Nanshan Village

Nanshan Village

Nanshan Village was established in the 29th year of the Hongwu reign during the Ming Dynasty, boasting a history of over 600 years. Nestled against mountains and beside water, it is a large village with a population of more than 7,000. Due to its unique geographical location, numerous cultural figures, and rich, well-preserved folk customs, the village has a profound historical and cultural heritage. Some of the historic and cultural sites that have survived in Nanshan Village include the Mai Clan Ancestral Hall, the Chutai Mai Ancestral Hall, and the Jingzu Mai Ancestral Hall.

The Mai Clan Ancestral Hall is the oldest ancestral hall in Nanshan Village, named “Xumu Hall.” Covering an area of 638 square meters, its original construction date is unknown. It was renovated in the Xinyou year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty. The structure features three courtyards, stone foundations, blue bricks, and horse-head walls. Inside, there are exquisitely carved beams and painted rafters, along with over 30 ancient murals, as well as screens and couplets.

The Chutai Mai Ancestral Hall is the ancestral hall of the eldest branch of the second generation of the Mai Clan in Nanshan. It is located on Jiejia Street to the right of the Mai Clan Ancestral Hall. The plaque above the hall is written in the handwriting of Li Hongzhang from the late Qing Dynasty. The ancestral hall is not large, spanning just over 300 square meters, and has traditionally served as a private school for the children of the Mai Clan.

The Jingzu Mai Ancestral Hall (Yiyan Hall) is the ancestral hall of the second branch of the second generation of the Mai Clan in Nanshan. Located on Nan Yue Street, it covers an area of over 500 square meters and is a three-courtyard structure with stone foundations, blue bricks, and horse-head walls. It features a bluestone courtyard and a rear ancestral hall designed like a stone stage, which can be used for performances.

Due to Nanshan Village’s long-standing economic prosperity and abundant resources, its architecture has always been finely crafted. In the past, the entire village was paved with bluestone streets and alleys, most of which have been preserved to this day. Among the most famous are Nan Yue Street, which stretches over 300 meters and is fully paved with three large slabs of stone, Nan’an Street, which is paved all the way to Nan’an Town, as well as Jiejia Street and Weixin Street. The bluestones used for the streets and alleys in Nanshan Village are laid both lengthwise and crosswise. Even the drainage ditches are paved with bluestone, forming concealed channels for water runoff.