Attractions

The Hu Family Ancestral Hall, with a history of 1,600 years, was constructed alongside the village’s founding in strict accordance with traditional Chinese feng shui principles. It stands on the northern bank of Longchuan Creek, a highly auspicious location embraced by mountains and waters. To the south stretches the Longxu Mountain Range; to the east lies the Dengyuan River; to the west, nestled between the foothills of Mount Feng and Mount Chao, sits the village entrance.

Built primarily for clan gatherings and ancestral worship, the hall was deliberately sited by Hu Yangong, the ancestor who founded the ancestral hall. He cherished the hope that future generations would prosper and thrive. Most notably, he aspired for his descendants to rise to top civil official ranks, comparable to court ministers granted the privilege of attending imperial audiences with a jade ‘Chaohu’ tablet (a flat jade staff used bu senior officials to take notes during imperial audiences) in hand.

The architectural design and intricate decorations of the hall embody profound ancient Chinese philosophical thoughts. The twenty wooden doors flanking the main hall are adorned with carvings by Xu Wei, the renowned master artist of the Ming Dynasty, featuring lotus flowers, birds, insects and fish. The harmonious integration of these motifs symbolizes the unity of the Hu clan, which underpinned its prosperity and harmonious coexistence with the broader society. The clan’s emphasis on a “culture of harmony” has long been rooted in this ancestral tradition. Of special significance are the lotus and crab carvings on the first door to the left of the main hall. In Chinese, the pronunciation of “lotus” and “crab” forms a homophone for “harmony”, a cherished clan motto upheld for nearly 400 years.