Bill and Sue-On Hillman: A 50-Year Musical Odyssey
www.hillmanweb.com/book  ::  www.hillmanweb.com/book/travel

HILLMAN CHINA ADVENTURE 2017
www.hillmanweb.com/china2017

CANTON / GUANGZHOU
13. Chen Clan Ancestral Hall I
Folk Craft Museum
http://www.hillmanweb.com/china2017/canton13.html

Chen Clan Ancestral Hall-Folk Craft Museum
This place was built as a college in 1888. It has very beautiful architecture features. This large "Academy" is a symmetric complex consisting of 19 buildings with nine halls and six courtyards . The Chen clan is very large in Guangzhou -- but also around the world. 

Two American members were instrumental is raising funds for its construction. The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall complex exemplifies traditional Chinese architecture and decoration style, and has influenced cultural and architectural developments worldwide. It was added in the list of "Cultural Relics of National Importance under the Protection of the State" in 1988. 

This Ancestral Hall (now a folk craft museum) is an oasis of traditional culture in the midst of modernity, high rise buildings and construction cranes in the background. 
The Hall is a symmetric complex consist of 19 buildings with nine halls and six courtyards. The roof tops are quite stunning and very unusual with colourful ceramic adornments and stained glass panels like nothing we've seen elsewhere in China. 

From the doors with the huge pictures on them to the intricate decorations of the roof, this museum is fascinating on a number of levels. Originally built to honour all people with Chen surname, it now also includes various art and other displays of interest.

This large complex of buildings contains numerous courtyards with beautifully maintained flowers, shrubs and trees. The buildings in the Hall are fully decorated with carvings: wood, stone, brick, pottery, plaster and iron engravings. The content of these decorations are mostly flowers, birds, Cantonese fruits and scenes in traditional dramas. 

On display are a number of tradional rooms and a large collection of southern China art pieces, furniture, utensils, ceramics, and ivory. We found the carved ivory most impressive. 

Click for full-screen photos
Ancestral Hall Exteriors and Inner Courtyards


.


.
.
.



CANTON / GUANGZHOU CONTENTS
www.hillmanweb.com/china2017/canton.html

CONTENTS
Canton/Guangzhou
1. INTRODUCTION
Pt. 1  ::  Pt. 1a  ::  alt
2. RURAL MALL
Pt. 1  ::  alt
3. GUANGZHOU STREETS
Pt. 1  ::  alt
4. TEMPLE
Pt.1 :: Pt. 1a
5. SHANGXIAJIU
Pt. 1  ::  Pt. 2
6. STATUES
Pt. 1  ::  Pt.2
7. SHAMIAN ISLAND
Pt. 1  ::  Pt. 2  ::  alt
8. CANTON FOOD/METRO
Pt. 1
9. TO TOISAN HOME
Pt. 1  ::  Pt. 2  :: alt
10. SUN YAT-SEN
Pt. 1  ::  Pt. 2  ::  Pt. 3
11. FIVE RAMS
Pt. 1  ::  Pt. 2
12. FOOD QUEST
Pt. 1  ::  Pt. 2  ::  alt
13. CHEN CLAN MEMORIAL
Pt. 1 :: Pt.2 :: Pt. 3 :: Pt.4 :: Pt. 5
14. HOMEWARD
Pt. 1

BACK TO CHINA 2017 ADVENTURE
MAIN CONTENTS


Bill and Sue-On Hillman
www.hillmanweb.com
hillmans@wcgwave.ca