Phoenix Ancient Village

Phoenix Ancient Village

Phoenix Ancient Village is located at the foot of Phoenix Mountain in Fuyong Subdistrict. It was built by descendants of Wen Tianxiang, a national hero, and features an ancient architectural complex of over 60 Ming and Qing dynasty residences that have withstood 500 years of wind and rain. This is a rare sight in southern China and the best-preserved ancient architectural complex in Shenzhen to date.

Nestled at the foot of Phoenix Mountain in Bao’an for over 700 years, Phoenix Ancient Village first emerged during the Yuan dynasty. Legend has it that most of the original villagers were descendants of the Wen Tianxiang family. Although Yuan dynasty architecture is no longer visible, the village still has three ancient wells dating back to the late Song and Yuan dynasties, with a history of 700 years. The village currently preserves 69 Ming and Qing residences, nearly 10 private schools, 12 ancestral halls, 12 ancient wells, 12 ancient trees, six main lanes, and 35 secondary lanes. The existing Ming and Qing ancient buildings date as far back as 500 years, with the newest being over 100 years old.

Starting from the city center, take National Highway 107, turn onto Fenghuang Avenue via the overpass, and make a left at the first traffic light to see the village entrance. There stands an ancient hexagonal stone-based pagoda with six tiers—the “Wenchang Pagoda.” This well-preserved ancient structure has become the landmark of the village.

Amidst this collection of ancient buildings, narrow paths paved with bluestone slabs run throughout the village. Walking on these slabs, you can feel the weight of history and the depth of time. The winding alleys silently recount millennia of stories and the vicissitudes of life. Looking up, the fish-scale-like tiles stretch into the distance, while the misty aura of history envelops you, accompanied by the faint sounds of phoenix wings and the tides of Lingdingyang Bay.

The alleys of Phoenix Ancient Village are quite distinctive. To adapt to the hot climate of southern China, the length-to-width ratio of the alleys is mostly between 1.5:1 and 2:1, ensuring that most alleys remain in the shadow of buildings throughout the day, creating cool passageways aligned with the summer prevailing winds. Due to the “comb-style layout,” pedestrians in the alleys can only see rows of gables and village gates, unable to peer directly into the homes, which adds an air of mystery to the residences that retain Ming and Qing architectural styles.

The ancient buildings of Phoenix Village fall into four types: ancestral halls, study rooms, private schools, and residences. The houses are mostly brick-and-wood structures with granite or red sandstone foundations, featuring plain brick walls, boat-shaped main ridges on the roofs, as well as gray sculptures and murals. Above some residential gates, we also find stone-carved plaques and sculptures, though their patterns have faded over time. Inside the homes, the beam brackets and lintels feature wood or stone carvings, while the sealed panels are adorned with carved figures, stories, and floral designs.

According to records, Phoenix Ancient Village has approximately 2,000 sets of gray sculptures depicting figures, animals, and plants, 3,600 sets of wood carvings, 500 sets of stone carvings, 1,000 sets of murals, and 17 stone-carved inscribed plaques. On the ceiling of the front hall of Maoshan Public School, there is a large Ming-style colored painting titled “The Eight Immortals,” a rare, well-preserved giant Ming and Qing mural in residential buildings in the Shenzhen area.

Since the reform and opening-up, it has become common in Bao’an villages to demolish old structures and build new ones. However, the Phoenix Village Committee has consistently preserved the old village, not demolishing a single old house, while constructing the new village around the old one. As a result, the old village remains intact, surrounded by the new, making it the only well-preserved ancient village in Shenzhen today.

Linpu Study Room, built in the mid-to-late Qing dynasty

Baru Study Room, built during the Tongzhi era of the Qing dynasty

Jieqing Ancestral Hall, built in the late Qing dynasty

Xiehe Private School, built in 1848

Interior of Xiehe Private School

Wen Clan Ancestral Hall

Wen Clan Ancestral Hall

To commemorate this historical figure, it was decided last year during discussions among the Wen clan to add a Wen Tianxiang Memorial Hall next to the ancient pagoda when constructing Wentai Park.

The Bao’an Wen Tianxiang Memorial Hall is located in Phoenix Community, Fuyong Subdistrict, Bao’an District. Over 90% of the residents in Phoenix Community bear the surname Wen. Phoenix Ancient Village, which serves as a branch venue for the Cultural Industries Fair, was built by Wen Yinglin, who was adopted by Wen Tianxiang’s younger brother Wen Bi. Since Wen Tianxiang had no sons, for over 700 years the Wen clan has regarded themselves as his descendants. The family temples and Wenchang Pagoda they built are all related to Wen Tianxiang. Today, standing atop Phoenix Mountain, the vast expanse of Lingdingyang Bay stretches out before you.

The Phoenix Wenchang Pagoda was built in the 21st year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing dynasty (1816), located at the western intersection of Lingshan Village. Constructed from blue bricks and standing six stories tall—about 20 meters high—it is the tallest existing ancient pagoda in Bao’an. In September 1984, it was designated by the Shenzhen Municipal Government as part of the second batch of municipal cultural relics protection units.

The origin of the name “Wenchang Pagoda”: Since most of the villagers in Phoenix Village are descendants of Wen Tianxiang (a famous anti-Yuan hero from the late Southern Song dynasty), they funded the construction of the pagoda in his memory, hoping to strive for national prosperity and strength for generations to come. Hence the name “Wenchang Pagoda.” Also, because the pagoda is located in the Phoenix Mountain area, it is also called the “Phoenix Wenchang Pagoda.”

Phoenix Community: Covering a total area of 9.80 square kilometers, Phoenix Community has 4.5 square kilometers of developable land and 5.3 square kilometers within the basic ecological control line, mainly consisting of Phoenix Mountain Forest Park, Wushan Reservoir, and Qilake Reservoir. Within the ecological control zone, there are 2.07 hectares of basic farmland. Phoenix Community is currently the largest community in Fuyong Subdistrict, comprising 18 resident groups. By the end of 2014, Phoenix Community had a permanent registered population of 2,100, mostly surnamed Wen, who are descendants of Wen Tianxiang’s nephew—a national hero and patriotic poet from the Southern Song dynasty. There are also... Phoenix Community details ++