The Chen Clan Academy
The Chen Clan Academy, locally known as the Chen's Ancestral Hall, was built on funds jointly raised by the Chen families in 72 counties of Guangdong Province in the 20th year of Guangxu Reign of the Qing Dynasty (1894). In the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), a man named Chen got the third place in the highest imperial examination and had conferred upon him a distinguished office title which made the Family Chen well-known. Later someone suggested that all Chen's families raise money to build a temple to sacrifice to the ancestors and encourage their offspring likewise to study hard. Therefore, the temple was finished in 1894 with the money donated by Chen's families in 72 counties of Guangdong Province as well as some overseas members of Family Chen.
The temple is a compound-complex consisting of nine halls, six courtyards and nineteen buildings connected by corridors, all separated by walls from the outside world. A pair of stone drums in front of the entrance door, measuring 2.55 meters (about 8.36 feet) in height and two colored drawing pictures of door-god of four meters (about 13 feet) height is said to be the best in Guangdong.
The compound was constructed in the traditional Chinese symmetrical style and the main hall, the Juxian Hall is in the center of the temple. Juxian Hall was once a place for clansmen to assemble before the establishment of the temple and now it is used as an ancestral hall. In front of the hall is a stone gazebo surrounded by stone balustrades. In the hall, there is an exquisitely carved folding screen which is an excellent example of woodcarving.
Chen's Ancestral Hall is the extant traditional art building in Guangdong, which is famous for the most extensive scale, the most intact preservation and the most exquisite decoration. It is listed as an important historical site under state protection and becomes one of the famous tourist sites of Guangzhou.
Info
Admission Fee: CNY ¥10; children below 3.9 feet (1.2 meters) are free of charge. Children of 3.9-4.9 feet (1.2-1.5 meters) enjoy half price tickets; Address: Zhongshan 7 Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou Chinese Address: 广州市荔湾区中山七路 陈家祠 |
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