Shawan Ancient Town – Rich in Lingnan Culture and Buildings

The Aoshan Qing Dynasty Architectural Complex, also known as the Aoshan Ancient Temple Group, is located at the foot of Aoshan Mountain in Sanshan Village of Shawan Ancient Town. This well-preserved complex comprises several temples, including the Baosi Shrine, Aoshan Ancient Temple, Shrine of the State, Xianshi Ancient Temple, Shenlong Ancient Temple, and Guanyin Temple.

The Baosi Shrine was built to commemorate Wang Lai, a governor during the early Qing Dynasty, who advocated for the lifting of the ban on coastal migration to address the suffering caused by the migration policy, ultimately saving countless lives. The Xianshi Ancient Temple, commonly known as the “Luban Temple,” features statues of Luban and other craftsmen holding tools like squares, axes, and rulers, reflecting the local community’s strong ties to the construction industry. The architectural design of the complex showcases distinct Lingnan regional characteristics.

Liugeng Hall serves as the ancestral hall of the He clan, a prominent family in Panyu’s Shawan area. Built in the first year of the De You era (1275 AD) during the Southern Song Dynasty, the hall has undergone multiple reconstructions, with its current scale established during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, making it 170 years older than the famous Chen Clan Academy in Guangzhou.

The name “Liugeng” is derived from an inscription on the hall’s couplet: “Yin de yuan cong zongzu zhong, xintian liu yu zisun geng,” meaning the hall is built to benefit future generations. The main structures include the mountain gate, ritual hall, fishing platform, worship hall, sleeping quarters, east and west corridors, and the village ancestral hall. Constructed from blue bricks, stones, wood, and oysters, the hall has undergone three major renovations, establishing itself as a significant ancestral hall for the He clan in Panyu, known for its large scale, artistic quality, and high style.

In front of Liugeng Hall stands a stone flagpole that symbolizes the ancient imperial examination system. Inside the hall, plaques hanging high, such as “Jinshi” (the highest degree in the imperial examination) and “Wenkuai,” signify the historical prominence of scholarly achievements. Since the Ming Dynasty, the He clan of Shawan has produced 46 Jinshi graduates, ranking first in Guangdong Province for their number of officials serving at both central and local government levels.

Baomo Garden is located in Zini Village, Shawan Town. It was originally built during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, but it was destroyed in the 1950s. The garden was reconstructed in 1995 after an eight-year effort, expanding from a mere 3 acres to over 160 acres. Baomo Garden is a large-scale Lingnan cultural landscape garden that integrates the culture of clean governance, traditional Lingnan architecture, gardening styles, the characteristics of the Pearl River Delta water town, and artistic treasures from ancient to modern times. The main theme is to promote the culture of Bao Gong (a famous upright official), with distinctive Lingnan architectural styles and Southern water town features. Key structures and scenic spots within the garden include the Zhiben Hall, Baomo Hall, Qingxin Pavilion, Yanglian Bridge, Zidong Boat, Longtu Pavilion, Qianxiang Corridor, and a street featuring local delicacies.

He Shaoxia’s Former Residence is a protected cultural site in Guangzhou, representing a typical Southern Qing Dynasty architectural style known as “three rooms and two corridors.” The first floor was used for living and receiving guests, while a narrow wooden staircase leads to the second-floor hall, which served as He Shaoxia’s creative space. The left-side bedroom remained sealed for 65 years before revealing a treasure trove of materials, including a significant collection of Guangdong music documents, instruments, and letters. Among these, the handwritten manuscripts of the Guangdong music notation are especially valuable, as they are rare historical records in the world of Guangdong music.

The He Binglin Memorial Museum, also known as “Yuanqing Hall,” was built during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty. It commemorates He Binglin, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a polymer chemistry expert, the father of ion exchange resins, and the founder of the Polymer Institute at Nankai University. The museum showcases the life and achievements of He Binglin and his wife, celebrating their contributions to science and society.