The Settlement Landscape in Xiankeng Village Conservation Project in Heyuan, Guangdong (广东河源仙坑村聚落景观保护项目) has received the Award of Merit at the 2025 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. UNESCO spoke highly of the project in its recent official announcement.
Located in Kanghe Town, Dongyuan County, Heyuan City (河源市东源县康禾镇), Xiankeng Village has a history of more than 400 years and is a typical Lingnan Hakka village. It is home to nearly 20 immovable cultural relics, including two provincial-level cultural relic protection units—Rongfengdi (Four-Corner Tower of Xiankeng Village) (荣封第-仙坑村四角楼) and the Eight-Corner Tower of Xiankeng Village (仙坑村八角楼)—as well as 13 municipal- and county-level cultural relic protection units, such as the site of Dengyun Academy (登云书院).
Dengyun Academy
Rongfengdi
Established in 2000, the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation recognize outstanding efforts in preserving cultural heritage. Following Guangyu Ancestral Hall in Conghua District, Guangzhou City, Zhaoxiang Huang Ancestral Hall in Foshan City, and Cangdong Heritage Education Center in Jiangmen City, the Settlement Landscape in Xiankeng Village Conservation Project is the fourth project in Guangdong Province to receive this honor.
Xiankeng Village
Author | He Fengyu
Photo | Nanfang Plus
