Longdu Old Villages and Longrui Village 隆都古村落与龙瑞村

About Longdu Old Villages and Longrui Village

The Zhongshan municipal government's own page for Shaxi township records that Longrui was originally part of Xijiao township, and that in 1952 two of Xijiao's three constituent bao, Qilong and Fangrui, were combined into one village first named Longrui with the character 隆, later changed to the homophone 龙 because it was considered more auspicious. The village covers 2.1 square kilometres with a registered population of 3,782.

The government page names several historic structures still standing in the village: a Ming-dynasty pagoda called Xijiao Gu Ta, a memorial archway from 1862 marking a third-place imperial examination graduate, a Liu clan ancestral hall built in the late Ming or early Qing, and further structures including a Wudi hall, a Wenchang shrine, a White-robed Guanyin temple and a stone watchtower. It records that Longrui has been designated a Guangdong Famous Village and a Guangdong Ancient Village.

What to look for

• Xijiao Gu Ta, the village's Ming-dynasty pagoda.
• The 1862 memorial archway marking a third-place imperial examination graduate.
• The Liu clan ancestral hall, built in the late Ming or early Qing.
• The Wudi hall, Wenchang shrine, White-robed Guanyin temple and stone watchtower named among the village's historic structures.

Location & getting there

Getting to Longdu Old Villages and Longrui Village

Identify the main visitor approach and any separately managed houses, museums or performances. Ask before entering residential spaces or photographing residents.

• Search for 隆都古村落与龙瑞村 with 中山市 and 沙溪镇.