Chen Clan Ancestral Hall-Folk Craft Museum This place was built as a college in 1888. It has very beautiful architecture features. This large "Academy" is a symmetric complex consisting of 19 buildings with nine halls and six courtyards . The Chen clan is very large in Guangzhou -- but also around the world. 

Two American members were instrumental is raising funds for its construction. The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall complex exemplifies traditional Chinese architecture and decoration style, and has influenced cultural and architectural developments worldwide. It was added in the list of "Cultural Relics of National Importance under the Protection of the State" in 1988. 

This Ancestral Hall (now a folk craft museum) is an oasis of traditional culture in the midst of modernity, high rise buildings and construction cranes in the background. 
The Hall is a symmetric complex consist of 19 buildings with nine halls and six courtyards. The roof tops are quite stunning and very unusual with colourful ceramic adornments and stained glass panels like nothing we've seen elsewhere in China. 

From the doors with the huge pictures on them to the intricate decorations of the roof, this museum is fascinating on a number of levels. Originally built to honour all people with Chen surname, it now also includes various art and other displays of interest.

This large complex of buildings contains numerous courtyards with beautifully maintained flowers, shrubs and trees. The buildings in the Hall are fully decorated with carvings: wood, stone, brick, pottery, plaster and iron engravings. The content of these decorations are mostly flowers, birds, Cantonese fruits and scenes in traditional dramas. 

On display are a number of tradional rooms and a large collection of southern China art pieces, furniture, utensils, ceramics, and ivory. We found the carved ivory most impressive.