Mei Family Mansion, Selling tofu pudding, offal snacks and local specialties.

Datong River in Duanfen Town, Taishan City, Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province

Selling tofu pudding, offal snacks and local specialties.

4.7

Introduction

Mei Family Courtyard (also known as the Tingjiangwei Overseas Chinese Architectural Complex) is located by Datong River in Duanfen Town. It was established in 1931 by local overseas Chinese surnamed Mei and their family members. The courtyard covers an area of 80 mu (about 5.3 hectares) and consists of 108 two to three-storey buildings with horsehead walls, arranged in a rectangular shape. In the center, there is a 40 mu (about 2.7 hectares) market space for vendors to sell goods, resembling a small town, hence the name "Mei Family Courtyard." The architectural design of the courtyard incorporated features and styles from the residents' respective countries of residence, blending Western and Chinese traditional architectural art. While each building follows a well-planned layout, they have distinct appearances, reflecting both the architectural trends at the time and the thoughts and living standards of overseas Chinese. After more than 70 years of wind and rain erosion, the buildings in the entire courtyard have remained relatively intact. Guo Dongpo, the director of the State Council's Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, Lv Weixiong, the director of the provincial Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, and some domestic architecture experts and scholars have visited and all agreed that Mei Family Courtyard is the most well-preserved and representative overseas Chinese architectural complex in the country. It has also been used as a filming location for films such as "Temporary President" and TV dramas showcasing the overseas Chinese homeland on Guangdong TV and the Spanish National TV, further enhancing its popularity and being listed as a key provincial cultural heritage protection site. Therefore, Mei Family Courtyard has significant historical and cultural value and is a great place to develop into a tourist attraction. Mei Family Courtyard has favorable conditions for developing into a tourist attraction. First, it is conveniently located. It is close to the provincial road Taihai Highway, with convenient transportation by land and water. It is 25 minutes' drive to Taicheng, 8 minutes to Guangdong West Coastal Highway Guanghai entrance, and 1.5 hours to Guangzhou. Second, it has ample space and many buildings. Mei Family Courtyard covers an area of 80 mu, with rectangularly arranged buildings with horsehead walls, neat and beautiful. The activity area in the middle is 40 mu, resembling a small town, making it easy to build thematic attractions and tourism supporting hardware facilities. There are 108 buildings in the courtyard, ranging from two to three floors, suitable for establishing multiple hometown historical and cultural thematic museums and tourism-commercial supporting facilities. Third, it is easy to collect and lease. Most of the owners of Mei Family Courtyard have already moved overseas, and a considerable number of houses are vacant. After the completion of the new market in Daxinjing, the original shops in the courtyard have low rent value for doing business. The housing previously used by some government departments and cooperative stores are also vacant due to relocation. Currently, there are about 40 houses available for rent at any time. Fourth, it has beautiful natural landscapes. Mei Family Courtyard is located by Datong River, with green trees on the riverbank and a beautiful sight of "one river and three bridges" in the river. Taking a yacht upstream along the Datong River, you can reach the Tangdi area, where you can scoop up the famous Tangdi Water, full of imagination. Along the way, there are picturesque green waters and mountains, beautiful folk legends, and the charm of rural characteristics. Going downstream along the river, you will be greeted with the vast Guanghai Plain, showcasing the rich fertility of the land.

Address

Datong River in Duanfen Town, Taishan City, Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province

Opening hours

All day (all day) (January 1 - December 31, Monday to Sunday)