De'anli is a culturally preserved area of historical importance located in Nancun village in the city of Jieyang.

Built in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the vast complex of well-preserved period buildings stands as a great modern exemplar of the iconic historical mansion-style architecture from the region of Chaoshan, an area with unique cultural and linguistic traditions now situated in eastern Guangdong.

The vast De'anli building complex covers an area of 59,000 square meters and is comprised of distinct 773 rooms covering a broad range of functions both secular and religious. These include former government offices, an ancestral temple, a sacred family hall for ritual Buddhist worship, areas for study, a large banquet hall, and a storehouse.

The uniqueness and authenticity of De'anli's architectural design, and its representation of period Chaoshan and Lingnan buildings, has led to it becoming a focus for academic study. A textbook was recently complied by South China University of Technology detailing the complex's civil buildings.

De'anli [Photo/visitgd.com]