In the embrace of mountains, there lies an ancient village. Before the village, on the ground-level site, stands a century-old banyan tree, silently watching over the ancient, square stone platform. In the shimmering pond, reflections of the numerous brick-tiled buildings with weathered walls can be seen. The natural environment here is beautiful and the cultural atmosphere is rich. ‘Ear-Pot House’, a quaint village with a serene and archaic charm, features irregular high walls and intricate window and roof decorations. This is Wudong Village in Yunfu City. The most distinctive feature of Wudong Village is the nine ancestral halls built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Shou'an Hall is the oldest, built in the late Ming Dynasty by the eighth generation ancestor of the Cheng family, Cheng You'ai, to commemorate his father, Cheng You'ai. The name ‘Shou’an’ comes from ‘’ of Cheng You'ai. Shou'an Hall is located in the center of the entire historical architecture group. The building is made of brick and wood, exhibiting a typical Huizhou architectural style. The outer walls on both sides have high-roofed firewalls, and the roofs on both sides curve upwards towards the sky in a crescent shape. The interior uses stone, wood, brick, and plaster decorations, primarily featuring various mythical beasts, folk stories, flowers, and plants. There is also a brick-tiled building next to it, which was used as a school for the family's children. The Cheng family descendants were mostly studious and martial, and many scholars and warriors appeared in the family history.

After ‘Shou’an Hall’, you will find signboards indicating the direction to the historical architecture group. The historical architecture group is located in Wudong Village.

The Ming and Qing historical architecture group follows the natural layout and embodies ancient Feng Shui principles. It is constructed according to ‘Bagua’ and terrain, with the village’s main street as the axis. The entire village’s residential buildings are divided into east and west sections. One side faces east and west, and the other faces south and north. The residential buildings are made of brick and wood with tiled roofs. The front eaves are typically multi-gabled, with a width of three bays and a depth of one or two bays. The roof is covered with small blue tiles, and some buildings still retain wind-slotted head ornaments. The building's supporting structure is made of through-beams, with a construction format of ‘one building, three bays’. It has a courtyard and two side houses. The brick structure is very meticulous. Most of the residential buildings, besides the exterior walls and roof tiles, have exquisite wood carvings. The brick walls and interior furnishings are also distinctive.

Currently, the historical architecture group has 588 Ming and Qing buildings, including one temple built in the Ming Dynasty (Ming Temple), three ancestral halls built in the Ming Dynasty, and 163 residential buildings. Six ancestral halls and 421 residential buildings were built in the Qing Dynasty. It is truly a ‘hundred-year-old village’. To activate these historical buildings, the village has turned several ancestral halls into exhibition centers.

Built during the Ming Dynasty during the reign of Yongle II, all villagers in Wudong Village have the surname ‘Cheng’. The ancestor was one of the two ‘Cheng’ scholars who established ‘Cheng Zhu School’ and ‘Cheng Zhu Philosophy’ in the Northern Song Dynasty. The Cheng family originally lived in Anhui, then moved to Henan, and finally moved to Lingnan to avoid war, eventually arriving in the village of Xiaying on the banks of the Jiang River to prosper and thrive, continuing to this day for 23 generations. Six hundred years have passed, and the villagers have a simple lifestyle and harmonious customs. Many scholars and warriors have appeared in the family history.

The Cheng Family Ancestral Hall (Cheng Zhu Philosophy Exhibition Center).

Built during the Qing Dynasty, it faces north and south. The entrance gate is located on the side. The total width is 8.3 meters and the total depth is 10.3 meters. There is a courtyard, a (wooden attic) and a side room. It has been transformed into ‘Book’ (Book Cultural Exhibition Center). As you enter, the scent of books and ink immediately fills the air. The interior faithfully restores the layout of the school, with displays of books, calligraphy, and writing.

The Han Family Ancestral Hall (Wudong Village Life Exhibition Center).

Built during the Qing Dynasty, it faces north and south. It has three bays and two stories. The total width is 11 meters and the total depth is 14.3 meters. The roof is high, with a ‘ear-pot’ firewall, and a gray-colored, ancient-style spine. The front hall and middle hall have decorated walls and models. The back hall has a shrine in the rear for worshipping ancestors. It is now transformed into ‘’ (Historical Architecture Cultural Exhibition Center), introducing various historical architecture.

The Puquan Cheng Family Ancestral Hall (Folklore Cultural Exhibition Center).

Built during the Qing Dynasty, it faces southeast and northwest. It is located on Guang Three Road, with three bays and two stories. The total width is 31.23 meters and the total depth is 35.6 meters. The roof is high, with an ‘ear-pot’ firewall, a gray-colored, ancient-style spine, and gray-rock stone footings. The main door is three bays long and two stories, with eight steps leading to the door. The villagers say this was once a ‘money-lending house’, so it was built very strongly.

Starting in 2007, experts began to pay attention to the village’s distinctive Ming and Qing historical architecture group, after investigation, they considered it has research and tourism development value. The architecture pattern and philosophy embodies the Cheng Zhu School culture. Many door frames of ancestral halls still have inscriptions such as ‘Spring Wind Morality, Scholars Cheng Zhu Philosophy’. The village’s name is ‘Lingnan’s First Cheng Zhu School’ and ‘China’s Historical and Cultural Village’, and it has been awarded ‘Lingnan’s First Cheng Zhu School’ and ‘China’s Historical and Cultural Village’, and ‘China’s Ancient Village’.

The village has regained new vitality, and the village’s special environment is a good place for target-based competitions. In 2019, a ‘Southland Ancient Post Road Orientation Competition’ was held.

The project integrates sports and culture, tourism and environmental management, and promotes the fusion of sports, culture, tourism, and environmental protection. It attracts a large number of participants and tourists, promotes rural sports and tourism consumption, and helps to revitalize rural areas.

Wudong Village, Yunfu City, Guangdong Province.

Transportation: At the intersection of the national highway 324 and Yunqing and Zhaoqing, Xiaying River Bank.

11.7221.5“”

fszhumaizhutoumai2009-

2007“”“”“”“”“”“”“”

2019

324