The Nanxiong Catholic Church dates back to the 17th year of the Wanli era in the Ming Dynasty (1589). When the Italian Matteo Ricci passed through Nanxiong on his way to the capital, he converted five locals to Christianity in the city. In the 20th year of the Kangxi era in the Qing Dynasty (1681), French Catholic Father Ma came to Nanxiong to preach. Subsequently, missionaries from the Salesians of Italy, Hungary, and Yugoslavia arrived one after another...
Lotus Blossom Pure Temple, located one kilometer south of Nanxiong City, is one of the larger nun monasteries in northern Guangdong. Originally named Lotus Society Hermitage, it was founded during the Ming Dynasty by Master Nianchun. According to the "Directly-Controlled Nanxiong Prefecture Records," Lotus Society Hermitage, Green Lotus Temple, Xinglong Hermitage, and Dushan Temple were all situated in Shuinan Village, among which Lotus Society Hermitage was the most prominent. ...
Qingzhangshan Hot Spring is located next to the market area of Jiangtou Town, about 13 kilometers from downtown Nanxiong. It is easily accessible via direct public buses from the city. This hot spring is a fault spring, formed approximately two to three million years ago. Originally, it naturally gushed out in the Jiangtou River, flowing continuously “neither overflowing nor drying up, just like the sun and the moon” for thousands of years. In the past, villagers would often dig pits in the river’s sandy banks…
Cliff Inscriptions at Zhongguyan in Nanxiong Tang–Song Dynasties, Nanxiong. The Zhongguyan Cliff Inscriptions are located in Cuiping Mountain, Meiling Town, Nanxiong City. Zhongguyan gets its name from the hanging rocks known as Bell Rock and Drum Rock, which produce bell-like and drum-like sounds when struck. The site is adjacent to the Meiguan Pass, attracting numerous historic scholars and literati who left behind many elegant verses. There are over 20 cliff inscriptions dating from the Tang Dynasty to the Republican era...
Danxia Cliff Temple in Shaoguan In the dense forest, a slender, winding path leads to the temple. Built within a cliffside cave, the temple stands atop steep rock faces. The entire structure hangs suspended on the edge of the cliff, creating a marvelous sight. Inside the temple, everything is spotless and mirror-like, exuding a serene and peaceful atmosphere. The nuns’ tranquil expressions and…
The Nanshou City Sixth Patriarch Temple is located 150 meters south of Meiguan Pass. It is said to have been originally built during the Tang Dynasty and was renovated in the summer of 1995. The temple was constructed in honor of the eminent monk and Zen master Huineng, the founding patriarch of the Southern School of Chan Buddhism. The Sixth Patriarch Temple and the Bowl-Setting Stone stand quietly in a secluded valley about 200 meters south of Meiguan Gate. Beside the temple flows the perennial clear...
Lianshe Nunnery in Nanxiong City Lianshe Nunnery in Shuinan is located in the eastern part of the city, about 1.5 kilometers from the new urban area. The nunnery is built on high ground overlooking hundreds of acres of fertile farmland in Shuinan, facing west with its back to the east. Its foundation walls are constructed from red sandstone, and the structure is made of brick and wood. Situated near the Zhen River, it offers expansive views, lush forests, verdant bamboo, beautiful scenery, and fresh air. According to the Baichang County Annals compiled by Zhang Jinxi...
The Guangzhou Guild Hall is located on Buxian Street in the urban area (now Guangren Primary School). It was established during the Ming Dynasty's Wanli era by Guangzhou merchants residing in Xiongzhou. The guild hall faces south, has three courtyards, covers a total area of 3,834 square meters, and has a usable area of 2,510 square meters. It was rebuilt in the 21st year of the Qianlong reign (1756). The horizontal inscribed board above the main gate features a stone plaque inscribed with the words “Guangzhou Guild Hall,” written by Chen Li, a renowned scholar of modern Lingnan, during its renovation in the seventh year of the Guangxu reign (1881) in early winter...
Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the people of Nanxiong persisted in armed struggle against reactionary forces for a long time. Over more than 20 years of arduous fighting, over 100 villages in Nanxiong suffered severe devastation by enemy troops, with more than 6,000 houses destroyed. The people of Nanxiong made significant contributions to the liberation of the Chinese people. After liberation, to commemorate the revolutionary...
Yangli Rock, originally called Eagle Rock and also known as Lingyan (Spiritual Rock), is located on the west side of Yangli Village in Quan’an Town, about 10 kilometers northwest of the city center. According to the “Temple Records” section of the Direct-Controlled Nanxiong Prefecture Annals, “Yangli Rock… has a flat summit spanning over a hundred zhang in area, with strange peaks and peculiar rocks both in front and behind, and a pool about two zhang deep. On the sheer cliffs there is a waterfall, within which lies Zhilin Temple, with the waterfall serving as a screen for the temple. Visitors…
"Hundred Islands Lake" is a large artificial lake formed after the construction of the Kongjiang Reservoir. Built in the 1960s, the Kongjiang Reservoir is the largest man-made reservoir in Nanxiong. It has a catchment area of 79.4 square kilometers, a maximum water storage capacity of 69.43 million cubic meters, and can irrigate 110,000 mu of farmland. The reservoir area is dotted with 263...
