In 1273, as the Southern Song Dynasty neared its end, the ancestors of the Mai clan migrated from Nanxiong Zhuji Alley to settle in the coastal wetlands of Huangge. Centuries later, their descendants constructed the General Mai Gong Ancestral Hall along Dongli Main Street. Built during the Qing Dynasty, the shrine honors the family’s forebears and takes its name from Mai Gongjin, a Yuan Dynasty Deputy General whose tomb remains nearby on Dahe Mountain. The building anchors a continuous historic streetscape, standing alongside the Shaoshan, Fudang, and Fuxiong ancestral halls. Together, these structures map the steady expansion and enduring influence of the Mai family in Dongli Village.

The hall itself is a classic example of Lingnan architecture, designed to accommodate the humid southern climate while serving as the administrative and spiritual center of the clan. Over time, the building weathered, prompting a recent and meticulous intervention. In early 2022, local preservationists completed an 11-million-RMB restoration project encompassing seven historic sites across the village. Guided by the philosophy of "restoring the old as old," craftsmen stabilized the original Qing Dynasty timber and masonry, carefully preserving the physical marks of time. Today, the General Mai Gong Ancestral Hall operates as a protected cultural relic, offering visitors a quiet space to observe the architectural heritage of Guangzhou and the centuries-long continuity of the Mai lineage.