Ancestral temple, the most sacred place in the traditional Chinese community, was also a place where disputes were settled and kinship rules were enforced.

Sometimes even popular and influential than government courts, in rural China in particular, the temple was once the place where respectful patriarchs passed verdicts or arbitrations, which were usually strictly followed by involved parties.

In a bid to "achieve a perfect combination of rule of law and Chinese customs", Luogang District of Guangzhou - which spans over a newly-emerged economic zone and vast rural land with strong Chinese traditions and customs - decided to set up its court in the Yungu Ancestral Temple. The temple was built in the Ming Dynasty.

The decision was proven a huge success, said the court director, Ye Sanfang.

"Handling cases in the old temple conveys a sense of family and culture, and people feel easy to communicate with each other," Ye said.

People are respectful to the ruling of the court, too. Ninety-three percent of the cases handled by the court were not revoked by a higher court. The rate is much higher than other places in Guangdong Province.

The temple's non-official role to settle disputes is also well preserved. A mediation center was established in February in the temple to help people solve marriage and financial disputes, with respected elderly being invited as mediators.

"The measures remind people of the days when they lived together as a big family. That helps them to discuss things peacefully," Ye said.

Some tough cases were, therefore,easily solved.

A father and daughter became foes after the dispute over the right of a piece of land. The daughter sued the father.

After hours of mediation by local seniors who are familiar with their family affairs, the case was settled and the daughter hugged her father, both bursting into tears. And the daughter finally withdrew the suit.