How to spend 144 hours in China? If your destination is in Southern China, don't miss the "Top Village of Guangdong" — Daqitou Village, which is also a photography activity base authorized by the Chinese version of National Geographic Magazine!
Located in Leping Town, Sanshui, Guangdong, it boasts the largest complex of "Wok Ear Houses" in the Lingnan region. Here, over 200 "Wok Ear Houses" are neatly arranged. These towering gable walls are regarded by Chinese people as the ears of a wok (hence named "Wok Ear Houses").
They are not only representative of traditional Lingnan residential architecture, but also embody the wisdom of Chinese life. They address challenges such as fire prevention, waterproofing, security, and ventilation in old houses, while also carrying the auspicious meaning of "rising step by step."
In ancient China, people believed that "Reading is noble." The layout of the village is particularly fascinating, corresponding to the Four Treasures of the Study in ancient China: the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. The core of the village is the Zheng Clan Ancestral Hall. Facing the hall is a clear pond, said to represent the pool for washing brushes and ink.
Not far away stands an ancient pagoda, known as the Brush Pagoda. The threshing ground beside the pond is shaped like an inkstone, while the white stone plaza in front of the village resembles an unfolded sheet of paper. Together, these elements form the ancient Chinese "Four Treasures of the Study," symbolizing the traditional Chinese wisdom of "farming and studying to sustain the family."
In the past, those who could build Wok Ear Houses were either wealthy or held high official positions. Legend has it that the higher one's status, the taller the "wok ears" would be. The initiator of this Wok Ear House complex was Zheng Shaozhong in the Qing Dynasty. Can you guess the official rank of the owner by judging the height of the wok ears? We look forward to your visiting China to find the answer.
This ancient village is only about an hour's drive from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and is open to the public for free all day. It now invites global visitors to come and explore its stories.
Reporter/Video: Wu Bixia
Editor: Wei Shen, Ou Xiaoming, James Campion, Shen He
