Understand Guangzhou·Cantonese Rhyme丨The big house has deep rhyme and long-lasting charm, and Miss Xiguan is full of energy

· Understanding Guangzhou Issue 124 ·

Xiguan is the collective name for the area outside the west gate of ancient Guangzhou City, located in today\’s Liwan District. In the Qing Dynasty, with the prosperity of overseas trade, Xiguan became the foreign trade center of Guangzhou and even the whole country. As a model of modern Guangfu residential buildings, Xiguan House skillfully integrates the essence of the local \”three rooms and two corridors\” and adapts to Guangzhou\’s hot, humid and rainy climate to form a unique architectural style. The blue brick and stone feet contain the splendor and charm of modern commercial civilization, while the depths of the courtyard hide the vicissitudes of time and endless stories. Xiguan House is not only a building, but also a vivid embodiment of Guangfu culture’s practicality, openness, compatibility and innovation.

Tracing the origins of the big house

“When you walk into the south end of the alley from Guantang Street, the first house you encounter is the He family. It has the most spacious facade, with three sides passing by and three entering deep, with a garden at the back. People call it An old building with polished blue bricks and a bachelor\’s door. It has a large black-painted door, a low door with rosewood carved mahogany, and white stone door frame and steps… It is very majestic. \”The \”old house\” in the novel \”Sanjiaxiang\” is exactly the type that appeared in Guangzhou during the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. A unique modern residential building type – \”Xiguan House\”.

The Xiguan House in the arcade of Longjin West Road

·Qing Dynasty·

Rich Xiguan A-level connection

The Xiguan area in the west of Guangzhou City is bounded by today\’s Longjin Road, with Shangxiguan in the north and Lower Xiguan in the south. Today, people swimming along Enning Road can hardly imagine that the quaint stone road under their feet used to be in the middle of the water, and people relied on boats to travel. \”The water surrounds the city like a painting, and the romantic should not be allowed to go to Gusu.\” According to the writings of local poets in the Qing Dynasty, this place has a waterside style that makes people forget to leave.

Before the Sui and Tang Dynasties, this place was still a vast swamp. During the Southern Han Dynasty, palaces and gardens were built here and became a leisure place for the royal family. In the Ming Dynasty, commercial activities gradually emerged along the banks of Xihao and Xiaxiguanyong, forming the famous Shibafu \”Jiewei\” commercial area.

In the Qing Dynasty, with the establishment of Guangdong Customs and the Thirteenth Bank, Xiguan became an important foreign trade center in Guangzhou and even the country. This area is close to the outskirts of Pantang City, with crisscrossing rivers, dotted with lotus ponds on Li\’an bank, and pleasant scenery. A large number of wealthy businessmen and dignitaries built luxury mansions in Xiguan Yongdi. It was at this time that the construction of the famous Xiguan House began. Living in Xiguan has also become a status symbol. At that time, the four wealthy business families of Pan, Lu, Wu, and Ye in Guangzhou, as well as the number one scholar in the scientific examination, Tanhua, etc. all lived in Xiguan.

During the Daoguang and Xianfeng years of the Qing Dynasty, the Xiguan area north of Shangshibafu Commercial District and west of Baohuafang also began to build large-scale residential blocks. No. 18, Baoyuan North Street, an inner lane of Baoyuan Road, is undoubtedly the best among the big houses in Xiguan. The owner of the house, Liang Dayong, was a famous porcelain merchant in Guangzhou during the Daoguang period. He opened the \”Wuchang\” and \”Jincheng\” shops on Tongwen Street (today\’s Thirteen Lanes, Shanmu Lan) and Doulan Street, and was known as \”Porcelain Liang\”. Liang Dayong was awarded the second-grade crown with flower feathers by the Qing court. He had five sons and built a big house for each of them. The big house where he lives is called \”Liang Zizheng\’s House\”, covering an area of ​​more than 2,000 square meters and having more than 20 halls and rooms.

