Chen Clan Academy (Liwan district)

Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, or Chen Clan Academy, is considered one of the four major cultural tourist sites in Guangdong Province. It is situated in Guangzhou's Liwan District, just to the west of the city center, along Zhongshan 7th Road. It was a temple for studies and for offering up sacrifices for ancestors. In the late Qing Dynasty, a man named Chen succeeded great in studies, all Chen families raised money to build a temple to sacrifice to ancestors and encourage them to studies. The temple was finished in 1894.

The complex consist of 19 buildings with 9 halls, long corridors and 6 courtyards. The temple is decorated with carvings, reliefs and figures. The architecture and decorations were constructed in Chinese symmetrical style, that has inspired other buildings worldwide. Chen Clan Academy was the only temple we managed to find, of the ones we wanted to visit, much thanks to a nearby metro station.

Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 02 The entrance at Zhongshan 7th Road to the Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family. Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 03 Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family, Chinese lanterns The gate at the entrance to the Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family. Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 06 Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 07 Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 08 The highrises of Liwan district surrounds Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family. Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 10 Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 11 The highrises of Liwan district surrounds Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family. Entrance to Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family. Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family, Chinese lion Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 15 Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 16 Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family with pottery on the ridge. Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 18 Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 19 Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 20 Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 21 Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 22 Xiguan Dawu of Old Canton Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 24 Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 25 Duan Ink Stone, Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 27 Wooden carving, Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family. Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 29 A cat in the Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family. Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 31 Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 32 Golden sculptures, Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family. Details of figures on the roof, Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family. Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 35 Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 36 Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 37 Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 38 Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 39 Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family 40