Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, also known as Chen Clan Academy, is hailed as the Pearl of Lingnan Architectural Art, located in Liwan District, Guangzhou. Constructed from 1888 to 1894 in the late Qing Dynasty, it was jointly funded by Chen families across 72 counties in Guangdong Province, serving as an ancestral shrine and temporary accommodation for clansmen.
This grand complex boasts a symmetrical layout with courtyards and connected corridors. It wins worldwide fame for gorgeous traditional decorations, including wood, brick and stone carvings, pottery sculptures and lime mouldings. Colorful roof ridges carved with opera stories become its most recognizable landmark.
Now it houses the Guangdong Folk Art Museum. Visitors can appreciate Cantonese embroidery, ceramics and various folk handicrafts. If you are fascinated by traditional Chinese architecture and Lingnan culture, Chen Clan Ancestral Hall is an unmissable cultural landmark on your Guangzhou tour.
