Sourcing & Import from China Tips and Guide

The Chen Family Temple was built as a collective effort by the Chen families from 72 counties all over Guangdong Province at the end of the 19th century during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty. The temple was built to honor and worship their ancestors. It was also used to house Chen family members who came from all over the province to sit for the imperial examinations. That is why it is also known as the Chen Family Academy. Today, it is the largest and best preserved example of the architecture and artistry of the time in all of Guangdong Province. This is a really unique experience in that you get to walk through the Chen Family House in its restored glory. It is almost like walking through a living museum. I really enjoyed seeing the restored details of the architecture. Most of all, I think that it helped me to feel in touch with my heritage like I had never been able to in the United States. Even though I have seen countless pieces of Chinese art and furniture, what really impacted me was the feeling the setting evoked. When you walk into the courtyard, you have a sense of time slowing and changing. You can imagine what life was like in that time…what it felt like on hot days or what it felt like on rainy days. It was just a really neat experience.

Temple of Chen Family