Guangzhou Folk Museum

Guangzhou Folk Museum

The Guangzhou Folk Museum is located beside National Highway 107 in Sanhua Village, Xinhua Street, Huadu District, Guangzhou. Originally known as the Zizheng Dafu Ancestral Hall, it was built in the second year of the Tongzhi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1863), boasting a history of nearly 150 years.

During the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty, Xu Fangzheng and Xu Biaozheng, cousins from Sanhua Village, both served in the Ministry of War and earned recognition from the imperial court. Emperor Tongzhi conferred the titles of “Zizheng Dafu” (Grand Master for Consultation) upon Xu Fangzheng’s grandfather Xu Dekui and father Xu Shixian, and the title of “Fengzhi Dafu” (Grand Master for Presentation) upon Xu Biaozheng’s father Xu Shiliang. To express their gratitude for the imperial favor, they constructed the Zizheng Dafu Ancestral Hall and Nanshan Academy. To honor the virtues of their ancestors, their descendants later built the Hengzhi Xu Ancestral Hall.

The ancient architectural complex of the Guangzhou Folk Museum is extremely rare in Huadu, Guangzhou, and even across Guangdong Province due to its grand scale, exquisite architecture, and excellent preservation. It can be regarded as another classic example of folk art architecture in Lingnan, China.

The ancient architectural complex of the Guangzhou Folk Museum is currently the largest group of ancient ancestral halls discovered in the Guangzhou area. The entire complex faces south and covers an area of 22,100 square meters, with the main buildings spanning 4,500 square meters. The structures are made of brick and wood, featuring colorful ceramic-tiled ridges. The sides are adorned with gracefully curved gable walls, topped with ceramic tiles. Two uniquely designed memorial archways stand respectively in the front courtyards of the Zizheng Dafu Ancestral Hall and Nanshan Academy. These archways are entirely constructed from granite slabs, with carvings of figures, palaces, various floral patterns, and inscriptions using techniques such as openwork carving, relief carving, round carving, and incised carving. The craftsmanship is exaggerated yet refined. The halls showcase the pinnacle of Guangdong folk architectural decoration art, including brick carvings, stone carvings, wood carvings, lime carvings, ceramic carvings, and painted designs, all vivid and exquisitely detailed. Throughout the complex, one can find masterpieces by folk art masters. There are murals depicting historical stories from various dynasties on the walls, such as the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove and Li Bai Drunk. There are also depictions of folk myths and legends, such as the Nine Elders Painting and the Drunken Joy in the Jade Pool. Symbols of good fortune, such as Blessings and Happiness, Pine and Crane for Longevity, and Fortune Descending from Heaven, are also present. Additionally, there are diverse patterns and styles, including floral and bird motifs and calligraphy, all radiating a rich folk art atmosphere. The complex is a visual delight and a quintessential example of Qing Dynasty architecture that embodies the essence of Guangdong folk architectural decoration art, with distinct Lingnan characteristics. The imperial edict memorial archway in the front courtyard is the most historically valuable artifact. The front and back of the archway are inscribed with the imperial decree issued by Emperor Tongzhi, conferring the title of Zizheng Dafu upon Xu Dekui. Above the decree on both sides are vertically inscribed plaques reading “Imperial Edict” and “Imperial Grace.”

Location: Beside National Highway 107, Sanhua Village, Xinhua Street, Huadu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province

Transportation: Take bus No. 9, Huadu No. 9, or No. 31 within Guangzhou and get off at the Zizheng Dafu Ancestral Hall stop.

Sanhua Village: Located to the north of Xinhua Street, Huadu District, Guangzhou, Sanhua Village is about 2 kilometers from the city center, covering an area of approximately 4.5 square kilometers. The village has four economic cooperatives and 18 villager groups, with a total population of 4,910, making it one of the larger urban villages in Xinhua Street. The village economy mainly relies on shop and factory rentals. The Beijing-Guangzhou Railway and Wuhan-Guangzhou Railway pass through the village.

Sanhua Village has a history of over 900 years, and most villagers have the surname Xu. The ancestor of the Xu family in Sanhua Village was Xu Zongyuan. According to the Xu family genealogy, before this, the Xu family lived in Baochang County, Nanxiong. Xu Zongyuan, during the eighth year of the Yuanfeng reign in the Northern Song Dynasty... More information about Sanhua Village++