The fragrance of ink still lingers in Xiaohuafangzhai

During the late Qing Dynasty, Xiguan was the first to become popular, and new things such as new education, press and publishing, and Western medicine flourished. . According to historical records: \”In the middle of Guangxu, the wealthy prime ministers led the purchase of land and built houses. For decades, Jiadi clouds and row upon row, Lingtang, Lianzhu, were all used as residential houses, directly connected with Pantang and other places, the soil was connected, and the population increased. At that time, wealthy businessmen and celebrities, overseas Chinese working hard in Southeast Asia, and intellectual elites bought land and built large houses on the plains between Upper Xiguanyong and Lower Xiguanyong.

Among these big houses in Xiguan, the one recognized as the most creative is the Small Painted Fangzhai on the banks of Lychee Bay. In the middle of Guangxu, Huang Fu, a native of Taishan, Guangdong, made his fortune in Nanyang and returned to Guangzhou to buy properties, including a small Hua Fang Zhai. This Xiguan mansion is a ring-shaped building, with exquisite and elegant buildings connected, and an open-air garden in the middle, which is unique. The \”Boat Hall\” in the building looks like a painting boat, with \”Manchurian windows\” engraved with blue glass on both sides. The small painted boathouse is near the water, with white lotus and red lychee, ancient trees and bamboos, making it look like a fairyland.

Huang Fu’s eldest son Huang Jingtang took part in the imperial examination and won the title of Tribute. He supported the Hundred Days Reform. After the failure of the Kangliang Reform, Huang Jingtang was determined to become an official and invested in the iron and steel industry.Roads, docks, real estate, etc. In the early years of the Republic of China, Huang Jingtang passed away, and his younger brother Huang Zijing became the owner of Xiaohuafangzhai. Huang Jingtang and Huang Zijing were very obsessed with traditional culture. They had a rich collection of calligraphy, painting and antiquities, and they often convened gatherings of literati, poets and painters. If the guest is good at painting, he will be entertained in the \”Reading Painting Building\”; if he likes to recite poetry, he will be entertained in the \”Poetry Pavilion\”. The modern poet Huang Jie once wrote a poem to express his feelings: \”The scenery and flowers bloom first in front of the lamp, and the cold spring night has settled outside the building. The last thing is that the river is full of fishing lights and green, and I still have a year\’s worth of heart when I return to the boat.\”

As time goes by, The legends of mansions and wealth in the late Qing Dynasty have turned into the faint fragrance of ink on the pages of history books. Nowadays, the reconstructed small boathouse stands quietly on the bank of the clear water, showing the world that cultural memory that will never fade.

No. 30 Yaohua Street

·During the Republic of China·

The big house \”slimmed down and became taller\” with windows on all floors

Xiguan big house and courtyard What\’s the difference? Xuan Wenhao, a researcher on Lingnan urban and architectural history, said that Beijing courtyard houses are the product of capital planning. They are located in the city and were formed in ancient times. They are relatively stable and the owners are the traditional official class. The Xiguan House in Guangzhou is a product of urbanization. It is located on the outskirts of the city and was formed in modern times. The owners are the emerging industrial and commercial gentry class. The building structure, materials and decoration of the big house keep pace with the times.

During the large-scale urban construction during the Republic of China, Guangzhou’s buildings were basically updated. According to statistics, approximately 66.82% of the buildings were built between 1911 and 1927. At that time, as construction technology progressed and the urban population increased, land became more scarce. The newly built and rebuilt Xiguan residential buildings began to \”downsize\” and develop into the air, with at least two to three floors, and windows on each floor.

There are 39 house numbers on Yaohua Street. Mingzi houses, bamboo tube houses, and Western-style villas that combine Chinese and Western styles live next to each other, making it a modern Xiguan residential museum. Although the Mingzi House is just a \”two-sided house\” with one front and one side, parents and elders still live behind the main hall on the first floor. This tradition has not changed, and many house owners also call it \”Xiguan House\”. The increase in the number of floors offsets the decrease in the number of rooms. Xuan Wenhao told reporters that during the Republic of China, Xiguan House not only opened more windows, but also opened stair doors to makeEach floor is independent to the outside, making it easy to separate or sublet.

