Guangzhou

Chen Clan Temple

Located on the North Zhongshan Road of Guangzhou, Chen Clan Temple was the temple for the Chen Clans in 72 counties of Guangdong Province. The construction started in 1890. It took four years to complete the temple. Chen Clan Temple was used to help the family members coming to Guangzhou for the Imperial Examination, a civil service exam system in ancient China. It was also used as the ancestral hall to worship ancestors.

The temple has nearly 15,000 square meters. The main buildings are all 80 x 80 meters. It has the traditional Chinese building design in Guangdong area including nine halls, six yards, 2 rooms, and eight corridors. The gate of the temple is facing south. The main building covers 6,400 square meters. The Juxian Hall is the center of the temple, where the family members used for warship activities and meetings. There are exquisite decorations through out the temple, including wood carvings, stone carvings, brick carvings, pottery carvings, wall painting, copper and iron statues, etc.
Because of its splendid art of construction, Chen Clan Temple became a museum of Guangdong Nationality Arts in 1959. In 1960, it became an important protection monument of ancient relics of Guangdong Province. Today it is one of the important protection monument of ancient relics in China.