The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall is formally named the Chen Clan Academy. It is located at No. 34 Enlongli, Zhongshan 7th Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. It is a national 4A tourist attraction, a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level, and a National First-Class Museum. Its museum name is the Guangdong Folk Arts Museum. In 2002, it was selected as one of the New Eight Sights of Guangzhou, poetically known as “Ancient Ancestral Hall with Enduring Fame” (Guci Liufang), and praised as the Pearl of Lingnan Architectural Art. The scenic area covers about 15,000 square meters, with a main building area of 6,400 square meters. It is composed of 19 individual buildings and adopts an axially symmetrical layout facing south, with three entries, three routes, nine halls, and six courtyards. The outer perimeter is enclosed by grey-brick walls, and inside there are four courtyards: front, rear, east, and west. The building measures 80 meters in both length and width. Qingyun Alleys, corridors, and light wells connect the halls. It is the largest and most completely decorated surviving Qing-dynasty Guangfu joint-clan ancestral hall complex in Guangdong. The core feature of the scenic area is its complete preservation of the seven traditional decorative crafts of Lingnan architecture: wood carving, stone carving, brick carving, plaster sculpture, ceramic sculpture, copper and iron casting, and painted murals. Among these, the ceramic ridge decoration on the main roof is 27 meters long, and the total length of plaster sculpture in the museum exceeds 2,500 meters, both being the largest surviving examples of their kind in the Lingnan region from the same period. The building combines multiple functions: clan ancestor worship, lodging and study for descendants preparing for examinations, and folk craft display. It is a composite cultural scenic area integrating ancestral hall ritual systems, Lingnan construction techniques, and Guangfu folk crafts.
History and Culture
During the Qianlong period of the Qing dynasty, government authorities issued bans restricting the construction of cross-county joint-clan ancestral halls. Chen clans in various places therefore prepared to build ancestral halls under the name of academies. In the 14th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing dynasty (1888), Chen Lanbin, then minister to the United States, and 48 other Chen clan gentry led the establishment of a building committee. They raised funds from Chen clans across 72 counties in Guangdong, offering the right to enshrine ancestral tablets as a return. The main structure was completed six years later in the 19th year of Guangxu (1893), and the entire project was completed in the 20th year of Guangxu (1894). The total construction period was seven years. The original purposes were twofold: first, for the Chen clan to hold concentrated ancestral sacrifices in spring and autumn; second, to provide temporary lodging and study space for Chen descendants from various counties who came to Guangzhou for imperial examinations, tax payments, or litigation affairs. It was therefore named the Chen Clan Academy, and is commonly known as the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall.
After the imperial examination system was abolished in the 31st year of Guangxu (1905), the academy no longer accepted students preparing for examinations. It successively became the Chen Clan Industrial School, Wenfan School, Guangdong Sports College, and Juxian Middle School. In 1950, the site was assigned to the Guangzhou Administrative Cadre School. In 1957, it was listed as a Guangzhou Municipal Cultural Relic Protection Unit, and special restoration began. On October 1, 1959, the Guangdong Folk Arts Museum was formally established and opened to the public, using the ancient Chen Clan Ancestral Hall buildings as exhibition halls. In 1960, it was upgraded to a Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Unit. In 1988, it was approved and announced by the State Council as a third-batch Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.
The site has undergone two large-scale restoration projects. The first was from 1958 to 1959, repairing damage caused by war and use as a school. The second was from 1980 to 1983, repairing more than ten thousand ancestral tablets and carved components destroyed during a special period; only two original Qing-dynasty tablets remain. Entering the 21st century, the museum has introduced termite monitoring, Beidou structural monitoring of the buildings, and other technological means for regular preventive conservation. It also displays Lingnan traditional craft collections year-round, including Cantonese embroidery, ivory carving, Shiwan ceramics, and paper cutting. It has become a public cultural space showcasing Guangfu clan culture, traditional construction techniques, and folk arts and crafts. It receives more than one million domestic and overseas visitors annually and is one of Guangzhou’s landmark cultural cards.
