The South Ming Li Ancestral Hall

The South Ming Li Ancestral Hall

The South Ming Li Ancestral Hall is a protected cultural heritage site of Guangzhou Municipality.

The South Ming Li Ancestral Hall is located within Lun Tou Park in Lun Tou Village, Lun Tou Community, Guanzhou Subdistrict, Haizhu District.

It was first built no later than the 47th year of the Qianlong reign (1782) and was rebuilt in the 17th year of the Guangxu reign (1891). Facing south and backed by the north, the main structure consists of three sections on either side. The front of the hall features a spacious courtyard, with square stone pillars and railings on the north side of the yard. The central axis has four successive courtyards, each spanning three bays wide, with barrel-tiled roofs and blue-glazed tile trimming. Lun Tou Village is situated at the edge of the Pearl River estuary. During the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, ancestors of the Li family migrated here from the north. However, due to its geographical location, over the centuries, “Dan people” (riverine or boat-dwelling communities) gradually settled here as well. As a result, among today’s population of over 4,000 villagers, although the Li surname remains predominant, there are also more than 2,000 individuals with scattered surnames. The villagers of Lun Tou refer to the “South Ming Li Clan Ancestral Hall” simply as the “South Ming Ancestral Hall.”

In July 2002, it was designated as part of the Sixth Batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites of Guangzhou Municipality.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites of Guangzhou Municipality