Gaoxi Ancient Village

Gaoxi Ancient Village

It is said that the village was established in 1798 (the third year of the Jiaqing reign during the Qing Dynasty) when the Ouyang clan migrated here from Shaxi Village in Jianggao Town, Baiyun District, and has a history of over 200 years. The site includes one Ouyang Ancestral Hall and 40 residential houses, totaling 41 buildings. The Gaoxi Village Historical and Cultural Reserve primarily features the ancient village and pastoral scenery, divided into southern and northern sections by the Liuxi River irrigation canal. The spatial layout of the settlements remains largely intact, and the natural landscape is distinctive. The architectural complex within the reserve mainly consists of village-facing structures. These buildings are well-preserved and neatly arranged.

With its complete ancient village appearance, a production and lifestyle that embodies harmony between humans and nature, and an academy culture integrated into daily life and art, Gaoxi boasts elegant and well-developed water systems as well as a fine natural environment. Its unique ecological relationships can be summarized in four tiers: mountain–village–water body–farmland, forming a distinctive pastoral structure. The mountains serve as the backdrop and natural barrier to the village, while the village buildings are centrally located as the core of the entire area. Water bodies such as fish ponds surround the village, not only serving as scenic highlights but also playing a critical role as key components and carriers of the ecosystem. Beyond the fish pond area lies a ring of farmland, predominantly consisting of paddy fields. The hierarchical relationships are clear yet interwoven, arranged according to the intensity of human impact on the natural ecosystem—from strongest at the core to mildest at the outermost layer. This reflects the traditional Chinese philosophy of “integrating life and production with nature.”

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The architectural structures in Gaoxi Village—including ancestral halls, family temples, mansions, watchtowers, and residences—are laid out meticulously and relatively well-preserved. Taking the residences as an example, the first row west of the family schoolhouse is the most intact, where inscriptions such as “Heaven Bestows Blessings,” “A Hundred Blessings Converge,” and “A Thousand Auspicious Signs Gather” can still be seen. The screen walls are adorned with carvings of auspicious and celebratory motifs such as deer, qilins, magpies, lion pairs, and peonies. These carvings are vividly expressive and exquisitely crafted.

Travel Guide

Location: Gaoxi Village is bordered by Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport to the south, adjacent to the North Extension of the Airport Expressway and Shanqian Tourism Avenue to the north, just 0.8 kilometers from the airport’s northern exit.

Gaoxi Village: Located along Sangzi Road (X416), Gaoxi Village covers an area of approximately 10 square kilometers and comprises 10 villager groups, with a total population of over 1,900. It is a village committee neighboring Huadong Town.

The Gaoxi Village Committee is 12 kilometers from downtown and 1 kilometer from Huadong Town. With only one through road, its geographical advantages are relatively limited. Leveraging local characteristics, the committee has developed village-level collective economy through factory rentals, longan orchard leases, and sugarcane orange orchard leases to boost income. The village is designated for farmland preservation and ancient village conservation, with villagers’ incomes mainly derived from paddy field cultivation... More detailed information on Gaoxi Village ++