One of the main cultural attractions in Guangzhou, the stunning Chen Clan Academy offers captivating insights into the city’s rich history and heritage with plenty to discover as well.
Planning a Visit
This site, also known as the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, is located on Zhongshan 7th Road within easy reach of properties like Somerset Haizhu Centre Guangzhou. It’s open daily from 08:30am to 5:30pm and will take around two hours to fully explore. Apart from a taxi, you can reach this attraction via the metro (Chen Clan Academy Metro Station) or bus including #85, 104 and 128.
Some History
Do some research on this site to get a better understanding of it, before you visit from nearby Guangzhou rental apartments. In brief, the Chen Clan Temple / Academy was completed in 1894 during the reign of the Qing Dynasty’s, Emperor Guang Xu; it was built with the donations of Chen clan members spread across the Guangdong Province though, in 1959, it became the Guangdong Museum of Folk Arts.
What to Expect
The Chen Clan Academy features stunning examples of Lingnan architecture and is Guangzhou’s most decorated and largest ancestral hall. Apart from the Main Entrance, it features an Assembly Hall and Rear Hall with courtyards separating these three structures. On your visit, you will be able to see amazing design aspects including pottery, wood, stone and brick carvings, iron and copper casting, paintings and more.
Some Highlights
You will be astounded by the diverse pottery on the ridge crests of the hall roofs each with a different theme linked to traditional dramas; these include various characters and stories that make for a wonderful display. As you walk around the site, you will also see intricate wood carvings and plaster carvings, stucco relief on the roofs and not forgetting folk handicrafts that date to Chinese dynasties of the past.
