Located southwest of the Huanping Community, Dawan Ancestral Residence is one of the biggest Hakka compounds in China. It was built by the Zeng family in 1791, when Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty was on the throne.

A scene at Dawan Ancestral  Residence. Photo from DT News

With a floor area of 166,000 square meters, the residence housed 100 families at the height of its prosperity. The square residence includes six houses in the site's front, interlinked by tall walls connected by corridors. Turrets were built at the four corners to ward off enemies. The terrain surrounding the residence is uneven, with fertile plains rolling endlessly to the west and the hills of Dagu Valley on other sides.

An aerial shot of the Dawan Ancestral Residence. Photo by Liu Xudong

The residence was placed on Guangdong Province's list of protected historical sites in 2002 for its value in researching the origins, customs, architecture and irrigation methods of the Hakkas.

Add: 33 Dawan Road, Pingshan District (坪山区大万路33号)

Metro: Line 14 to Jinlong Station (锦龙站), Exit B