Nantou Ancient City

Nantou Ancient City

Nantou Ancient City is a cultural heritage site protected by the Shenzhen municipal government.

Xin’an Ancient City (Xin’an Old City), located north of Nantou Overpass in Nanshan District, Shenzhen, with the closest station to the east gate of Nantou Ancient City being: 【Zhongshan Park Station Exit D】. It covers an area of approximately 70,000 square meters and is currently the largest historical and cultural heritage tourism attraction in Shenzhen, also known as Nantou Ancient City, boasting a history of over 1,730 years. According to historical records, Xin’an County was established in the first year of the Wanli era during the Ming Dynasty (1573), and this city served as a crucial hub for river and sea transport and a key military stronghold for coastal defense. Since the Jin Dynasty, regions such as Hong Kong, Macau, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, and Dongguan were long under the jurisdiction of Nantou Ancient City. Today, the first phase of restoration work on Xin’an Old City has been completed, including the restoration of over ten structures such as the Xin’an Old City Archway, South Gate, County Yamen, Xin’an Prison, Coastal Defense Office, Dongguan Guild Hall, Guan Yu Temple, Wen Tianxiang Shrine, Opium Den, Official Reception Hall, Juxiu Tower, Yili Pawnshop, and Taomi Gong Money Shop.

Historical records indicate that during the Han Dynasty, this city was the station for salt officials, and during the Three Kingdoms period, the “Wucheng” Salt Commandant’s Fortress was built here. In the sixth year of the Xianhe era during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (331 AD), the Dongguan Prefecture City and Bao’an County City were constructed here. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it served as the county seat of Xin’an. This city was a vital junction for river and sea transport and a key military stronghold for coastal defense. The Nantou City seen today was the “Dongguan Guarding Thousand-Household Fortified City” built in the 27th year of the Hongwu era (1394) by Cui Hao, a commander of the Guangzhou Left Guard, on the site of the original old city. In the first year of the Wanli era during the Ming Dynasty (1573), Xin’an County was established, and the city served as a crucial hub for river and sea transport and a key military stronghold for coastal defense. In 1840, when the Opium Incident occurred, Hong Kong was ceded from Xin’an County, and the people of Xin’an played a significant role in resisting British invasion.

Xin’an Old City

Wen Tianxiang Shrine of Duke Xinguo, located at No. 15, current Zhongshan East Road, Nantou City, Nanshan District, is a shrine built during the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty to commemorate the national hero Wen Tianxiang. It remains well-preserved to this day.

Wen Tianxiang had close ties with the Wen family descendants living in the Shenzhen area. According to the “Bao’an County Wen Family Genealogy”: “The founding ancestor Bi, styled Wenxi and literarily named Shi’an, together with his elder brother Wen Shan Gong, passed the imperial examination. He served as the Magistrate of Huizhou Prefecture in Guangdong... When the seal was lost in Yazhou and the army collapsed, Wen Shan Gong was captured. He secretly went to Yanjing to share his brother’s fate, but Wen Shan Gong made a distinction between loyalty and filial duty, instructing his younger brother to care for their mother and raise their children. So he took sixteen servants, his wife, household belongings, and official property, and secretly went to Huangsonggang, Huzi Garden, Sandu, Liutu, Dongguan, where he built a house on the wild land.” From the founding ancestor Wenxi Gong to the present, there have been tens of thousands of descendants. Hence, the Wen descendants in the Shenzhen area refer to Wen Tianxiang as “Great Ancestor Uncle.” It is said that there are Wen family members in places such as Yongtou in Dongguan, Bumei and Shanmei and Tantou in Songgang, Lingxia in Fushui, Baishixia, Gangxia in Shangbu, and Xintian in the New Territories.

“Duke Xinguo” was the title bestowed upon Wen Tianxiang. In the early years of the Jingyan era of Emperor Duanzong of the Song Dynasty, Wen Tianxiang was appointed as Left Chancellor and concurrently as the Privy Councilor, overseeing all military forces. The historically significant “Duke Xinguo Wen Clan Shrine” in Nantou is the most intact and largest ancient structure preserved within Nantou Ancient City.

Duke Xinguo Wen Clan Shrine

Duke Xinguo Wen Clan Shrine

Duke Xinguo Wen Clan Shrine

Duke Xinguo Wen Clan Shrine

Duke Xinguo Wen Clan Shrine

County Yamen

County Yamen

County Yamen

County Yamen

Baode Shrine, located in Nantou Ancient City, Shenzhen, was built by local villagers for their honoree Lai Qiqing, with an imperial plaque bestowed by the Ming emperor. The red ceremonial gate, its high threshold, and the red plaque with golden characters all represent supreme imperial authority, highlighting the nobility and uniqueness of this small shrine. The Baode Shrine is increasingly recognized for its integration of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.

Within Xin’an County (the ancient name for Shenzhen), Baode Shrines were built in Nantou Ancient City, Xixiang Market, Shatou Market, and Shek Wu Market in the New Territories of Hong Kong. These Baode Shrines are also known as Governor Shrines. Historically, Xin’an County was established in the sixth year of the Xianhe era during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (331 AD), with countless officials serving over the dynasties. Who is the Governor Shrine commemorating? According to the county annals, it commemorates Wang Laijin, the Governor of Guangdong during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, and Zhou Youde, the Viceroy of Liangguang.

Dongguan Guild Hall

The Dongguan Guild Hall, also known as “Bao’an Public Hall,” was built in the seventh year of the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1868) as a commercial chamber for Dongguan merchants in Xin’an County during the Qing Dynasty. It covers a construction area of 53 square meters and still houses four stone tablets erected during the construction of the “Bao’an Public Hall.”

Dongguan Guild Hall

Dongguan Guild Hall

Dongguan Guild Hall

Nantou Ancient City Museum

Nantou Ancient City Museum

Nantou Ancient City Museum

The Nantou Ancient City Museum showcases Shenzhen's 1,677-year urban history, exhibiting over 300 cultural relics that narrate the city’s origins dating back to the sixth year of the Xianhe era during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (331 AD).

Nantou Ancient City Museum

The exhibits are mainly divided into two parts: the first is the indoor display, which presents the history of urban development and resistance against foreign invasions in Shenzhen, set against the backdrop of the historical changes and cultural heritage of Nantou Ancient City. The second part consists of the ancient ruins area, ancient city district, and historic architecture displays, featuring a large number of relics and historical buildings that reflect the former prosperity and vibrant atmosphere of the ancient city.

Nantou Ancient City Museum

Nantou Ancient City Museum

Nantou Ancient City Museum

Xin’an Guan Di Temple (also known as Nantou Guan Di Temple) is located on the east side outside the southern gate of the old Xin’an City.

Established in the 40th year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty (1612) by Garrison Commander Zhang Wanji, according to the Jiaqing-era “Xin’an County Annals”: “The Guan Di Temple… one is located to the left of the military training ground outside the southern gate, built in the 40th year of Wanli by Garrison Commander Zhang Wanji.” The original structure was a three-bay, two-courtyard building with an open pavilion, including the front hall, open pavilion, and rear hall. The rear hall has been destroyed. It measures 13 meters in width and 25.3 meters in depth. During the Republican era, it served as the “Bao’an County Council.” It was renovated in 1997 and is now managed by the New An Ancient City Management Office.

Nantou Guan Di Temple

Nantou Guan Di Temple

Nantou Guan Di Temple

Nantou Guan Di Temple

Nantou Guan Di Temple

Admission: Free

Location: Shennan Avenue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province