Nanshiong DaXiong Chan Temple, located by Shashui Lake in Zhuxi Ancient Lane, Nanshiong City, was originally named Shashui Temple. In 1994, to develop the ancestral hall tourism project of Zhuxi Ancient Lane, the Nanshiong County Government, with the support of enthusiastic individuals from home and abroad, allocated over 40,000 square meters of land and initially built the mountain gate and the Mahavira Hall. Due to a lack of temple construction experience and other reasons, the project was…
The Meiling Posthouse. A posthouse, also known as a courier station or "Zhiyou," was an ancient facility where couriers and officials rested, and where military intelligence and official correspondence were transmitted. It also served as a stopover for travelers to rest and change horses or carriages. Historical records indicate that as early as the Zhou Dynasty, lodging facilities were established along major transportation routes in China to provide food and shelter for travelers and couriers. The postal relay system had a history of more than 3,000 years, but few physical relics or sites remain. Ancient posthouses mainly functioned to host messengers delivering letters and documents. Even with fast horses, it could take many days to deliver a single letter — hence the saying, “A letter from home is worth a fortune.”
Wangmei Pavilion was originally built during the Song Dynasty and was initially called Wangmei Pavilion (Wangmei Ting). Later, the pavilion collapsed. In the fifth year of the Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty (1625), it was rebuilt and renamed Wangmei Pavilion. The current pavilion was reconstructed in 1990. It is located on the northern slope of Meiguan Pass, 25 meters from the ancient post road, built against a cliff. The structure has two levels, stands 6 meters tall, with the lower level being 2.5 meters high. It features an open-pillared corridor design, with the upper…
General Yu’s Shrine is located on a relatively open hillside, dozens of meters west of the ancient post road, midway between Qiyun Pavilion and the Meiguan Pass. It is a memorial shrine built to honor General Yu Sheng, a Han dynasty military officer, for his meritorious service in guarding Meiling. General Yu’s surname was Yu and his given name was Sheng. In the fifth year of the Yuanding era (112 BC) of Emperor Wu of Han, after he followed Admiral Yang Pu in pacifying the Southern Yue, …
Plum Blossom Poetry Stone Forest - Inscribed Stone of Chen Yi’s "Three Poems at Meiling" Meiling is world-renowned for its plum blossoms. Throughout history, numerous literati and poets have composed extensive literary works themed around the plum blossom in Meiling, forming a unique plum culture unique to Dayu. The Meiling Poetry Stone Forest selects a hundred plum blossom poems of various eras and styles from these, and has specially invited contemporary renowned...
The Meiguan Ancient Road was the shortest overland route connecting the Pearl River and Yangtze River systems in ancient times. "Liangjiang Pavilion" (Two Rivers Pavilion) takes its name from this meaning. Composed of the "Pearl River Pavilion" and the "Yangtze River Pavilion," the Liangjiang Pavilion is situated atop a mountain at an altitude of 522.5 meters, where the Guangdong and Jiangxi provinces meet along the Meiguan Ancient Road. It is a two-story structure, with the ground floor being octagonal...
The ancient Meiling section of the Meiguan Ancient Road was both an ancient battlefield and a site where the Red Army fought multiple battles during the revolutionary war years. Marshal Chen Yi led his troops in conducting a three-year guerrilla war in this area and, in a moment of peril, composed the stirring "Three Poems in Meiling." The Meiguan Ancient Road has been designated as one of the first Guangdong Red Tourism Demonstration Bases. The Meiguan Ancient...
Wanshan Nunnery, formerly known as "Qiaocheng Temple," is located southwest of Yangfenshui Village on the outskirts of Nanxiong City. It is said to have been built during the Ming Dynasty, experiencing multiple periods of decline and revival, and was renovated several times between the Qing Dynasty and the early Republican era. During the Anti-Japanese War, a branch of the 73rd Hospital was set up here, but nuns continued to carry out Buddhist activities. In 1991, with donations from Buddhist communities in Hong Kong and Macau, Wanshan Nunnery was rebuilt...
The Zhonggu Rock Dongzhen Ancient Taoist Temple boasts a long history of over 1,300 years and enjoys great prestige in Lingnan Taoism. It has been visited by literati and artists throughout the dynasties, including Su Dongpo, who left behind many precious cliff inscriptions here. It is the earliest religious and cultural tourist destination in Nanxiong. The temple is located on Cuiping Mountain at the southern foot of Meiling in Nanxiong City, Guangdong Province...