中国人是世界上最有祖先崇拜传统的一个民族。在每个家族中，往往都有一个场所来供奉已去世的祖先的神主牌位。所以，旧时的每个家族都会有本家族的祠堂，并给它取一个名号，这个名号就叫“堂号”，目的是让子孙们每提起自家的堂号，就会知道本族的来源，记起祖先的功德。
俗话说，树大分杈。随着生命的传递、繁衍，家族也会不断扩大，扩大的结果是一些家族从祖居地迁居他处，另开基业，形成新的分支和新的宗族，自然也有不少家族远赴重洋，在海外定居，这些新形成的宗族和分支，往往又会建立新的祠堂，来供奉最亲近的祖先。于是，由一个祠堂又会派生出许多新的祠堂来。
宗祠，虽然是封建社会遗留下来的产物，在当今则有其新的存在的意义和社会作用。随着改革开放和全球华人寻根热潮的兴起，许多宗祠被新建和修复，族谱被续修，而海外华人则不断翻新旧宗祠，联络故众。可以说，今天的宗祠已经没有了“宗族主义”的负面作用，只具有帮助人们寻根问祖、缅怀先祖、激励后人、互相协作的积极意义，特别是对于加强中华民族的向心力、凝聚力，对于中华民族的大团结产生巨大的促进作用。
An ancestral hall or lineage temple is a site of ancestor worship in Chinese culture. Ancestral halls are closely linked to Confucian culture and the emphasis that it places on filial piety.
A common central feature of the ancestral halls is the ancestral tablets that embody the ancestral spirits. The ancestral tablets are typically arranged by seniority of the ancestors. Altars and other ritual objects such as incense burners are also common fixtures.
The halls are used for collective rituals and festivals in honor of the ancestors but also for other family- and community-related functions such as weddings and funerals. Sometimes， they serve wider community functions such as meetings and local elections.
云山叠翠——白云山
Baiyun Mountain
Introduction 简介
Baiyun Mountain refers to the mountain range located 15 km north of downtown Guangzhou and made up of about 30 peaks， with an area of 28 square kilometers. It is located at the southern end of the Dayu Mountains， which themselves are part of Nanling Mountains. Its highest peak， Moxing Ridge is 382 m high and is also called the “First Peak under the Southern Sky”.
白云山是位于广州市区北部，属于南岭山脉中大庾岭支脉的九连山山脉末段。白云山由30多座山峰组成，山区面积28平方公里。白云山最高峰摩星岭海拔382米，以“白云山上白云飞，白云山下白云浮”的特有风姿被誉为“天南第一峰”。
The name of the mountain derives from the view of peaks shrouded by white clouds in late Spring or when the sky clears after rain. Baiyun Mountain has been a scenic spot since ancient times. The fame of the mountain dates back before the city of Guangzhou was established， when it was occasionally visited by celebrities of as early as the Warring States Period (476 BC–221 BC). It had become known for its beauty in Jin Dynasty (265–420) and reputed as a tourist attraction in Tang Dynasty (618–897).
每逢春末或雨后之际，每当霏雨绵绵，云雾缭绕于黛山葱绿间，半壁皆素，由此得名白云山。白云山有十分浓厚的文化沉淀，最早可追溯到山北黄婆洞的新石器时代史前文化的遗址；秦末高士郑安期隐居在白云山采药济世，并在白云山“成仙而去”；晋代人葛洪曾在白云山炼丹，著有《抱朴子》这部道家名作；南梁时景泰禅师来此建寺，是白云山最早的寺庙，还留下“景泰僧归”一景，是羊城旧八景之一。唐宋以后，陆续有杜审言、李群玉、苏轼、韩愈等著名文人登山吟诗，他们的诗文寓情于物，成为岭南宝贵的历史精神财富。
Numerous scenes on Baiyun Mountain have been named in the Eight Sights of Guangzhou of various eras since the Song Dynasty (960–1279).Over the course of history， Baiyun Mountain has earned the titles of “Top Beauty of Guangzhou” and “First Mountain of Lingnan”. Historically， Baiyun Mountain had an abundance of scenic spots and historical sites， but few of them have survived till modern days.
白云山风景秀丽、景点众多，自宋代以来就被誉为“羊城八景”之一。在历史长河中更有“羊城第一秀”和 “岭南第一名山”的赞誉。千百年来，白云山名胜古迹虽多，但屡经兴废遗存很少，
Virescence covers over 95% of the area of Baiyun Mountain， enabling it to absorb 2800 t of carbon dioxide and release 2100 t of oxygen each day. Therefore， Baiyun Mountain is regarded as the “Lung of the City” .
白云山的绿化覆盖率已达95%以上，据统计，白云山目前共有绿化面积4.2万亩，每天可吸收2800吨二氧化碳，放出2100吨氧气，可供近300万人正常呼吸之用，被称为广州的“市肺”。