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The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall in Guangzhou, also known as the Guangdong Chen Clan Academy or simply Chen Ancestral Temple, is a significant cultural heritage site in the city, rich in history and cultural depth. The following is a detailed elaboration of its history and culture:

I. Historical Evolution

1. Construction Background:
   • The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall was built from the 14th to the 20th year of the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty (1888-1894), taking seven years to complete. This ancestral hall was jointly funded and constructed by the Chen clans from 72 counties in Guangdong Province, making it a magnificent structure built through collective clan efforts.
   • Its initial purpose was to provide lodgings for Chen clan members participating in imperial examinations in Guangdong, as well as a venue for ancestral worship and clan affairs.
2. Development Process:
   • In modern times, the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall fell into disrepair. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the government conducted several repairs and conservation efforts to preserve it, making it accessible to the public.
   • In 1988, it was listed as a Key Cultural Relic Under State Protection.
   • In 2002, it was named one of the “Eight Scenic Spots of Guangzhou in the New Century.”
   • In 2008, it was rated as a National AAAA Tourist Attraction.

   

II. Architectural Features

1. Scale and Layout:
   • The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall covers an area of approximately 15,000 square meters, with a construction area of 8,000 square meters. The complex consists of 19 independent courtyards connected by long corridors, forming a symmetrical layout with three axes and three entries.
   • The architectural structure can be divided into three axes and three entries, with nine halls and six courtyards, exhibiting a traditional “three entries, three axes, nine halls, and two side wings” courtyard-style layout.
2. Architectural Style:
   • The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall is a classic example of traditional architecture in Lingnan (South of the Five Ridges, referring to a region in southern China), blending Han Chinese and local folk architectural features. Its primary decorations include woodcarvings, stone carvings, and brick carvings, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and the unique charm of Lingnan architectural art.
   • The front facade is spacious and majestic, surrounded by high walls, forming an enclosed courtyard. The complex contains multiple courtyards and corridors interconnected to create a staggered spatial layout.
3. Decorative Arts:
   • The decorative arts of the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall are extremely rich, earning it the reputation of being a “comprehensive collection of decorative arts in Lingnan architecture.” Its woodcarvings, stone carvings, brick carvings, plaster carvings, and ceramic sculptures are exquisitely crafted, with contents ranging from figures, flowers, birds, beasts, to landscapes, fully demonstrating the superb craftsmanship and cultural depth of Lingnan traditional crafts.
   • In particular, the woodcarvings on the beams and pillars of the main hall depict historical allusions and mythical legends, carved with intricate detail and vividness, reflecting profound cultural heritage and craftsmanship.

III. Cultural Connotations

1. Clan Culture and Ancestral Worship:
   • As the ancestral hall of the Chen clan, it serves not only as a venue for ancestral worship and clan affairs but also as an essential place for clan members to connect emotionally and pass on family traditions. The clan culture and ancestral beliefs embodied here are significant for studying traditional Chinese social structure and family culture.
2. Folk Culture Display:
   • The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall houses multiple exhibition halls showcasing rich Lingnan traditional folk culture. Exhibitions cover traditional wedding customs, festive activities, and folk arts, enabling visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the traditional customs and lifestyles of Lingnan.
3. Folk Craft Display:
   • The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall is also the location of the Guangdong Folk Art Museum, which houses over 20,000 precious artifacts and modern craft masterpieces, including nearly 3,000 national-level treasures. These exhibits encompass various craft forms such as Shiwan pottery, Canton enamel, ivory carving, Cantonese embroidery, Guangzhou woodcarving, brick carving, and stone carving, showcasing the essence of Lingnan traditional crafts.

