Numerous ancient towns lie scattered around Guangzhou, offering a window into the province’s rich cultural heritage and illustrious past. Shawan Ancient Town in Panyu District is one such town. Built over 800 years ago during the Song Dynasty, Shawan has long enjoyed a reputation for being one of the most culturally rich towns in the region. The town boasts over 100 ancient shrines and is lined by beautiful, preserved ancient buildings. Just a subway ride and bus hop away from the city, a visit to Shawan is an idyllic and culturally rewarding way to spend a day away from the city.  

Why is Shawan reputed for its culture? For one, many of China’s most famous opera singers, dragon and lion dancers, sculptors and musicians originate from Shawan, and the town is lauded as the birthplace of Canton Opera. Shawan has managed to preserve a large number of clay, wood and stone sculptures as well as ancient murals and other Lingnan-style relics.

Even its cuisine is famous throughout the region, especially such specialties as “ginger buried milk” and the mooncake-like pastry “Dongyong Dabing”. Another reason is the fact that Shawan puts on colourful parades and traditional events whenever an important festival comes along, transforming the usually quiet town into a buzzing cultural center that pays homage to China’s traditional folk and arts.   

Main attractions and sights in Shawan Ancient Town

1) Liugeng Ancestral Hall
Liugeng Hall (留耕堂) is located in the northern part of the village and is one of the most famous ancestral halls in the town. Built in 1275 during the Yuan Dynasty, the original building was destroyed only to be rebuilt in the year 1700 over the course of 17 years during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. The building occupies 3334.25 square meters and is an exemplary example of the ancient science of Fengshui with a hall of worship, a drum tower and east-west verandas.

2) Wenfeng Pagoda
Wenfeng Pagoda (文峰塔) can be found in the Guan Alley of the northern village. Built in 1721, this site was once the highlight of the ancient attracting superstitious academics and children from near and far who flocked here in droves to worship the statues inside. The pagoda itself has three stories and six corners.

3) He Binglin Memorial Hall (Yanqing Hall) 何炳林院士纪念馆（衍庆堂）
This memorial hall on Anning Middle Street, which was built during the Jiaqing years of the Qing Dynasty, was originally dedicated to Ho Chi-Ming and his ancestors. However, that honor later went to He Binglin, a 24th generation grandchild of the Shawan He minority, who was a renowned chemist and educator and the first person in China to successfully carry out a test explosion of an atomic bomb. He is acknowledged as the pioneer who kick-started China’s ion resin industry and is nicknamed “the father of ion exchange resin”.

Where and what to eat at Shawan Ancient Village

As briefly mentioned above, Shawan has a number of famous specialties that are well worth trying while you’re here. Ginger buried milk (姜埋奶) is a sweet snack with over 100 years history and is made by mixing milk with ginger juice and then beating it until it reaches a consistency similar to scrambled eggs. Another must-try snack is double-layer milk, a dairy-product with a custard like consistency made by boiling and steaming eggs and milk. Finally, Dongyong Dabing (东涌大饼) is a round, sweet pastry that looks quite similar to a mooncake and is traditionally eaten during weddings, Chinese New Year and other festive occasions. Below are a number of notable restaurants in the town.

Dangdang Yuntun View In Map
Add: Anning Lu, Shawan
地址：沙湾镇安宁路(近三稔厅), 当当云吞
Tel: 135 3544 2390

Jiemei RestaurantView In Map
Add: entrance of Baomoyuan, Zini Village, Shawan
地址：沙湾镇紫坭村宝墨园门口, 姐妹饭店
Tel: 020 8474 7683

Qinfangyuan DessertsView In Map
Add: 375 Zhonghua Dadao, South Village, Shawan
地址：沙湾镇南村中华大道375号，沁芳园甜品店(沙湾二店)
Tel: 020 8473 4873

Shawan Ancient VillageView In Map
Add: 112 Dagangyong Lu, Shawan, Panyu District, Guangzhou
地址：广州市番禺区沙湾镇大巷涌路112号
Tel: 020 8473 8988
Price: 55 RMB per person
Getting there: first take metro line 3 to Shiqiao stop. From there, transfer to bus No. 番6, 番7, 番12, 番67 or 番68 and get off at Wenti Zhongxin (文体中心) or Liugengtang (留耕堂) stop. The ancient town is a short walk away.
Website: www.shawanguzhen.com 

Warning：The use of any news and articles published on eChinacities.com without written permission from eChinacities.com constitutes copyright infringement, and legal action can be taken.

Keywords: Shawan ancient village