A 300-year old house in Shenzhen is relocated from Jiangxi?

Published : 2025-05-27

Editor︰Ryu

In the Kexing Science Park of Nanshan District, Shenzhen, there stands an ancient building called “Da Fu Di,” which appears remarkably prominent amongst a sea of skyscrapers.

Even more astonishing is that Da Fu Di’s “hometown” is far away in Jiangxi, and it took three years to relocate it here.

How did Da Fu Di "move" from Jiangxi to Shenzhen? Why is it here?

Aesthetics of Qing Dynasty civil officials' residences

Nanshan District in Shenzhen has always been a hub of high-tech technology parks, where futuristic scenes like drone delivery and citizens walking robotic dogs are common.

However, amidst this tech-savvy area, there’s the ancient and quaint Da Fu Di, which is such a unique sight.

Shenzhen Da Fu Di is located in the Kexing Science Park in Nanshan District, Shenzhen, and was relocated here after three years without any changes. — Shenzhen Da Fu Di is located in the Kexing Science Park in Nanshan District, Shenzhen. It was relocated from Jiangxi over three years. (Image Source: Xiaohongshu)

Da Fu Di is not a unique name for this ancient building, but rather a general term—"Da Fu" refers to civil officials with a certain rank, usually fifth grade or higher, and "Di" means residence. Therefore, "Da Fu Di" refers to the residence of civil officials.

The Da Fu Di in Kexing Science Park, Shenzhen, is a residence of a civil official from the Qing Dynasty (221-207 BC) which has a history of more than 300 years.

Da Fu Di covers an area of about 300 square meters. The overall design is ancient and elegant, with a layout of "one entrance, two halls, each hall with two floors."

The exterior walls feature exquisite horse-head walls, which serve decorative purposes while also being wind and fire resistant, combining beauty and functionality, and fully showcasing the characteristics of Jiangxi-style architecture.

Why does a Guangdong ancient building possess Jiangxi architectural features? This is because Da Fu Di actually came from Jiangxi.

The main room of Da Fu Di features a courtyard in the middle, symbolizing “Four Waters Return to the Hall,” which means bringing wealth from all directions into the residence.

Inside Da Fu Di, carvings mainly of brick, wood, and stone can be seen everywhere, depicting patterns of flowers, birds, insects, fish, and mythological stories, which are vivid and very exquisite.

The Da Fu Di that was relocated from Jiangxi to Shenzhen adopts the layout of

Apart from horse head walls, the high walls, flying eaves, and steep cliffs of Da Fu Di are also covered with intricately carved brick carvings, stone carvings, and wood carvings, which are grand yet lively.

In the middle of the main hall of Da Fu Di, there is a courtyard. In addition to providing lighting and ventilation, it also carries a special meaning - "the water from four directions returns to the hall," meaning to bring wealth from all directions into the house, a distinctive feature.

How did it relocate from Jiangxi to Shenzhen over three years?

The original site of Da Fu Di is located near Poyang Lake in Duchang County, Jiujiang City. How did the entire architectural complex move to Shenzhen?

The relocation process was extremely complex, involving multiple steps such as numbering, dismantling, and assembly.

Each piece of wood and brick was numbered, and specialists handled the numbering and installation, then roof tiles were taken down in batches, following the steps of first removing wooden wedges. Next, the main part of the ceiling, dismantling ridge tiles were removed, and the courtyard was taken down.

Aerial view of Shenzhen Da Fu Di. — Aerial view of Da Fu Di in Shenzhen. (Image Source: Xiaohongshu)

When dismantling the horizontal beams, the process must follow the numbering and start from the front to the back of the house. Each beam must be carefully tied and secured, then slowly lowered and protectively packaged.

Once all the dismantling work was completed, the components could be transported to the park for reconstruction.

In the height of summer, phoenix flowers bloom like flames among the Jiangxi-style buildings of Da Fu Di, presenting a beautiful scene. — In midsummer, phoenix flowers bloom like flames among the Jiangxi-style buildings of Da Fu Di, offering a stunning view. (Image Source: Xiaohongshu)

Over three years, every single brick, tile, stone, and piece of wood of Da Fu Di was restored one by one to its original state, making it a tranquil "backyard" amidst the bustling science park and a building museum telling a century-old history.

Every early summer, the phoenix flower trees planted in front of Da Fu Di bloom with vibrant flowers, turning the surrounding area into a fiery red. The natural ecology and reinforced concrete seamlessly integrate, creating a harmonious picture.