At this time, Western elements began to appear in the architectural appearance and detailed decoration of the Xiguan House, and new materials such as cement were partially used in the building structure. On Baoyuan Road, not far from Yaohua Street, there are many large houses that combine Chinese and Western styles. No. 9 Baoyuan Road looks inconspicuous, but the elegant slatted doors and wrought iron window grilles still inadvertently reveal the style of a wealthy family back then.

The \”butterfly window\” on the top of the horizontal door of Xiguan House

A combination of Chinese and Western styles Full of fireworks

Compared with the mansions of the thirteen merchants in the late Qing Dynasty, the mansions of wealthy merchants during the Republic of China were much more low-key.

If it weren’t for a luxurious “Wedding of the Century” in 1937, it would be difficult for the neighbors along Baoyuan Road to notice that Chen Zeqiu, the “Fashion King”, lived here. The male protagonist of the wedding is Deng Youtong, the grandson of Deng Huaxi, and the female protagonist is Chen Yanqiong, the daughter of Chen Zeqiu. On the day of her wedding, Chen Yanqiong took her dowry such as jewelry, jade, and a complete set of red sandalwood furniture from No. 9 Baoyuan Road to \”Deng Gong Baodi\” on Duobao Road. \”The procession stopped and walked for half a mile. She wore seven or eight phoenix crowns. It was heavy, and for the sake of brilliance, light bulbs were installed. Within six days, hundreds of banquets were held.\” This was the only time that Chen Zeqiu, who was usually low-key and frugal, showed his wealth to the world.

At that time, Xiguan was crowded and the land was narrow, so people often occupied the entire land when building houses. When Chen Zeqiu designed his house, he went in the opposite direction and left an open space at the door. First, he could let passers-by take shelter from wind and rain. Second, he hoped that his family would be protected from wind and rain when they went out. Third, he taught his children to retreat in order to advance. Only Only if you are strong enough can you have a foothold in this place where every inch of land is precious.

A large house that combines Chinese and Western styles has also been built near Xiaohuafangzhai. The blue brick walls and typical \”triple doors\” retain the traditional style of the Xiguan house, and the balcony with four Western-style pillars and The arc-shaped mountain flower pattern shows the delicacy and elegance of Western architectural elements. This building originally belonged to the well-known Cantonese businessman Chen Lianzhong, who later sold it to the famous anti-Japanese general Jiang Guangnai. Later, as a Dongguan citizen in Guangzhou planned to set up Wanlv Middle School where Suizi was studying, Jiang Guangnai generously lent this building to Wanlv Middle School as a school building, and he and his family moved to a small residence in Meihua Village, Dongshan.. Today, this former residence has become part of the Liwan District Museum.

The Xiguan House during the Republic of China was no longer an unattainable and deep compound. Businessmen, overseas Chinese, dentists, celebrities, journalists, and teachers lived in the same alley and became neighbors. The interiors of many Xiguan houses have been redivided and renovated, forming a new living model of \”neighbors living together under one roof\”.

Ye Shuming, a scholar of Guangfu culture, said: \”Looking inside, the rich people just hang a few more calligraphy and paintings in the nave, put a few more rosewood tables and chairs, and bridge abutments. There are just a few pieces of famous porcelain on display. Some big houses and bamboo tube houses in Xiguan are filled with relatives, classmates, relatives and friends. The owner rents out the room to others and acts as a tenant-in-law and tenant-in-law. They live in different houses, go in and out of the same Qingyun Lane, eat under the same roof, and never look up. There is no clear concept of hierarchy, and civilianism and secularity are its soul.\” Just like the TV series \”The Foreign Wife is Local\”. As shown in \”Lang\”, the life scene of three generations in the Xiguan House, with relatives and friends living together in the same house, is full of strong human touch and fireworks.

