Ancient ancestral halls and traditional dwellings in Gupeng Village

　　   The ancestral halls and traditional dwellings of Gupeng Village are located in Gupeng Village, Yongfeng Town, Deqing County. In 2001, they were designated as cultural heritage sites by the People's Government of Deqing County. The village was first established during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty and developed into a full-fledged settlement in the mid-to-early Qing Dynasty. Today, the village preserves 15 ancestral halls all belonging to the Chen clan, along with a three-story brick-and-wood structure called Taiping Tower (also known as a watchtower or gun tower). The ancestral halls include the Xuanwang Ancestral Hall, Chengtian Study Hall, Qiaozhuang Ancestral Hall, Bofu Ancestral Hall, Ningfan Study Hall, Weisu Study Hall, Xiuzhi Ancestral Hall, Duanyan Ancestral Hall, Yixia Study Hall, Zhongfu Ancestral Hall, Duanya Ancestral Hall, Jiefu Ancestral Hall, Hengwang Ancestral Hall, the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, and the Ruxi Ancestral Hall. Each ancestral hall features unique yet similar architectural structures and styles. They typically consist of either three sections (front, middle, and rear) or two sections (front and rear), all with three bays. The buildings are richly adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, and their rigorous construction and imposing presence are truly remarkable.

　　   The village also houses approximately 300 traditional dwellings from the Qing Dynasty and Republican era, all built on a gentle slope with an elevation difference of about 10 meters. These structures, known locally as “wo’er wu” (pot-ear houses), are made of brick and wood. The main lanes run relatively straight, while smaller alleys are paved with stones. The dwellings showcase distinctive architectural features of Lingnan-style homes.