The South Clan Ancestral Hall of Queli

The South Clan Ancestral Hall of Queli

The South Clan Ancestral Hall of Queli is a cultural heritage site protected by Guangzhou Municipality.

The South Clan Ancestral Hall of Queli is located at No. 18 Dalong Road, Dalong Village, Shiqi Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province. According to the clan genealogy, the ancestral hall was first built in the mid-Ming Dynasty and has undergone multiple renovations. It was rebuilt on a leveled foundation in the ninth year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1883) and was restored again through collective funding by clan members in 2000. Facing south and situated to the north, it features a three-lane layout and extends three courtyards deep, with a total width of 23 meters, a total depth of 58 meters, and an area of 1,334 square meters. The central section of the building has flush gable roofs, hipped gable walls shaped like the Chinese character “人,” dragon boat ridges crafted from plastered reliefs, gray barrel tiles, grey brick walls, and granite foundations. The main gate is fitted with wooden doors, flanked by a pair of granite stone lions. The front eaves on both sides have granite Sumeru pedestal bases, with the front base featuring carved scroll patterns at the bottom. The beams, plaques, and lintels above the front eaves feature a wealth of exquisitely carved woodwork. The wooden plaque above the door is inscribed with the characters “Queli Nan Zong” (“South Clan of Queli”), written by Ye Chun, Minister of Revenue during the Ming Dynasty. Behind the main gate is a courtyard paved with granite slabs, flanked by corridors. In front of the central hall is a raised platform, accessed by granite steps with drum stones at the base and granite railings on either side. The corridor in front of the central hall is paved with granite slabs, with four round wooden pillars in the middle, resting on red sandstone bases. The central bay of the hall features a carved wooden plaque inscribed with “Yu Shu Tang” (“Jade Book Hall”). Between the central hall and the rear hall is a rear courtyard, flanked by two corridors. At the back of the central bay of the rear hall is a shrine that houses ancestral tablets, with its base intricately carved from hardwood. The central bay of this hall features a carved wooden horizontal plaque inscribed with “Ji Hou Liu Fang” (“Virtue Accumulates and Renown Spreads”). The left and right sections of the ancestral hall house bell and drum towers, both featuring flush gable roofs, hipped gable walls shaped like the Chinese character “人,” dragon boat ridges crafted from plastered reliefs, gray barrel tiles, and grey brick walls. The South Clan Ancestral Hall of Queli is a classic example of the traditional three-lane, three-courtyard-style ancient ancestral hall architecture found in the Pearl River Delta. In particular, the wood carvings and stone carvings of this ancestral hall are remarkably exquisite, providing valuable physical material for the study of ancient decorative arts in Lingnan architecture. In July 2002, it was designated as a cultural heritage site protected by Guangzhou Municipality.

Shiqi Town: Located in the central part of Panyu District in the Pearl River Delta, Shiqi Town covers a total area of 71.26 square kilometers, with a permanent population of 78,000 and a migrant population of approximately 180,000. It governs 29 village committees and 6 neighborhood committees. The town enjoys a superior geographical location—just 7 kilometers east of Lianhua Port, offering direct water and land access to Kowloon and Hong Kong; to the west, it connects with the seat of the Panyu District government, lying only 13 kilometers north of Guangzhou City and 36 kilometers south of Nansha Port. Blessed with exceptional natural conditions, the area boasts fertile land and abundant produce, historically serving as a golden economic zone within the Pearl River Delta and one of the most economically prosperous regions in Panyu District.

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