Architectural Features

Xiguan has developed commerce and trade. The Xiguan House, built on a land with a high price, retains the traditional Guangfu residence of \”three rooms and two corridors\”. \”The essence of the hotel is cleverly integrated into the design elements adapted to Guangzhou\’s hot, humid and rainy climate, demonstrating the low-key, practical, traditional and open characteristics of Guangzhou people.

The main hall of Xiguan House is exquisitely decorated

The architectural pattern contains etiquette Comfortable, practical, ventilated and summer-proof

The Xiguan Folk Museum, located on the bank of Liwan Lake, was rebuilt with reference to the architectural structure of the traditional Xiguan house. Walking there, it feels like traveling through time and space, and the unique charm of the traditional Xiguan mansion is suddenly revealed before your eyes.

Retaining the essence of the traditional \”three rooms and two corridors\”

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the most common houses in Guangfu villages were the \”three rooms and two corridors\”: main seat The building has three bays, with gallery rooms on both sides and a patio in the middle. Xiguan House retains the essence of the traditional \”three rooms and two corridors\”, but it is built in an alley where land is at a premium, so the layout must be more compact. Porches facing the street are often small and look bland.It\’s strange, but there\’s a lot going on inside. Some Xiguan houses are as deep as 30 to 40 meters, which really shows the Guangzhou people\’s emphasis on low-key and practical characteristics.

“This is the most common ‘three-sided’ layout in Xiguan mansion. The main room is dominated by the hall, and the side rooms on both sides are study rooms and guest rooms, which are often called ‘book side’.” Staff of the Folklore Museum Jokingly speaking, compared with Deng Gongbaodi\’s \”seven sides\”, this big house in Xiguan can be said to be \”a small house with a big house\”.

The Xiguan House is centered on the central axis. The rooms are symmetrical and orderly. The main hall is the tallest place. The main hall and the first room are the living places for the elders. They have the highest roof and the most exquisite decoration and furnishings. This layout reflects the traditional family concept of Guangzhou people, as well as the orderly living pattern and etiquette norms of large families.

The halls are separated by patios. The patios between the gate hall, sedan hall and main hall are all square. In addition to opening skylights on the roof for lighting, some patios also have small roofs and skylights, which can be opened and closed with ropes below. This is where the Cantonese saying \”pull up the skylight\” comes from. \”Pull the skylight\” was later extended to mean marriage and became a family.

Manchurian windows

Architectural elements form an effective ventilation system

When you walk into Xiguan House in the hot summer, the first thing you feel is coolness. It turns out that the design of Xiguan House took into account all aspects of ventilation, heat insulation, sun protection, moisture protection and other needs. Low-leg doors, sliding doors, courtyards, patios, open halls, Qingyun Lane (because the terrain is low in front and high in the back, which means \”stepping on the blue clouds\”, it can be ventilated and fireproof), sill windows, skylights, water windows and movable screen doors, Manchuria Windows constitute a very effective ventilation system, which is closed to the outside and transparent to the inside, providing protection from wind and cold in winter and heat in summer.

The interior decoration of Xiguan House is quite particular, with wood, stone and brick carvings, ceramic and gray sculptures, murals and stone scenes, mahogany furniture, and wood carvings and floral decorations, showing the exquisite skills and aesthetic taste of Lingnan craftsmen; while the glass and iron leakage Flowers, Manchurian windows, butterfly windows (semi-circular stained glass windows with butterfly pattern window lattice above the horizontal doorway), carved colorful patterns, and cleverly incorporate Western elements.

With its elegant and generous appearance, practical and livable interior space and exquisite and delicate decorative style, Xiguan House became popular in the middle and late Qing Dynasty.As a representative of Lingnan folk houses, it quickly became popular in the Pearl River Delta region, Hong Kong and Macao. Today, when we walk into Donghuali in Foshan or the Lu Family House in Macau, we can still feel the Xiguan style that spans time and space.

