Qingyuan was founded in the Southern Song Dynasty and flourished in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with a history of over 700 years in ancient villages

🏨 Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province, Shangyue Ancient Village Admission: Free 📍Detailed address: Shangyue Ancient Village Visitor Center, with free parking 🌟Highlights: The forgotten original Ming and Qing Lingnan ancient village, Shangyue Ancient Village is located in Shangyue Village, Fogang County, Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province. It was founded in the Southern Song Dynasty, flourished in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and has a history of more than 720 years! It is one of the most complete and largest traditional residential building complexes in northern Guangdong. Most of the local villagers are descendants of the famous Southern Song general Zhu Wenhuan. Most of the buildings in Shangyue Ancient Village are well preserved to this day, displaying a typical Cantonese cultural ancient architectural complex, among which the most representative is the 'pot-ear house'. The pot-ear house is a representative of traditional Lingnan residential buildings, mostly built with blue bricks, stone columns, and stone slabs, with exquisite paintings of flowers and birds on the exterior walls. The name 'pot-ear house' comes from the shape of its gable, which looks like the official hat worn by officials in the Ming Dynasty. It is said that in ancient times, people built these buildings to bless their descendants with success in the imperial examinations and to pray for 'wealth, auspiciousness, and abundant food and clothing'. Now, there are still hundreds of well-preserved pot-ear houses in Shangyue Ancient Village, which belong to the Ming and Qing Lingnan architectural style. ❤Recommended reason: Walking in the village, the most common sight is the three-character plaque of 'Gui Ren Li', which was an ancient method of population management. At that time, five families made up a neighborhood, and five neighborhoods made up a 'Li', each with its own gate tower and name, forming a community. The Puzhan Zhu Gong Temple in the village worships the famous Southern Song general Zhu Wenhuan and his descendants who lived here. The natural scenery around Shangyue Ancient Village is also very beautiful. From a high vantage point, the village is surrounded by mountains, with clear waters and lush forests, perfectly blending the village and farmland together. In the evening, the rising wisps of green smoke make the whole village look like an ink painting. There are still a few residents living in the village, whose lives still maintain ancient customs and traditions. Most of the villagers rely on agriculture for a living, cultivating crops and breeding poultry, leading a simple and peaceful life. In the evening, you can also see the elderly sitting in bamboo chairs, leisurely basking in the sun, enjoying the peace of the years. 🗓Itinerary: 1. The village is quite primitive, and there is almost no commercial support at present. Those who have high requirements for amenities should be cautious about visiting. The road into the village is a two-way single lane, which is somewhat narrow, so drive carefully and slowly. 2. The best position for aerial photography of the village is on the rooftop of a resident's house at the entrance of the village. The owner's phone number is hung on the building, and after calling, a grandmother will come to open the door. Since it is a private residence, there is a small fee for going upstairs to take photos, with no time limit, but safety should be kept in mind.