IV. Conclusion

The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall in Guangzhou, as an outstanding representative of Lingnan architectural art and an essential cultural heritage of Guangdong Province, is renowned not only for its

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The Sacred Heart Cathedral of Guangzhou, also known as the “Stone Room,” is a Gothic Catholic church with profound historical and cultural significance located at 56 Old Buqian Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province. The following is a detailed introduction to its history and culture:

Historical Evolution

• Foundation and Construction: The construction of the Sacred Heart Cathedral of Guangzhou began in the 14th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1888), but its foundation ceremony can be traced back to June 28th, 1863, the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The church took 25 years to complete, a time span that not only witnessed the arduous process of its construction but also embodied the exchange and fusion of Chinese and Western cultures.
• Designers and Builders: The church was designed by French architects and built by Chinese craftsmen. This Sino-Western collaboration allowed the church to retain the essence of Gothic architecture while incorporating traditional Chinese architectural elements, making it an artistic masterpiece that blends East and West.
• Important Renovations: Over the years, the Sacred Heart Cathedral has undergone numerous renovations and preservation efforts. In particular, in 2004, the Guangzhou Municipal Government allocated special funds, and the church also raised funds on its own, to conduct a comprehensive repair of the church, preserving its original charm and beauty.

Architectural Features

• Magnificent Scale: The Sacred Heart Cathedral of Guangzhou has a building area of 2,754 square meters, with a width of 35 meters and a length of 78.69 meters from north to south. It stands 58.5 meters tall from the ground to the pinnacle of the tower. It is one of the most magnificent double-spire Gothic buildings in China and one of the four all-stone Gothic churches in the world (the other three are Notre-Dame de Paris, Westminster Abbey, and Cologne Cathedral).
• Unique Shape: The church boasts a towering appearance, with a deep interior space and exquisite detailing. Its towering towers, massive columns, pointed arches on the roof, and stained glass windows together constitute its unique Gothic architectural style. In particular, the pair of towering double-spire stone towers (hollow octagonal cones) on the facade are the landmark of the church.
• Stone Craftsmanship: All the walls and columns of the church are built with granite, hence its name “Stone Room.” The stones are laid with tung oil and glutinous rice paste, and the joints are straight and even. The numerous carvings inside and outside, even the rose window grilles, are carved from stone and fitted together seamlessly, demonstrating superb stonework techniques and structural precision.

Cultural Significance

• Religious Faith Center: As the main cathedral of the Guangzhou Diocese of the Catholic Church, the Sacred Heart Cathedral of Guangzhou is not only a center of religious faith but also an important venue for believers to conduct religious activities.
• Sino-Western Cultural Exchange: The construction and design of the church are the result of the collaboration between Chinese and French craftsmen. It not only embodies the essence of Gothic architectural style but also incorporates traditional Chinese architectural elements, serving as a vivid example of the exchange and fusion of Chinese and Western cultures with foreigner.
• Cultural Heritage: On November 20th, 1996, the Sacred Heart Cathedral of Guangzhou was announced as the fourth batch of national key cultural relics protection units by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. It not only has high historical, architectural, and artistic values but also significant cultural significance.

In summary, the Sacred Heart Cathedral of Guangzhou is a treasure trove of history, culture, architecture, and art. It not only witnesses the spread and development of Catholicism in Guangzhou but also showcases the historical achievements of Sino-Western cultural exchange and fusion. For tourists interested in modern Chinese history, architectural art, or Christian culture, the Sacred Heart Cathedral of Guangzhou is a must-see destination.

Liuhua Fashion Wholesale Market was established in October 1996 and is one of the most advanced clothing wholesale market in Guangzhou providing the most comprehensive services. We also have one of the most extensive supply distribution center which brings together thousands of manufacturers from all around China with the latest style and the most competitive price.

GuangZhou Liuhua fashion wholesale market is located at the south tower of Liuhua Hotel, the extremely convenient logistic location adjacents to Guangzhou Railway Station, Provincial Bus Terminal and right next to main highways, railways and air cargo shipments stations. After 20 years of operation, the business area of Liuhua fashion wholesale market has reached 25000m2 with more than 2,000 manufacturers and brands, the market has become an important hub for clothing wholesale worldwide and one of the country’s major clothing distribution centers.