Main Attractions
Main Entrance Plaza and Front Hall
The Main Entrance Plaza is located at the southernmost side of the building. The site is open and spacious, with Qing-dynasty flagpole stone holders preserved on both sides, facilities used in ancient times by clans to display honors and achievements. The Front Hall is five bays wide, with a total width of 27.56 meters. A wooden plaque inscribed “Chen Clan Academy” hangs above the doorway. Inside the gate are 4-meter-high Qing-dynasty painted door gods. The outer walls on both sides of the Front Hall are inlaid with six huge brick carvings. Their subjects include “Heroes Gathering at Liangshan” and “Phoenixes Among Paulownia, Apricot, and Willow.” The layers are complex, and the figures are vividly rendered, making them representative works of Qing-dynasty Lingnan brick carving. The roof is covered with a 27-meter-long Shiwan ceramic ridge decoration, carved with opera stories, immortals, Buddhas, and auspicious beasts. Its colors remain clear and complete after a century and it is one of the visual core decorations of the museum.
East and West Wing Rooms
The left and right wing rooms are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the Front Hall. In the past, they were areas for clan managers to work and visitors to rest. They have now been converted into permanent craft exhibition halls, displaying Guangfu wood carving, paper cutting, lacquer art, and embroidery collections by category. The doors and windows of the wing rooms are all original Qing-dynasty openwork wood carvings, with auspicious patterns such as peonies, pine and cranes, and pomegranates. The light wells are equipped with granite stone-carved railings, and small plaster sculptures decorate the eaves, combining practicality with decorative aesthetics.
Juxian Hall (Middle-Entry Main Hall)
Juxian Hall is the highest-ranking and largest core hall of the entire Chen Clan Ancestral Hall. It was the place where Chen clan members held spring and autumn ancestor worship, clan discussions, and large gatherings. The character “ju” in the hall’s plaque “Juxian Tang” is written in reverse, symbolizing the avoidance of a hook stroke pointing toward the ancestors, reflecting traditional ritual considerations. The hall is 27 meters wide, 16.4 meters deep, and about 14.5 meters high. In front is an independent stone terrace. The balustrade posts of the terrace are carved with stone lions, immortal peaches, pineapples, Buddha’s hand citrons, and other Lingnan objects. In the center of the terrace is a Qing-dynasty iron-cast double-sided openwork balustrade panel, a rare ironwork cultural relic in Lingnan. Between the rear principal columns inside the hall are 12 double-sided openwork wood-carved screens, carved with the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars and historical allusions. They are masterpieces of the museum’s wood carving collection. The beams and dougong brackets are all decorated with fine wood carvings. The overall space is spacious and solemn, and it is a key landscape along the central axis tour.
Qingyun Alleys
There are four Qingyun Alleys, located between the three routes of halls. The total length of the alleys is 150 meters. The ground slopes gently from low in front to high in back, symbolizing “rising smoothly to the clouds and advancing step by step.” The lintels at the alley entrances have plaster carvings of upside-down bats and treasure vases, a homophonic pun meaning “blessings arrive and peace prevails.” The two sides of the alleys are grey-brick gable walls with continuous plaster eaves bands. The plaster components, totaling more than 2,500 meters in length, are completely distributed along the alley eaves. Their subjects include landscapes, flowers and birds, and opera figures. Visitors can enjoy continuous Qing-dynasty clay sculpture art as they walk. The alleys also serve practical purposes by separating courtyards and providing ventilation and daylight.
Ancestral Hall
The Ancestral Hall is located at the northernmost end of the central axis and is the dedicated space for enshrining ancestral tablets. Its building base is higher than that of Juxian Hall, reflecting the ritual of later generations respecting their ancestors. It has no accompanying terrace. Inside the hall are five large Qing-dynasty wood-carved shrine niches, the tallest reaching 8 meters. The decorative canopies and shrine bodies are fully carved with auspicious patterns. Originally, more than ten thousand Chen ancestral tablets were stored here. Replica tablets are now used to recreate the former sacrificial scene. The wing rooms on both sides of the hall display large ceramic and stone carving exhibits. The overall atmosphere is solemn and quiet.
East and West Side Courtyards and Rear Garden
The east and west side courtyards are distributed on both sides of the main building and connected to the halls by corridors. Small light wells and greenery are arranged within the courtyards, and the walls and corridor areas are covered with small brick carvings and plaster decorations. The Rear Garden is located north of the building complex. It is planted with characteristic Lingnan flowers and trees and furnished with stone benches for resting. The roofs and walls retain complete ceramic and plaster decorations. It is suitable for viewing the carved details of the building’s side facades and also serves as a resting area at the end of the tour.
