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The feng shui woods is considered a form of indigenous knowledge system which acknowledges the close relationship between man and nature, commonly known as a set of rules for selecting the ideal place for settlement and development. Villages in Southern China, including Hong Kong, are typically set in verdant woodlands and along peaceful shores where vegetation and houses blend in perfect fusion. These sylvan settings alongside vibrant rural communities in Hong Kong’s countryside fully illustrated the harmony between man and nature, and epitomized the importance of sustaining our cultural landscapes through nature and culture-based solutions. There are many traditional practices maintained by rural communities, to preserve for generations of villager’s good fortune and good energy circulation in the valley.

This talk aims to introduce this landmark feature of village planning in Southern China, and secondly, to articulate the importance of such a traditional practice in relation to cultural landscape management and nature-based solutions practiced in rural communities, and to juxtapose the management of Feng Shui woods with the construction and conservation of Hakka architecture in Singapore, and demonstrate how cultural heritage policies continue to emphasize building form and architectural style over the holistic understanding of landform and traditional practice.