This holiday, let’s enjoy beautiful and creative illustrations created by Chinese and international artists at the popular Dawan Ancestral Residence while admiring the centuries-old Hakka architecture.

The Dawan Ancestral Residence in Pingshan District is one of the largest Hakka compounds in China. It was built by the Zeng family in 1791, when Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) was on the throne. Covering 25,000 square meters, the compound has more than 400 rooms and halls.

The square residence includes six houses on the site’s front, interlinked by tall walls connected by corridors. Diaolou buildings (fortified multi-storey watchtowers) were built at the four corners of the compound to ward off enemies. Wells, halls, wooden plaques and various cultural relics are preserved inside the compound.

The residence was placed on Guangdong Province’s list of protected historical sites in 2002 for its value for research of the origins, customs, architecture, and irrigation methods of the Hakka people.

In recent years, Pingshan District Government has been presenting explorations of historical site protection and cultural and creative development, with three international illustration exhibitions held from 2017 to 2019 and the “Chant for the Luminosity” light show held in November last year.

Dates: Until Feb. 26

Venue: Dawan Ancestral Residence, Pingshan District (坪山区大万世居)

Transport: Take the high-speed rail from Futian Station or Shenzhen North Station to Pingshan Station and then take a taxi(Cao Zhen)