Ancient Houses in Daliu Village

　　Daliu Village in Sihe Township, Guangde County, is located on a plateau near the corner of Laolong Mountain and is an ancient mountain settlement. A stream flows from the south past the east side of the village, with green trees and swaying bamboo providing a scenic backdrop. The area features a cluster of residential buildings made of blue bricks and gray tiles, crisscrossing and standing closely together, creating a picturesque scene that showcases the seamless integration of ancient southern villages with the surrounding natural environment. The Liu family residence, located at the heart of the village, stands out even more with its unique architectural style and has long been admired by visitors. Built during the Chongzhen era (1628–1644) of the Ming Dynasty, the original Liu residence was a two-courtyard brick-and-timber structure. It was later destroyed during the Xianfeng era (1851–1862) of the Qing Dynasty. The current main house has a width of three bays. The entire building and courtyard are enclosed by tall walls, with a flat high wall facing the front and an irregular, staggered appearance on the sides. The walls are coated with lime plaster, topped with butterfly tiles. The entrance gate is framed with bluestone and features a polished blue brick gate canopy, presenting a harmonious and dignified color scheme. The polished blue brick concave screen wall boasts fine and delicate brick joints and angles. From a higher vantage point, the view of the village evokes the poetic imagery of “green trees encircling the village, with green hills slanting beyond the walls.” In June 1983, it was designated as a county-level key cultural relics protection unit.