Bai Ancestral Hall
The Bai Ancestral Hall is a Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit.
Lunsheng Bai Ancestral Hall (also known as the Bai Ancestral Hall): This ancestral hall is located in Longtan Village, Xinqiao (now Huazhou Street), and was built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. It was constructed by the local Bai family descendants to commemorate their ancestor, Bai Lunsheng. Bai came from a poor background but later became wealthy through business. He was known for his benevolence and contributed greatly to society through numerous charitable acts. He once operated a coffin shop in Henan, where he provided free coffins to any impoverished individuals who could not afford proper burials. In one year when a flood struck Hunan, he promptly donated a large sum of money for disaster relief. On another occasion, when the neighboring village of Xijiao suffered a disaster and farmers were forced to forfeit their land due to unpaid rent, Bai used his own funds to purchase the land and then leased it back to the farmers rent-free. He also supported them in restoring agricultural production. His philanthropic deeds came to the attention of the Qing imperial court, which awarded him a memorial archway inscribed with the words “Benevolent and Charitable” in recognition of his virtues. To honor him, this ancestral hall was later built. The structure is grand in scale and exquisitely crafted, featuring stone, wood, brick, and lime carvings depicting various animals, plants, and folktales—all vividly rendered. Its architectural style bears strong resemblance to that of the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, and it holds significant artistic value, being a rare example of its kind in the city. The hall was completed in the 25th year of the Guangxu reign (1899) and was designated as a Guangzhou Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit in August 1993.
Source: Haizhu District Archives Bureau
Longtan Community: Longtan Community…… Detailed information about Longtan Community++
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