大万世居

What secrets does a walled city hold? Here, before us, stands Dawanshiju, a testament to time and tradition. Dawanshiju isn’t just a building. It’s a story etched in stone and earth, a tale of the Zeng family who journeyed to Shenzhen’s Hakka Mountains generations ago. Their patriarch, Zeng Duanyi, a descendant of Confucius, oversaw the construction of this magnificent walled village in 1791. Dawanshiju sprawls across 25,000 square meters. Its walls, built with a mixture of sand, clay, lime, and fortified with sugar and rice wine, enclose over 400 rooms. Imagine the hustle and bustle within these walls. Families lived their lives, interconnected yet independent, within the square embrace of Dawanshiju. Each house, roughly 40 square meters, featured a main room, two or three side rooms, a well, and a small courtyard. Dawanshiju’s layout is more than just practical. Viewed from above, it resembles the Chinese character for “return” or “surround,” perhaps symbolizing the family’s unity and their defensive posture against the outside world. The high perimeter walls, complete with guard towers, reinforced this sense of security and symbolized the clan’s prestige. Even today, Dawanshiju retains traces of its vibrant past. Though currently under restoration and not inhabited, it holds artifacts that whisper stories of Hakka life. The ancestral halls, the decorative carvings, the remnants of festivals with unicorn dances and firecrackers – all paint a picture of a rich cultural heritage. Sadly, modern buildings now surround Dawanshiju, encroaching upon its former tranquility. Yet, it stands defiant, a tangible echo of a bygone era, sharing its secrets with those who pause to listen. Dawanshiju is more than just a historical site; it is a living poem, a monument to the enduring spirit of the Zeng family and the Hakka people.