BEIJING, July 17 — Earlier in July, a British family of five concluded their three-month tour of China. Describing the journey as “epic,” they shared their treasured moments through videos with people around the world, garnering numerous “likes” on social media.

In the videos, the parents and their three young girls were seen devouring local cuisines and visiting world cultural heritage sites like the Terra Cotta Warriors and the Forbidden City.

Lately, foreign tourists are more easily spotted across China, whether in metropolises like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou or in less renowned regions like Hunan and Jiangxi.

The Hutchinsons were among the over 14.6 million foreigners who visited the country in the first half of this year. Official data showed a 152.7 percent increase in that number compared to the same period in 2023.

Over 60 percent of respondents consider experiencing Chinese culture as the main goal of their travel to China, according to a survey on inbound tourist satisfaction by the China Tourism Academy.

In the family’s final vlog from China, Tamira Hutchinson, the mother, expressed her admiration for the country’s diverse culture and her joy that her children could gain a deeper understanding of both China and the world through their travels.

Having lived in China for 20 years, Brian Linden from the United States calls himself a fan of Chinese culture and has dedicated his career to fostering cultural exchanges between China and the world.

He runs a hotel in southwest China’s Yunnan Province that collaborates with several American schools for study tours. He believes that tourism serves as a key channel for people from different countries to interact and understand each other.

“What we gain are not just photos but friends,” said Enrico Radrizzani, head of the Italian travel agency La Compagnia del Relax, who has been involved in the tourism industry for over 40 years. He said that Italian tourists enjoy spending time visiting ancient sites and museums and experiencing Chinese folk customs.

With easier entry policies, including a 144-hour visa-free transit policy that expanded to 37 entry ports as of Monday and pilot visa-free policies for some countries, “on-a-whim travel” to China is becoming a reality.

In the meantime, measures have been introduced to simplify offline and online payment and ticket booking at tourist sites for international visitors to ensure a pleasant travel experience.

German tourist Ken Abroad said that he noticed a significant improvement during his recent trip to Guangdong Province compared to last year. He found it much easier to link his bank card to a mobile payment app, allowing for quick booking of train tickets and easy access to subways.

To facilitate access, most scenic spots now provide offline ticketing services for foreign tourists. Wu Kefeng, a senior official at China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said that measures such as English interfaces for online bookings and recognition of foreign passports as valid identification are being implemented across Chinese tourist sites.

However, there is still room for improvement in delivering high-quality tourism experiences to foreign visitors.

During his visit to Gansu Province’s Dunhuang City in early July, Javier Garcia from Spain was captivated by the millennium-old cave art in the Mogao Grottoes and the exquisite relics at the Dunhuang Museum. However, he expressed disappointment with the lack of adequate signage and guide services in foreign languages.

“Enhancing foreign language services would definitely help people from around the world better appreciate and understand Dunhuang’s culture and history,” Garcia said.

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CHANGSHA/SHANGHAI, July 16 — Jin Yeong-deg, a 72-year-old man from the Republic of Korea, opened his Korean payment app Kakao Pay and showed the QR code to the cashier. Within seconds, the scan was complete, and he successfully purchased his items.

This would be a very ordinary transaction in the Korean cities of Seoul or Busan, but it actually took place in Zhangjiajie, a tourist city in central China’s Hunan Province.

“Traveling in Zhangjiajie is very convenient,” said Jin. “I didn’t expect to be able to use mobile payments here just like a local.”

This was Jin’s second visit to the breathtaking landscape of Zhangjiajie — home to the real prototype of the floating mountains in the Avatar — and he saw significant changes since his first trip in 2004.

According to the Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024 of the World Economic Forum, China ranks eighth among the top 10 countries for travel and tourism.

TRAVEL MADE EASY

According to a recent survey conducted by Beijing Foreign Studies University, among 714 foreign tourists from 103 countries, 86 percent of those who have visited China believe the payment experience has become more convenient. The vast majority of these tourists used mobile payment methods.

By the end of 2023, China’s mobile payment penetration rate had reached 86 percent, the highest in the world. Foreigners can now easily bind their overseas bank cards with Alipay or Tenpay, China’s two major payment apps, thanks to simplified mobile payments.