Qingyun Lane in Xiguan House

The three treasures of Xiguan House: blue bricks, stone feet, and triple doors

“The three treasures of Xiguan House: blue bricks, stone feet, and triple doors \”, this is the most prominent symbol of Xiguan Mansion.

Plan plan of Xiguan House

The blue brick and stone feet of Xiguan House look simple at first glance. In fact, it is expensive. The stone feet are made of solid granite as the foundation, and then are surrounded by water-polished blue bricks to form a hollow wall. The wall surface is polished smooth and shiny. Green bricks have high density and are wear-resistant, and can last for hundreds of years without abrasion, while hollow walls have the functions of heat insulation and heat preservation.

The triple door, commonly known as the \”three-piece head\”, can cope with the hot and humid climate in Lingnan. Therefore, not only the Xiguan big house has \”three-piece heads\”, but other Lingnan folk houses such as bamboo tube houses (with extremely small bays and extremely long depths, with rooms inside the small facade, shaped like bamboo tubes) also have \”three-piece heads\”. The first door is a low-leg door, about half the height of the main door. It does not go up to the top and does not touch the ground. When closed, it can protect the privacy of the room from prying eyes and allow ventilation and light; the second door is The sliding door is equipped with sliding rails that can be pushed and pulled. Since the words \”double\” and \”mourning\” in Cantonese have the same pronunciation, the logs placed horizontally must be in odd number; the innermost layer is the gate, usually made of Pontianak orMade of camphor wood, the door can be closed and locked inside the house, so the whole family can sit back and relax.

Miss Xiguan

There is a saying in Guangzhou: \”Miss Xiguan, young master Dongshan\”. Xiguan House has witnessed the vicissitudes of nearly two hundred years, and the Xiguan area has nurtured and nourished the cultural pearl of Guangzhou – Miss Xiguan.

Girls from Lingnan University in Guangzhou in 1921

walked out of the big house to have purdah Miss Xiguan became a movie queen

Xiguan is rich and prosperous, and culture and education have developed accordingly. At the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, modern schools gathered in Xiguan, which were the largest in the country, and there were quite a few girls\’ schools among them. In 1868, Guangzhou\’s first girls\’ school, Zhenguang Academy, was opened in Xiguan. In 1899, the earliest female medical school was opened in Xiguan. Some celebrities serve as teachers in girls\’ schools. For example, Pan Dawei once served as an art teacher in Jiefang Girls\’ School, Peishu Girls\’ School and other schools.

The title \”Miss Xiguan\” first appeared in the late Qing Dynasty, referring to women from prominent and wealthy families in Xiguan, Guangzhou. At that time, when they studied and studied, they usually hired tutors to teach at home. In the early years of the Republic of China, the enlightened gentry and wealthy businessmen of Xiguan gradually changed the concept that \”it is virtue for a woman to have no talent\” and allowed girls to attend newly established schools. Miss Xiguan began to participate in social activities. After the 1920s, most Xiguan girls began to study in nearby schools, and they were not limited to girls\’ schools. After finishing high school, some went to university (such as Lingnan University, etc.) or even studied abroad. They became emerging intellectuals, learning English and piano, and some even wore fountain pens on their necklaces to facilitate their studies.

\”Miss Xiguan\” has gradually evolved into a group of women who are fashionably dressed, have received new education, and have trendy ideas. More and more girls from Xiguan go out to work and become government employees, company clerks, accountants, medical personnel, primary and secondary school teachers, etc. Wearing new-style cheongsam and high-heeled shoes, they were fashionably dressed and showed their style in every gesture. Every move they made became the fashion benchmark of the day.

