Zhuji Ancient Alley
### Zhuji Ancient Alley: The Spiritual Ancestral Home of Cantonese People Located in Nanhua City, Shaoguan, Zhuji Ancient Alley is regarded as the spiritual ancestral home of the…
- City
- Shaoguan
- Address
- Zhuji, Nanxiong, Shaoguan
Zhuji Ancient Alley: The Spiritual Ancestral Home of Cantonese People
Located in Nanhua City, Shaoguan, Zhuji Ancient Alley is regarded as the spiritual ancestral home of the Cantonese (Guangfu) people. More than 170 Cantonese clans trace their roots to this alley, and tens of millions of Cantonese descendants around the world proudly call themselves “Zhuji descendants.”
Stretching about 1,500 meters, Zhuji Ancient Alley is the only surviving ancient path in Guangdong that dates back to the Tang and Song dynasties. Follow the historic Meiguan Road, opened by the renowned Tang dynasty official Zhang Jiuling, and you’ll reach Meiguan Pass, perched atop the Meiling mountains. Its grand stone gate bears inscriptions such as “Southern China’s Heroic Pass” and “Lingnan’s First Pass,” reflecting its historical importance.
A well-known legend tells of the great migration from Zhuji during the Southern Song Dynasty. In the reign of Emperor Xianchun, a man named Luo Gui led 33 clans and 97 households from Zhuji to settle in the Pearl River Delta. There, they flourished and spread across the Lingnan region.
Today, this humble alley has become a cultural showcase of Chinese surnames, lined with ancestral halls and memorial houses. Nanhua City also hosts an annual “Clan Culture Tourism Festival,” attracting countless descendants back to Zhuji in search of their roots.
### Visitor Information
Ticket Price: Approximately ¥30 (subject to change; please refer to the latest official announcement from the scenic area).
Opening Hours: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Getting There: Approximately 120 km from downtown Shaoguan, about 2 hours by car.
Recommended Visit: Take your time to explore the ancestral halls, ancient buildings, and the surname culture exhibition inside the alley. A leisurely visit typically takes 1–2 hours.
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Content and photos courtesy of Southern Media Group (南方传媒 SPM).