Dongguan Nanshe Ming and Qing Ancient Village

Nanshe Village covers an area of approximately 6.9 square kilometres, with a registered population of over 3,000 people. It is one of the larger villages in the Chashan area and even across Dongguan. The ancient village, which retains its Ming and Qing dynasty layout, now boasts 22 ancestral halls and over 200 traditional residences, making it a rare and valuable heritage site of Ming‑Qing architecture and culture in the Pearl River Delta.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Nanshe Ancient Village produced many outstanding talents, including nine successful candidates in the imperial examinations. To this day, it preserves a wealth of untouched buildings and intricately carved cultural relics of artistic value. Among its representative structures are the ancient enclosing walls built with rammed earth and red stone foundations and blue‑brick watchtowers, as well as the Xie Clan Ancestral Hall, which follows the traditional three‑bay, three‑courtyard layout—all well worth a visit.

The Centenarian Archway (Baisui Fang) was built in honour of four elders who lived to be over one hundred years old. Notice its soaring eaves and dougong brackets—simple yet magnificent. When this archway was restored, brick and wood were used, with carved mortise‑and‑tenon joints carefully crafted to preserve the original design, thereby retaining the charm of its early years. Nearby stands the Centenarian Elder's Shrine, which was converted from the residence of a centenarian at his own behest. The Zizheng Mansion (Zizheng Di) was the residence of Xie Yuanjun, a jinshi degree holder from the Guangxu era who rose to the rank of Secretary in the Ministry of Rites. Situated halfway up a small hill, its stone steps and railings still exude the grandeur of their time. The ornamental panels along the corridors are exquisitely carved, while the hanging floral gate in the hall features intricate carvings of flowers and birds, with peacock tails and phoenix heads protruding from the wood surface, lifelike in every detail.