Chen Yunshang

In 1935, 14-year-old Miss Chen Yunshang from Xiguan was invited by a Hong Kong director to star in the Cantonese film \”New Youth\”. She has since become famous in 57 films, won the title of \”Queen of Chinese Movies\”, and sang many popular songs. song. In the movie \”Mulan Joins the Army\”, she played Mulan as both wise and brave. His character and heroic spirit of standing up in times of national crisis were heart-stirring. After the screening, the audience burst into applause. There was a \”Yunshang craze\” in Shanghai, and many newly opened stores were named \”Yunshang\”. , people call her \”Southern Beauty\”

Advocating female independence. \”Suicheng Wonder Women\” save lives and heal the wounded

Many ladies from Xiguan have devoted themselves to medical care, and the outstanding representative among them is Zhang Zhujun

Zhang Zhujun

Zhang Zhujun is an authentic Miss Xiguan, born in a famous family. A serious illness in her childhood gave her a strong interest in Western medicine. Enthusiasm. In 1897, 21-year-old Zhang Zhujun broke the tradition that only men could study medicine at that time and entered the Nanhua Medical School affiliated with Boji Hospital (now Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University), and later transferred to Xia Ge Women\’s Medical School. She became the first female Western medicine doctor in Chinese history.

1917 graduate of Guangzhou Xia Ge Women\’s Medical School

In 1901, Zhang Zhujun opened China\’s first medical school in Xiguan A hospital was founded by a woman, Tifu Hospital, and she appointed herself as the director, specializing in treating civilians. Soon she opened the Nanfu Clinic in downtown Guangzhou. When she went out, she wore a men\’s \”big loose braid.\” ”, wearing a men’s suit and academic shoes. She was sitting in an open-top sedan chair carried by four people, which often attracted passers-by to stop and look at her. She herself was holding a foreign book in her hand, and she was so calm and independent that she became a spectacle at the time, and a saying spread among the people: \”Zhang Zhujun.\” Mr. Zhu is sitting in a big sedan – reading foreign books. ”

In 1902, Zhang Zhujun resolutely changed Nanfu Clinic into Yuxian Girls’ School, which was the earliest girls’ school run by Chinese in Guangdong. She personally taught medicine, astronomy, geography and other courses, and also established The women\’s craft factory recruits students and teaches weaving and other skills to help women become independent. It is known as \”Liang Qichao in the women\’s world\”

In 1904, with her superb medical skills and judgment, she successfully assisted women. She helped Guangzhou quell a cholera epidemic, and the reputation of \”The Wonder Woman of Suicheng\” spread like wildfire.

In 1911, the gunshots of the Wuchang Uprising sounded the clarion call for the Revolution of 1911. Going to the front line, enduring life and death under artillery fire, and treating the wounded. \”Shenbao\” enthusiastically reported Zhang Zhujun\’s righteous deeds, praising her as \”China\’s Nightingale\”

Escape from traditional confinement. Xiguan female general is powerful in the volleyball world

The scene of the final between the Guangdong Women\’s Volleyball Team and the East China Women\’s Volleyball Team.

Few people know that in the 1920s and 1930s, China\’s women\’s volleyball team The women\’s volleyball team was already powerful in the Asia-Pacific volleyball world. At that time, the leader of the women\’s volleyball team was Lu Huiqing, who grew up in Xiguan, Guangzhou.

Lu Huiqing graduated from Zhenguang School, a new school that focused on students\’ comprehensive development and physical training. . In such an educational atmosphere, Lu Huiqing, who is deeply interested in sports, gainedWith good training, she became an athlete in her teenage years.

In 1925, Lu Huiqing went to the Philippines to participate in the Seventh Far Eastern Games as a main member of the national women\’s volleyball team.

In 1927, Lu Huiqing, as captain of the national women’s volleyball team, led the team to participate in the Eighth Far Eastern Games. Her smash shots are accurate and hard, often making it hard for her opponents to guard against them.

In 1930, Lu Huiqing became the head of the National Women\’s Volleyball Team (Chinese Women\’s Volleyball Team). In May of the same year, the 9th Far Eastern Games was held in Japan. Lu Huiqing formed a team with the Guangdong Women\’s Volleyball Team, led the team as a coach, and won the runner-up.

