China

Maggie - China - 24.08.2012

Chen Clan Temple. 

The Chen Clan Temple is also named the Chen's Academy. As a master piece of Lingnan folk architectural arts, it's a typical Guangdong folk clan temple. 

The Chen Clan Academy is an academic temple in Guangzhou (Canton), China built by the 72 Chen clans for their juniors' accommodation and preparation for the imperial examinations in 1894 in Qing Dynasty. Later it was changed to be the Chen Clan’s Industry College, and then middle schools afterward. Now it houses the Guangdong Folk Art Museum.

It is a symmetric complex consist of 19 buildings with nine halls and six courtyards. Facing south, the complex forms around a north-south axis. A large collection of southern China art pieces, for example, wood carvings and pottery, can be found in the structure. The Chen Clan Academy complex exemplifies traditional Chinese architecture and decoration style, and has influenced cultural and architectural developments worldwide.