The Ancient Architectural Complex of Kengbei Village

The Ancient Architectural Complex of Kengbei Village

The Ancient Architectural Complex of Kengbei Village is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Ancient Architectural Complex of Kengbei Village is located in Kengbei Village, Zhongxin Town (next to Guangshan Highway). Built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, it spans 152.43 meters in width and 53.96 meters in depth, covering an area of 8,225.12 square meters. In front of the complex lies a rectangular threshing ground surrounded by walls, occupying 2,416.57 square meters. The overall structure is organized into 10 columns and 5 rows, facing the northeast. Each individual building shares a largely similar design: they feature a flush gable roof, gray tube tiles, “pot-ear” firewalls, painted decorations, and all have a width of three bays, measuring 10.49 meters across. Vertical and horizontal passageways known as Qingyun Lanes run between the rows and columns. There are about three slightly different sections: One is the rightmost column, which is laid out with a study and a garden, each occupying half. The study is 14.02 meters wide and 26.48 meters deep, forming a small-scale courtyard. The garden has the same area and a rigorously planned layout, named the “Bieyoukai” Garden. The second difference is in the middle column of the remaining nine, where the “Shiguo Mao Clan Ancestral Hall” is built, serving as the central and most significant ancestral hall of the entire complex. This hall has three courtyards, spanning 10.98 meters in width and 30.07 meters in depth. The front gate is three bays wide (10.98 meters) and three bays deep (7.93 meters), with a flush gable roof, pot-ear firewalls, a dragon boat-shaped main ridge, gray tube tiles, drip molding, granite eaves pillars, bell-shaped column bases, stone wall bases, and stone-carved lintels. The second courtyard is 9.76 meters deep, with a similar form, while the third is 8.35 meters deep. The third variation is the watchtower located at the rear left corner. The watchtower measures 16 meters in both length and width, originally five stories (about 20 meters) high (now only two stories remain), offering an extremely broad view. The first floor has a foundation with 12 steps, and the corners are built with granite stones, with gun holes of 4 cm in diameter between the stones. The left, right, and rear walls form a concave shape, with the lower part framed by a granite door and horizontal steel bars 5 cm in diameter. Additionally, the first floor includes internal partition walls, a well, and a grain storage room, while the second floor features larger gun ports. This watchtower was highly fortified; in case of danger, all villagers could retreat into it for safety.

This architectural complex retains the style of Qing dynasty buildings, with an orderly layout. It provides valuable physical material for the study of ancient architectural art and rural customs and traditions in the Lingnan region, and is a designated historical and cultural preservation area of Guangzhou City.