Tracing China's ancient exam culture in Guangdong

China's annual national college entrance examination, or gaokao, will begin on June 7. As millions of students prepare for one of the country's most important exams, visitors can also explore a much older tradition of learning.

For more than 1,300 years, China's ancient imperial examination system had shaped the paths of scholars pursuing official careers. Across Guangdong, historic villages, classical gardens, and cultural landmarks still preserve the stories of Zhuangyuan, the top scorers in the imperial examination system, and offer a glimpse into how education shaped lives in ancient China.

Daling Village, Guangzhou (大岭村)

With a history of more than 900 years, Daling Village is known for its strong academic tradition and well-preserved Lingnan architecture. Often referred to as a "scholar village," it once produced numerous successful candidates in the imperial examinations.

(Photo: Guangzhou Panyu Fabu)

According to local legend, the village was designed around the concept of the "Four Treasures of the Study," with rivers, ponds, bridges, and towers symbolizing the tools of traditional scholars. Today, visitors can stroll through ancient streets, visit ancestral halls and traditional residences and explore workshops dedicated to Lingnan handicrafts.

Ticket: Free

Address: Shilou Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou (广州市番禺区石楼镇)

Lichong Village, Foshan (黎冲村)

Often called "Guangdong's No. 1 Zhuangyuan Village", Lichong Village was home to two renowned Zhuangyuan: Jian Wenhui of the Southern Han Dynasty and Lun Wenxu of the Ming Dynasty.

(Photo: Foshan Shiwan)

Visitors can take a leisurely cultural walk past ancestral halls, traditional academies, around lotus ponds and the famed Zhuangyuan Well, where local students still draw water during ceremonial events, symbolically seeking scholarly success. The nearby Zhuangyuan Culture Exhibition Hall offers insight into the lives of the village's celebrated scholars, while cafés and teahouses provide relaxing stops along the route.

(Photo: Foshan Fabu)

Ticket: Free

Address: Both sides of Fenjiang South Road, Chancheng District, Foshan (佛山市禅城区汾江南路两侧)

Qinghui Garden Museum, Foshan (清晖园博物馆)

Qinghui Garden, one of the "Four Great Classical Gardens of Lingnan", was originally part of the residence of Huang Shijun, the first Zhuangyuan from Shunde.

(Photo: Qinghui Garden Museum)

Renowned for its elegant Lingnan design, the garden features pavilions, courtyards, ponds, and winding corridors. Its Zhuangyuan Hall now serves as an exhibition space showcasing Huang's life and the stories of other successful scholars from the region during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

(Photo: Qinghui Garden Museum)

Ticket: 15 yuan

Address: No. 23 Qinghui Road, Daliang Subdistrict, Shunde District, Foshan (佛山市顺德区大良街道清晖路23号)

Lin Zhaotang Memorial Hall, Zhanjiang (林召棠纪念馆)

Lin Zhaotang was the only Zhuangyuan from western Guangdong during the Qing Dynasty. This memorial hall introduces to visitors his life and achievements through historical documents, calligraphy works, and cultural relics.

(Photo: Zhanjiang Fabu)

Just outside the hall, visitors can continue exploring a cluster of scholar-themed landmarks, including Lin Zhaotang's former residence, the Lin Ancestral Hall, the Wuchuan Confucian Academy where he once studied, and Jipu Pavilion. These sites offer a glimpse into the environment that nurtured this accomplished scholar.

Ticket: Free

Address: Xiajie Village, Wuyang Town, Wuchuan, Zhanjiang (湛江吴川市吴阳镇霞街村)

Guangdong Guanyin Mountain National Forest Park, Dongguan (广东观音山国家森林公园)

For a more interactive introduction to Zhuangyuan culture, visitors can head to Guangdong Guanyin Mountain National Forest Park during its Fifth Zhuangyuan Culture Festival, which runs through July 31.

(Photo: Guangdong Guanyin Mountain National Forest Park)

The event recreates scenes from ancient examination traditions through parades, cultural performances, and interactive activities. Visitors can take part in poetry contests, traditional archery, literary quizzes, and strength challenges, while exploring themed landmarks such as Zhuangyuan Corridor and Sanyuan Gate, all inspired by the pursuit of academic success.