Shawan Ancient Town: The Most Desirable Small-Site Destination for a Day Trip from Guangzhou
Preface
I've always wanted to see what places to visit near Guangzhou. On weekends, every short trip is like a careful consideration of tourist attractions. The quality of the destination is directly related to my mood for the whole week. Small towns and ancient streets – the best way to escape the shackles of the city is to wander the streets.
Shawan Ancient Town
Shawan is arguably the most worthwhile town to visit near Guangzhou. Founded in the Southern Song Dynasty, Shawan boasts over 800 years of history. It's known as an ancient town steeped in Lingnan culture, a hometown of Chinese folk art, a renowned historical and cultural town, a renowned orchid town, and a National Civilized Town.
Shawan Ancient Town has formed and preserved Lingnan culture with traditional historical culture and folk culture as its main body. It is a representative of Cantonese culture with the Pearl River Delta as its core. Ancient buildings such as ancestral halls and temples are well preserved.
transportation
1. To Guangzhou
Guangzhou South Ring Expressway - Dongxin Expressway (Shawan Exit) - along the west direction of Shawan - Shawan Ancient Town.
2. To Foshan
Guangzhou-Foshan Expressway - Guangzhou South Ring Expressway - Dongxin Expressway (Shawan Exit) - Shawan Ancient Town.
3. Shunde direction
——Guangzhou-Zhuhai West Line (towards Panyu) ——South Second Ring Expressway (Lanhe Exit) ——Go straight towards Shiqiao and cross Beidou Bridge ——Shawan Ancient Town.
4. Zhongshan direction
Zhongjiang Expressway - Guangzhou-Zhuhai West Line (towards Panyu Nansha) - South Second Ring Expressway (Lanhe Exit) - Shawan Ancient Town.
Tickets
If you only visit the ancient town, you don't need a ticket, but there will still be a fee for the attractions in the ancient town to ensure maintenance.
The adult pass is 30 yuan, including Liugeng Hall, Sanmin Hall, Academician He Binglin Memorial Hall, and Huang Youzhen Thuja Art Museum. Tickets purchased via WeChat are 35 yuan.
If purchased separately, Liugeng Hall costs 20 yuan, Sanmin Hall costs 10 yuan, Academician He Binglin Memorial Hall costs 10 yuan, and Huang Youzhen Cliff Cypress Art Museum (Zhennan Temple) costs 10 yuan.
Opening hours: 9:30-17:30
Ticket collection location: Shawan Ancient Town South Entrance Tourist Service Center
diet
There are also food in the town, such as ginger milk, dog porridge, roast goose rice, and many other things worth trying, but I forgot which specific stores they are. Anyway, just go in if you see a lot of people.
I feel that if I specifically point out which restaurant is delicious, it will become a check-in at an internet celebrity restaurant, which is not a good idea. So, if you see a restaurant that looks good, just go in.
Ancient Town Attractions
Liugengtang
Located in Beicun, the "Lujiang Ningdao" (Lujiang Ningdao) is the ancestral temple of the Shawan He clan. Originally built in the Yihai year of the Yuan Dynasty, it has endured numerous disasters and reconstructions over the centuries. Its current appearance dates back to the 39th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, when it was expanded to the specifications of Ming Dynasty official ancestral temples over a period of 17 years.
The terrain of the entire temple is high in the north and low in the south, and it consists of various parts such as the main gate, bell and drum tower, ceremonial gate, east and west wings, worship court, rear bedroom and supporting temple.
Liugengtang is home to Academician He Binglin, the "Father of Chinese Ion Exchange Resins." Without him, the successful atomic bomb explosion would likely have been delayed for many years. His research on this key factor in the atomic bomb is crucial. As a magnificent building in the ancient town's former residence, it also houses a rich collection of historical materials.
Sanmin Hall
The main display is for musical instruments. Shawan Cantonese music luminaries He Liutang, He Yunian, and He Shaoxia often used the Sanmin Hall to invite locals and music enthusiasts from outside the province to perform, discuss, and create Cantonese music pieces such as "Rain on Banana Leaves" and "Dragon Boat Race." The Sanmin Hall was built to commemorate these three masters. Portraits of the three masters are displayed inside the hall.
Ancient Town Study
The ancient "Bubuzhai" study, located in Jinshili Lane, the original residence of He Zihai, a Jinshi scholar from the early Ming Dynasty, is a traditional Shawan building with three rooms and two corridors dating back to the mid-Qing Dynasty. The study focuses on teaching elementary education and Confucianism.
He's Ancestral Hall
First built in the first year of the Deyou reign of the Southern Song Dynasty, the Shawan He Clan Ancestral Hall, also known as Shawan Liugeng Hall, is the main ancestral hall of the Shawan He clan. The characters "Liugeng" (liugeng) are taken from the saying "The good deeds of our ancestors were sown far away, and the fields of our hearts are left for our descendants to cultivate," implying that the ancestral hall was built to benefit future generations.
The He clan's main ancestral hall is the He clan's Houben Hall. According to the "Complete Biography of the He Clan," published in the early Republican era, "...looking through the old genealogy, we see that our ancestors spent a great deal of effort on it. It's unclear when it was first built, but it's recorded that renovations began in the 49th year of the Kangxi reign."
Yuxu Palace
Near Liugeng Hall in Shawan Ancient Town, Shawan residents worship the Pak Tai Temple. Legend has it that it was modeled after the statue of Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty. Originally the He Family Shenxi Hall, it was built during the Ming Dynasty and renovated to incorporate Qing Dynasty architectural styles. The temple is filled with hanging incense coils, and pilgrims flock to burn incense on the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month.
other
Finally, there are a series of attractions in the town that can be visited, including Guanyin Hall, city wall ruins, Zhennan Temple, Wenfeng Tower, etc.
Conclusion
If you're visiting Guangzhou, don't dwell on the scorching heat of the city, or think of eating out or Chimelong Paradise right away. Shawan is a good option, not a commercial town. It's a place that retains its original charm without too much commercialization, so you can simply stroll around.
The ancient town was formed in the Lingnan architectural style. Every street and every building highlights the unique regional characteristics. Just a simple walk in the town is leisurely and relaxing.
