Gankeng Hakka Town is located in Gankeng Community, Jihua Subdistrict, Longgang District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province. It is a National 3A-level Tourist Attraction. As a cultural tourism town featuring local Hakka dwellings in Shenzhen, it was renovated based on a century-old Hakka village. The planned total area of the town is approximately 186 hectares, and the construction area of the core ancient village zone is about 32,000 square meters. The scenic area retains a large number of original ancient Hakka buildings, integrating Hakka folk customs, intangible cultural heritage and modern cultural and creative industries. It combines traditional Hakka architectures such as ancient residences, blockhouses, ancestral halls and alleyways with IP cultural tourism. Serving as an important display venue for local Hakka culture in Shenzhen, it takes cool hat culture as its core feature and builds an urban Hakka town integrating cultural experience, leisure sightseeing, research education and cultural and creative consumption.
History and Culture
The Gankeng village dates back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was first founded by Hakka ancestors who migrated here over three hundred years ago. In ancient times, this place had dense forests and sweet mountain springs, hence the name Gankeng. In the early days, villagers mainly lived on farming and weaving Hakka cool hats. The craftsmanship of cool hats was passed down from generation to generation and became the most representative intangible cultural heritage item of Gankeng. The village gradually formed a settlement pattern where Hakka clans lived together. Rows of houses, ancestral halls and defensive blockhouses were constructed to maintain Hakka clan culture.
In modern times, Gankeng still preserved traditional Hakka lifestyles, with folk customs including farming, festivals and weddings continuing to thrive. Along with the urbanization of Shenzhen, the ancient village faced demolition risks. Local authorities launched protection and development projects to preserve the original texture of ancient buildings and revitalize the ancient village. Gankeng Cool Hat Weaving was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage. Centered on this cultural highlight, the town explores cultural content such as Hakka folk songs, Hakka cuisines and Hakka festivals to build a display platform for Hakka culture.
Gankeng Hakka Town is also a representative domestic IP town. It combines traditional Hakka culture with the Little Hakka IP, inheriting Hakka culture through exhibition halls, theatres and research activities, transforming the old village into a cultural tourism destination.
Main Attractions
Gankeng Hakka Ancient Alley
Gankeng Hakka Ancient Alley is the original network of Hakka alleyways in the town. Winding and crisscrossing, the alley retains its original bluestone pavement, flanked by rows of Hakka houses. Varying in width, the alley connects residential courtyards. Weathered traces can be seen on the walls, restoring the living scenes of Hakka villages in old times. Small folk display spots scatter along the alley for visitors to experience daily living environments of Hakka people.
Nanxiang Building
Nanxiang Building is a brick-and-timber ancient structure relocated and restored as a whole. It blends Minnan and Hakka architectural styles with a history of more than 120 years. The building features elaborate carved beams and painted rafters, rich grey sculptures and wood carvings, with an exquisite multi-layer internal structure. It now serves as a cultural exhibition venue displaying traditional artifacts and showcasing ancient construction techniques and Hakka folk culture.
Champion Mansion
Champion Mansion is a relocated and restored ancient building of the Qing Dynasty. The original building came from Wuyuan, Jiangxi Province, with a history of more than 300 years. It was settled in Gankeng Hakka Town in 2013. Centered on the Hakka cultural value of respecting education, the halls retain the original appearance of the ancient mansion. Wood carvings and historical documents are exhibited inside, making it a landmark building for study tours in the town.
Phoenix Valley
Phoenix Valley lies in the mountain woods on the northern zone of the town with quiet and serene surroundings. It consists of multiple ancient buildings relocated and reconstructed from other places, including Shouzi Building, Wanzi Building, Phoenix Building and Qilin Building. It is now the Phoenix Valley Antiquities Museum. The buildings arrange along the mountain slope in tranquil settings, ideal for appreciating the structures of traditional ancient architectures. Hanfu and cultural events are frequently held here.
Little Hakka Farm
Little Hakka Farm is a domestic original IP ecological farm located on the north side of Gankeng Hakka Town. Renovated from an old site through ecological transformation, it contains farming planting zones, children’s play areas and IP cartoon landscapes. Visitors can experience farm picking and nature research activities. It is a popular spot for family tours.
Gankeng Museum
Gankeng Museum is the core exhibition hall showcasing Hakka culture in the town. It houses a special exhibition hall for Hakka cool hats, systematically introducing the origin, history and 33 weaving procedures of Gankeng Cool Hat, a provincial intangible cultural heritage. Various finished cool hats, bamboo weaving tools and old Hakka folk objects are displayed here. It is the key venue to learn about the intangible cultural heritage of Gankeng Cool Hat.
Gankeng Blockhouse
Gankeng Blockhouse, also known as Blockhouse Courtyard, was built in the 8th year of the Republic of China (1919). It is a stone-brick rammed-earth defensive blockhouse of Hakka style and a cultural relic protection unit of Longgang District. Shooting holes were set on the walls. The East River Column once recuperated here. The exhibition hall displays the history of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and Hakka defensive architectural culture with texts, pictures and physical exhibits.
Tour Route
Main Entrance of Gankeng Hakka Town → Gankeng Blockhouse → Gankeng Hakka Ancient Alley → Gankeng Museum → Nanxiang Building → Champion Mansion → Phoenix Valley → Little Hakka Farm → Cultural and Creative Block → Exit
Tour Suggestions
- The recommended visiting time is 3 to 4 hours. You can finish visiting core attractions within half a day, leave extra time to taste Hakka snacks.
- Weekends or holidays are recommended for your visit. You may encounter Hakka folk performances and intangible heritage handcraft activities.
- For quiet photography, it is recommended to enter the park around 9 a.m. There are fewer visitors and nice light in the ancient alleys.
- You can try characteristic Hakka food. Salt-baked chicken, Ai Ban and Hakka stuffed tofu are common local delicacies.
- If travelling with children, Little Hakka House is preferred, which offers intangible heritage popular science suitable for kids.
- Phoenix Valley has slightly steep slopes. Comfortable flat shoes are recommended for walking tours.
Notes
- Most ancient buildings in the town adopt wooden structures. Open flames are prohibited. Do not smoke inside buildings.
- The bluestone roads in alleys are uneven. The elderly and children should watch their steps to avoid slipping.
- Please do not touch exhibits or carve walls inside exhibition halls and ancient buildings to protect cultural relics.
- Crowds surge during holidays with limited parking spaces. Public transport is preferred.
- Some outdoor zones of the town have no shelters. Take sun protection in summer and bring umbrellas on rainy days.
- Pets shall follow scenic regulations and be kept on leashes. Pets are not allowed in some indoor exhibition halls.
Transportation
- Metro: Take Shenzhen Metro Line 10 to Gankeng Station, then walk or transfer buses to reach Gankeng Hakka Town.
- Bus: Take Bus M268, M273, M403 and other lines to Gankeng Hakka Town Bus Stop.
- Self-driving: Navigate to Gankeng Hakka Town Parking Lot. Parking lots are available in the scenic area, yet parking spaces are tight during holidays.
Opening Hours
Gankeng Hakka Town park area is open to the public all day. The opening hours for indoor exhibition halls and attractions inside the park are 10:00-18:00 from Monday to Sunday. Some venues close on Mondays (except statutory holidays). Ancient streets and shops stay open until around 21:00 at night. Refer to on-site notices for the latest opening status of each venue.
Tickets
Admission is free. However, some independent exhibition halls, theatres and special experience projects charge separately.
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