James Baquet

    Nestled side-by-side among tall buildings, separated by a small alley, are two of Shangmeilin Village’s prized possessions.

    One is the Longmu (Dragon Mother) Temple. Dating back to the Ming Dynasty (and renovated in the Qing), it is dedicated to a mythical figure who was said to have given birth to (or perhaps simply raised) five baby dragons. With their help, she ended a drought, leading to her deification.

    Or so they say.

    She is also a symbol of the parent-child relationship. The statues inside are relatively new, but the building itself is original, spared the bulldozer in Shenzhen’s rapid development.

    As mentioned, another treasure sits next door: the Huang Family’s Ancestral Hall. Although only a decade or so old, it, too, speaks of the strength of family, as the Huangs had to battle developers to recover some of the land on which the building sits.

    On one visit there, I encountered a whole passel of Huangs (maybe 200 or more) making cakes for a coming festival. Clannish they are not: I had to get out of there before they stuffed me to the ears!

    At other times, fewer-but-communal Huangs can be found playing mahjong or just chatting in the hall’s spacious interior.

    Both buildings can be found behind a large gate on the north side of Meihua Road between Meicun and Zhongkang roads, near the Shangmeilin bus stop.

    Notice: James Baquet will be leading free “Culture and History Walks” in Shenzhen on Saturday mornings in October and November. Write to him for more information: jamesbaquet@gmail.com