Shengping Rensui Memorial Archway

Shengping Rensui Memorial Archway

The Shengping Rensui Memorial Archway is a Guangzhou municipal-level cultural relic protection unit.

The Shengping Rensui Memorial Archway is located under a kapok tree in the Dongshe community of Langtou Village, Huadu District, Guangzhou. It was built in the 57th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1792). Facing south, it is a three-bay, four-pillar, through-style archway.

The archway is built from granite and stands 5.7 meters tall (excluding the portion buried underground due to ground elevation for factory construction). The central bay doorway is 3.1 meters wide, and the side bays are 1.6 meters wide. The front side features the raised characters “Shengping Rensui” (Peaceful Longevity), with the upper inscription in intaglio reading “Qianlong Year of Renzi (1792), Auspicious Winter Day” and the lower inscription reading “Erected by Huang Zhuochi, aged 103.” A raised imperial edict plaque is carved on the stone header. The back side features the raised characters “Baishou Liufang” (Fame Across a Century), with a raised honor plaque above.

This archway was erected in honor of Madam Cui, the daughter-in-law of Huang Zongshan, the 11th-generation ancestor (5th generation in Langtou) of Langtou Village. Her husband died of illness at age 30, when she was only 24. She lived to be 103 and never remarried during her 79 years of widowhood. Emperor Qianlong issued an imperial decree to erect this monument in her memory.

The right side bay has been destroyed, but the components remain well-preserved.

Langtou Village: The Langtou Village Committee is located in the western part of Tanbu Town, covering an area of approximately 6.25 square kilometers. It administers three villager groups (Langzhong, Langdong, and Langxi), with a total population of over 2,330. Established in the late Southern Song Dynasty, the village was named after being built on a small hill near low-lying fields, and was recognized as one of Huadu District’s Best Historic Ancient Villages in 2006, as well as one of the first batch of provincial-level ancient villages. The Langtou Village Committee is 15 kilometers from downtown Xinhua and 2 kilometers from downtown Tanbu, connected to the town area via a road under the Pearl River Belt Corridor. Agriculture in the area focuses on rice, vegetables, flowers, and fish farming… More information about Langtou Village++

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of Guangzhou Municipal Cultural Relic Protection Units