Longhu Ancient Village

Updated 2026-05-15

Well preserved thousand-year-old Chaoshan village famous for its ancient mansions, ancestral halls, traditional architecture, and rich folk culture. Explore one of Guangdong’s most charming historic villages and experience authentic Lingnan heritage.

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Longhu Ancient Village (or Longhu Guzhai) is one of the most remarkable historic settlements in the Chaoshan region, this thousand-year-old village preserves an extraordinary collection historic places that together form a living museum of southern Chinese architecture and folk culture.
Known as the Little Ancient City of Chaozhou, Longhu Guzhai reflects the evolution of Chaoshan society from an agricultural community into a thriving commercial center connected by river trade.

History

Longhu Ancient Village traces its origins back to the Song Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, villagers constructed fortified walls and seven gates to protect the settlement from pirate attacks, transforming it into a defensive riverside stronghold. By the Qing Dynasty, Longhu had become an important commercial distribution center along the Han River waterway.
As commerce shifted toward Shantou Port, the village gradually became inland and avoided large-scale redevelopment, allowing its historic streets and buildings to survive remarkably intact.

Today, Longhu Ancient Village covers approximately 1.5 km² and is considered as one of Guangdong’s most beautiful ancient villages.

Inside the village

Spatial Design

Designed according to traditional Chinese geomantic principles inspired by the Eight Trigrams, the settlement stretches in a north-south formation with a central main street symbolizing a dragon’s spine.

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The village contains more than 100 historic buildings, including:

• ancestral halls
• scholar mansions
• merchant residences
• academies and study halls
• temples and clan compounds

Folk Craftsmanship

The village is renowned for its exquisite decorative arts. Visitors can admire:

• intricate wood carvings
• stone carvings
• porcelain inlay decorations
• lime sculptures
• colorful murals
• shell ash reliefs

Traditional Chaoshan craftsmanship appears everywhere, from carved beams and painted walls to roof ridges adorned with birds, flowers, dragons, and mythical creatures.

The village’s residences often feature deep courtyards and richly decorated entrances. Many mansions extend through multiple halls, creating impressive longitudinal layouts rarely seen in southern China.

Highlights

• Fangbo Residence : grand mansion blending traditional Chinese and Western architectural styles originally associated with Ming official Liu Zixing, the residence features decorative carvings, porcelain ornamentation, and elegant courtyards.
• Apo Shrine : one of the rare female ancestral shrines in China. Built during the Qing Dynasty, the shrine honored the mother of wealthy merchant Huang Zuoyu and symbolized an important step toward improving women’s status within local clan society.
• Xu Clan Ancestral Hall
• Jinshi Residence

Longhu Academy and Traditional Study Halls

Longhu was famous for its educational tradition. At its peak, the village contained more than 30 private study halls and academies. The village produced numerous imperial examination scholars, officials, and literary figures throughout history.

Folk Culture and Traditional Festivals

Longhu Ancient Village remains deeply connected to Chaoshan folk traditions. Traditional cultural activities continue to play an important role in village life, including:

• Yingge dance performances
• Dragon and lion dances
• Lantern festivals
• Temple fairs
• Traditional Chaoshan music

During the Lunar New Year, the village becomes especially lively with illuminated ancestral halls, ritual celebrations, and community performances.

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