open, it’s a community of a hundred families; when closed, it’s one united household.”

Hakka walled villages often follow a layout described as “nine halls, eighteen courtyards, and watchtower wings at the four corners,” and the Maosheng Family Residence belongs to this category. Its architectural style incorporates European-style elements and components, setting it apart from the more purely traditional Hakka designs — a feature that adds to its uniqueness. This reflects the influence of maritime culture due to the coastal location, as well as the Hakka people’s characteristic openness and adaptability to diverse cultures.

The Maosheng Family Residence faces southwest, with a semi-circular pond of over 300 square meters in front, shaped like a drawn bow ready to release an arrow. Behind the residence, it is said that there used to be dozens of acres of lush mountain forest with towering ancient trees; unfortunately, it has since been reduced to a small park, though it remains shaded and verdant.

The Maosheng Family Residence provides an invaluable cultural legacy for understanding the ancient Hakka people’s emphasis on geomantic principles in residential architecture, as well as the overall architectural character of Hakka dwellings.

On July 17, 2002, it was included in the fourth batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites.

Henggang Subdistrict: The former Henggang Town was abolished and re-established as Henggang Subdistrict. The subdistrict administers the same administrative region previously covered by Henggang Town, encompassing nine village committees and four communities, with a total area of 83.97 square kilometers and a population of 179,000. The subdistrict office is located in the former Henggang Town Government Building.

Henggang Subdistrict is located in eastern Shenzhen, adjacent to Hong Kong and Macau, and serves as a key transportation hub connecting Shenzhen to Huizhou, Meizhou, Shantou, Fujian, and other regions. It lies 18 kilometers from downtown Shenzhen, covers a total area of 70.6 square kilometers, and is an industrial hub in the eastern part of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. The subdistrict governs 15 communities... More details about Henggang Subdistrict ++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites