Daqitou Village
A “Smart Village” of the Cantonese People
- City
- Foshan
Foshan · Daqitou Village
Located in Leping Town, Sanshui District of Foshan, Daqitou Village is one of the first national historical and cultural villages, one of the first recognized traditional Chinese villages, and part of the second group of Guangdong’s cultural tourism villages. Its cluster of ancestral halls and traditional homes has also been designated a Guangdong Provincial Protected Cultural Relic.
Walking into Daqitou Village, over 40 wok ear houses (traditional Cantonese residences with curved, ear-like gables) stand in neat rows, creating a striking sense of architectural rhythm unique to rural Cantonese culture.
The village was founded during the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty. Its main buildings are said to have been constructed during the Qing Dynasty by Admiral Zheng Shaozhong, under imperial order from Empress Dowager Cixi.
Daqitou’s layout reflects the scholarly elegance of Lingnan tradition:
- The pond represents ink
- The Wen Pagoda acts as a brush
- The sun-drying square serves as paper
- The large stone beneath the pagoda is the inkstone, and the small stone beside it is the seal
The village also demonstrates clever Cantonese design for fire, water, and theft prevention. Its elevation gradually rises from front to back, allowing rainwater to flow underground into the pond, preventing flooding and providing water reserves for emergencies. After centuries of wind and rain, the village remains remarkably intact.
---
### Visiting Information
- Opening hours: 8:30 – 17:30
- Highlights: Traditional residences, ancestral halls, Wen Pagoda, cultural displays
- Suggested duration: 1–2 hours
- Distance from downtown Foshan: about 35 km, roughly 1 hour by car
- Admission: Free
### How to Get There
From downtown Foshan to Daqitou Village in Leping Town, Sanshui:
Take bus K624 or 638 from Foshan Intercity Bus Terminal or Sanshui Bus Station to the "Leping Town Government" stop.
Then transfer to Sanshui bus 661 and get off at the "Daqitou Village" stop.
Alternatively, take the high-speed train to Sanshui South Railway Station:
A ride from Guangzhou South Railway Station to Sanshui South takes about 20 minutes.
After arriving, take a taxi to Daqitou Village (about 30 km).
---
Content and photos courtesy of Southern Media Group (南方传媒 SPM).