Tour Route：
Main Entrance Plaza → Front Hall Brick Carving Viewing Area → First-Entry East Wing Craft Exhibition Hall → First-Entry West Wing Craft Exhibition Hall → Central Route First-Entry Courtyard → Juxian Hall Terrace → Juxian Hall Main Hall → East Qingyun Alley → East Side Courtyard Corridor → Rear-Entry Ancestral Hall → West Qingyun Alley → West Side Courtyard Exhibition Hall → Rear Garden → Scenic Area Exit
Visiting Suggestions：
A recommended visit lasts 1.5 to 2 hours. Reserve enough time to carefully appreciate the brick carvings, wood carvings, and plaster sculptures, and avoid a hurried tour.
Preferably enter on a weekday from 9:00 to 10:30 or after 15:00, when there are fewer visitors and indoor natural light is softer, making it more suitable for viewing carving details and taking photographs.
Free volunteer guided tours are held daily at 10:00 and 15:00 beside the stone lions at the main gate. Following the guide allows visitors to learn the stories behind architectural patterns and clan history.
Follow the central axis from south to north, combined with the east and west courtyards via the Qingyun Alleys, to complete the entire route without backtracking and fully cover all core attractions.
Light-colored clothing, new Chinese style, or hanfu are recommended, as they match the grey bricks and painted sculptures of the ancient building well. There are many stone-slab paths in the courtyard, so flat and comfortable shoes are advised.
In summer, bring sun protection and insect repellent. Although the courtyard has dense shade, there are many mosquitoes. During the humid “returning south” weather, stone slabs can be slippery, so walk slowly.
Notes：
The scenic area is closed every Tuesday, except statutory holidays. Check the date before traveling to avoid disappointment.
All visitors must make a real-name reservation in advance through the official WeChat account “Guangdong Folk Arts Museum” and enter by swiping their own ID card. There is no on-site offline ticket window.
Touching all ancient architectural carvings, railings, and craft exhibits is prohibited. Flash photography is prohibited. Commercial photography and tripod use require prior reporting to the site management office.
Pets, balloons, and drones are strictly prohibited from entering the scenic area. Eating, drinking, loud noise, and chasing or playing are prohibited inside. Please follow the regulations for visiting cultural relics.
There is no supporting parking lot inside the scenic area. Self-driving vehicles must park at the nearby Liwan Stadium Parking Lot. The parking fee is 8 yuan per hour. Parking spaces are tight on holidays, so self-driving is not recommended.
Tickets are valid only on the reserved day. Electronic tickets purchased through unofficial third-party channels cannot be verified for entry. The third Wednesday of each month is a free admission day, but advance reservation is still required.
Large luggage cannot be brought into exhibition halls. Storage is available at a storage point beside Exit F of Chen Clan Academy Metro Station. The storage point operates from 7:30 to 24:00.
Elderly people and minors must be accompanied by adult family members when entering. There are many steps. Visitors with limited mobility may inquire in advance about the location of accessible routes.
Transportation：
Metro: Take Guangzhou Metro Line 1 or Line 8 to Chen Clan Academy Station, exit from Exit D, and walk 3 minutes about 110 meters to the main entrance of the scenic area. This is the optimal way to travel.
Bus: Take buses 17, 88, 104, 107, 109, 128, 193, or 204 and get off at Chen Clan Academy Bus Stop. Walk 2 minutes to the main gate.
Self-driving: There are no internal parking spaces at the scenic area. Park vehicles at the Liwan Stadium Public Parking Lot and walk 8 minutes to the scenic area. Traffic is extremely congested on holidays, so this option is not recommended.
Taxi: Navigate to “Guangdong Folk Arts Museum (Chen Clan Ancestral Hall).” Vehicles may stop at the temporary pick-up and drop-off point at the main gate on Zhongshan 7th Road, but may not stay for a long time.
Opening Hours：
The scenic area implements two sets of opening hours by period. From April 15 to October 15 each year, opening hours are 9:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:30. From October 16 to April 14 of the following year, opening hours are 9:00 to 17:30, with last entry at 17:00. The scenic area is normally closed all day every Tuesday for cultural relic conservation work. It remains open normally on statutory holidays such as Spring Festival, National Day, and Mid-Autumn Festival. If a closure falls within a holiday, it is postponed to the first working day after the holiday. Ticket checking and entry stop 30 minutes before daily closing. Staff will guide visitors to leave in an orderly manner in advance. There is no extended visiting channel.
Tickets：
The ticketing platform offers a package ticket at 50 yuan per person, including admission and guided tour service. Admission-only tickets can be reserved and purchased through the official WeChat account “Guangdong Folk Arts Museum” at 10 yuan per person.