Architecture 圍村建築
In order to prevent piracy and protect the village, the walled village is characterised by a hard wall built around the houses that gradually form a walled village culture. The hard wall usually uses solid grey bricks or granite to achieve a defensive effect and include the function of grey bricks’s moisture absorption provided a comfortable living environment. Hong Kong walled villages are generally composed of residential houses, ancestral halls, study halls, temples, and more, among which the clan’s ancestral hall is the centre. Some walled villages will also have Pailou (Chinese architectural archway) at the entrance and village office inside the village. The village generally has four corners with watchtowers for residents to use for defence and observe the surroundings, and each wall has a very narrow door to not to allow too many people to enter.
為了防範海盜和保護村落，圍村以堅硬的圍牆興建在房屋四周，自成一格，逐漸形成圍村文化。圍村的牆一般使用青磚或者花崗石，材質堅硬能達到防禦效果，另外青磚的吸濕能力較好，可為村民提供舒適的環境。香港的圍村一般由民居、祠堂、書室、廟宇等組成，其中又以氏族的祠堂為中心，而有些圍村會在街道入口處設牌樓和村內設村公所。圍村一般有四個角位都設有更樓或者望台讓居民作防守之用和觀察外面的情況，而每個圍牆都有個很窄的門，目的就是不讓太多人進去。
Decorated archway in Chau Tau Tsuen
洲頭村牌樓
Ancestral Hall
The ancestral hall of the walled villages serves to enshrine the clan’s ancestors, hold sacrifices, organise ceremonies and is sometimes used as a meeting place for the family members. The construction of the ancestral hall has regulations and standards. It is built according to the official grade of the clan’s ancestors and mainly divided into three types of buildings: three-in (three halls and two courtyards), two-in (two halls and one courtyard), and one-hall. Hence, the ancestor hall represents the honour and prosperity of the family, and it is the most important building within the clan. The Tang Ancestral Hall in Ping Shan is an example of a three-in-two-courtyard building, showing the prominent social status of Tang’s ancestors and clan at that time.
祠堂
圍村的祠堂有供奉宗族祖先和舉行祭祀活動的功能，有時會用作家族成員聚會。興建祠堂是有規例和標準的，按照家族祖先的官品等級興建，主要分為三進式（三個廳堂和兩個庭園）、兩進式（兩個廳堂和一個庭園）、和一進式（一個廳堂）。祠堂代表了家族的榮譽和興旺，是家族內重要的建築物。例如元朗屏山的鄧氏宗祠就是一個三進兩院式的建築，顯示鄧氏祖先在當時顯赫的社會地位。
Tang Ancestral Hall 鄧氏宗祠
Study Hall/Private School
Study hall is usually built by villagers with funds raised or privately operated. Villagers will place the ancestor's altar in the study hall, so it has the function of ancestral worship. Study hall provides a place for the village’s children to study and prepare for the Imperial Examination, so that they will be able to work in the government office, bring honour to the ancestor and enhance the status and reputation of the family in society. It reflects that the clan attaches importance to children’s education and the family’s fame. After the abolition of the Imperial Examination System, some study halls will turn into village schools to provide educational services for children who also live in the surrounding area.
書室/家塾
書室一般由村民集資興建或者私人營辦，村民會在書室內擺放神龕，所以書室有供奉祖先的功能。其次，書室提供了一個場所供村內的子弟讀書學習和應付科舉考試，繼而進身仕途，光宗耀祖，提高家族在社會上的地位和名氣，反映宗族對子弟教育和功名的重視。科舉制度廢除後，有些書室會變成村校，為居住在附近地區的村童提供教育服務。
Sing Hin Kung Study Hall
聖軒公家塾
Temple
People in walled villages value faith and belief. They will build temples inside the village to worship various gods and pray for the blessing of the village. Most of them are related to Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. For example, villagers believe that Tin Hau is the protector goddess of the sea, so they will build a Tin Hau Temple to worship Tin Hau to pray for favourable weather, good fishery harvesting, and the safety of villagers who go out to sea.
廟宇
圍村人重視信仰，他們會在村中興建廟宇供奉不同的神明，祈求神明可以保佑村落。這些廟宇大多與佛教、道教和儒教有關，例如道教認為天后是海神，沿海村民會興建天后廟參拜，祈求風調雨順、漁獲豐富和村民出海平安。