In the first half of this year, foreign card transactions using mobile payment platforms surged 6.65 times from the previous year to nearly 37.4 million, according to data from Chinese online payment clearing house NetsUnion Clearing Corporation.

The apps also enable convenient transportation for foreign tourists.

Spanish couple Miguel and Irena Rodriguez Jimenez used Alipay to take the subway in Shanghai and book ride-hailing services.

“Some warm-hearted locals helped us download the app and register,” said the wife. “It was a bit complicated at first, but now we can use it adeptly.”

GATE OPENING WIDER

China is welcoming more tourists with new visa policies.

On Monday, China expanded its 144-hour visa-free transit policy to 37 entry ports. Foreign nationals from 54 countries, including the United States, Canada and Britain, are eligible for the policy for short-term travel and business visits.

The country is also piloting visa-free travel for ordinary passport holders from more than a dozen countries, including France, Spain, Australia and Poland, allowing them to enter China visa-free for up to 15 days for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit.

Data from the National Immigration Administration showed that the number of foreigners visiting China in the first half of this year exceeded 14.6 million, an increase of 152.7 percent compared with the same period last year. Of these, more than 8.5 million, or 52 percent, entered visa-free, a 190 percent increase year on year.

Eva Gajewska is the manager of a travel agency in Warsaw, Poland. Since the visa-free policy started, she has received lots of phone calls asking about tours to China.

“In the past, a visitor usually spent about 100 U.S. dollars for the visa to China, and had to wait for seven days,” she said, hailing the new policy a “long-awaited” move. The company is now designing new routes to offer its clients more choices for their China trips.

Edward Iglesias, a 61-year-old Australian tourist, embarked on a 17-day tour of China, starting from Kashgar in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Having applied for his visa before the policy change, he felt the new policy would definitely make things easier for travelers.

With simplified entry procedures, Iglesias plans to recommend China as a tourist destination to his friends, praising its “nice people and beautiful scenery.” He expressed a desire to return when the weather is cooler, “maybe in autumn or spring.”

SEEING IS BELIEVING

Many visitors have changed their perspective on China after their visits to the country.

Colombian tourist German Raigosa was visiting China with his family for the first time. “It’s surprising to see the public transportation, and how clean the cities are compared to other cities like New York,” said the 71-year-old father.

“I didn’t know that Chinese people are so nice,” added his 29-year-old daughter, Susana Raigosa. “I was surprised at how little I knew about these cities.”

Arnr Herrmann from New Zealand returned to Shanghai 28 years after his first visit. “Back then, I only remember seeing the Oriental Pearl Radio and TV Tower as the landmark,” said the leader of a 60-student group. This time, he marveled at China’s development and the juxtaposition of both historical and modern buildings in the metropolis.

“We are impressed by the cleanliness of all the places,” said Samuel Juara from Mexico via WeChat, which he downloaded for his trip to China. “The respect from all the people and their willingness to help, the amount of electric cars and beautiful buildings, the electronic advances and communicating measures … are very impressive.”

New measures are being implemented across China to better serve international travelers in tourism cities. For instance, the Bank of China’s Zhangjiajie branch has upgraded the airport’s self-service currency exchange machines. These machines now accept over 20 currencies, including Australian dollars, up from six previously.

Chinese customs authorities have made declarations easier for foreign passengers by using mobile phone apps. “Foreign tourists can now complete their arrival process and pass through customs in just 30 minutes,” said Liu Jinbo, director of Zhangjiajie Customs. He added that the average clearance time for inbound passengers is expected to drop further to under 10 minutes by the end of September.

“You will know how beautiful China is only after you visit the country,” said Shin Young-yun, a team leader with Korean travel agency Modetour.

“China is a very safe and lovely country, which I have recommended to my compatriots. I know many of them who have visited once would like to go there again,” he added. “Hopefully in the future more Koreans, more foreigners, can visit and see the real China.”

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