Longtian Settlement

Longtian Settlement

Longtian Settlement is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Guangdong Province.

The Qing-era Longtian Settlement in Shenzhen is located in Kengzi Town, Longgang District, Shenzhen. Also known as Longtian Wei or Shangtian Wei, it is called Tianxin Village due to its location in the fields. It is a fortified-style residential complex built in 1837 (the 17th year of the Daoguang reign in the Qing Dynasty) by the Hakka people of the Huang clan. The settlement has a circular layout and is divided into two enclosures.

The outer enclosure includes a 1-meter-high front wall, a 16-meter-wide moat, a 4-meter-high rear wall, an outer gate, a bridge, a threshing ground, and residential buildings on both sides.

The inner enclosure is situated to the south and faces north, located in the center. It measures 65.5 meters in width and 72.4 meters in depth, covering an area of 4,750 square meters. It includes a main gate on the north side, side gates on the left and right, walls standing perpendicular between the five watchtowers at the four corners and the center of the rear wall, as well as the screen wall inside the main gate, the ceremonial gate, and the “Panoramic Mountain View” memorial archway. There is also a courtyard, a well, an ancestral hall, and numerous residences.

The main gate features a stone plaque inscribed with four bold, regular-script Chinese characters: “龙田世居” (Longtian Settlement). On the side, there is an inscription in intaglio: “Constructed in the summer month of the 17th year of the Daoguang reign (1837) by Shouqing.” The gate is equipped with a barred gate and a solid wooden door. The walls, corridors, and running horse paths are organically interconnected, forming a flexible defense and communication network.

The “Panoramic Mountain View” memorial archway inside the gate is a three-bay, three-story structure made of lime-sand rammed earth. The inscription on the back reads: “Prosperity through Steadfast Progress.” The calligraphy is vigorous and forceful.

The ancestral hall is located at the center of the enclosed compound. The couplet reads: “The Xiang River carries on the family’s legacy; with willing construction and halls, the site aligns with the earth’s energy. The Yingchuan lineage passes down its grace; with good succession and narration, the ancestral order distinguishes culture and virtue.” The side gates are inscribed with “Cultivating Virtue” and “Preserving Cultivation.”

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

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units