Guangzhou, China Attractions

Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family

The Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family was built in the 1890s, constructed to honor dead members of the family, and is widely considered to be the single best example of Cantonese architecture which pays tribute to the past. The complex includes nine halls, six courtyards and nineteen buildings connected by hallways, all surrounded by walls. The temple is rich in elaborate carvings of wood, stone and brick, depicting historical and natural figures and scenes. The Ancestral Temple of the Chen family doubles as a museum of folk arts and crafts, where exhibits of Guangdong ceramics, carvings, embroideries and sculpture are on display.