After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Lu Huiqing went to the Department of Physical Education of Columbia University Teachers College in the United States for further study, and received a doctorate in physical education from Columbia University, becoming the first Chinese woman to receive this degree from the school. At the same time, she also popularized Tai Chi internationally. When she immigrated to the United States, she not only taught Tai Chi to the locals, but also wrote the \”Tai Chi Manual\” in English to promote traditional Chinese culture overseas.

From a harem to an independent woman, Miss Xiguan has written touching stories with their talents, courage and wisdom, and has become a symbol of history and culture. To this day, the image of Miss Xiguan, who pursues independence, autonomy, knowledge and progress, still shines brightly.

The customs still exist in the streets

Some scholars say that Xiguan represents the essence and charm of modern commercial civilization with Guangzhou characteristics.

“Among the residential buildings, Xiguan House has the most Lingnan flavor.” In the memory of writer Liang Fenglian, what Xiguan House has engraved in her heart are all beautiful memories of her childhood: “The thick wooden The clam is a climbing toy in childhood. The nooks and crannies of the hall and attic are a good place for hiding and scolding… The well water is refreshing and cool, and you can soak in it. The soda beer, watermelon and cantaloupe in it are no different from the iced ones… In the kitchen stove, a large clay pot of southern apricot and northern apricot dried vegetable soup is simmering on the old fire. Bowl, and then spread a slippery bamboo mat on the bluestone of the courtyard that has been sprinkled with well water, so that the coolness of summer can be absorbed. ”

The interior of the boudoir in Xiguan House is quite exquisite.

Into the WestPass, walking in the long granite alley, a series of gates flashed before my eyes, and the crisp sound of clogs in the past seemed to hit my ears. Even though it is surrounded by a bustling business district, the Xiguan neighbors who live here still guard their old houses, plant flowers and birds, drink morning tea, listen to the long Cantonese rhyme, and live a contented life. There are private performances every week along Fengyuan Street. The first Cantonese crosstalk art museum was located at No. 24 Yaohua Street, attracting many neighbors to appreciate the artistic charm of contemporary Cantonese crosstalk master Huang Junying.

In the changing times, well-preserved Xiguan Houses are rare, but the architectural culture contained in Xiguan Houses has never been far away. Whether it’s the arcades on Enning Road or Duobao Road on Longjin Road, traces of beautiful architectural elements such as Tanglong doors and Manchurian windows are everywhere.

Some Xiguan mansions that carry the memories of generations have become museums. Bruce Lee’s ancestral home is one such case. The museum uses many modern technological means, including holographic projection, to enhance the visitor experience. People can stand in front of the holographic projection and have a \”space communication\” with Bruce Lee.

Some Xiguan folk houses that did not have the nameplates of cultural relics protection buildings have been transformed into noodle shops, candy shops, B&Bs, teahouses, bookstores, Cantonese restaurants, Western restaurants, cafes, etc., and have become the \”hot spots\” for young people. \”Internet celebrity\” check-in place. No. 101 Baoyuan Road was once a century-old house, but now it is a private restaurant. The owner Li Junfeng has a deep affection for Xiguan House. In 1900, Li Junfeng\’s ancestors moved from Guangzhou to Teng County, Guangxi and built a large house in Xiguan. In 2017, Li Junfeng took over \”No. 101 Baoyuan Road\” and repaired and transformed this century-old house based on his memory of living in a big house in Xiguan when he was a child. The mansion retains the old belongings of Chen Ailun, a famous Xiguan doctor who lived here at that time. These medicine cabinets, medicine bottles and medical books are perfectly displayed in the dining room on the first floor. \”I hope people can have more time to stop, slow down, and carefully appreciate the cultural heritage of Old Xiguan.\”

As the famous professor Huang Tianji said: \”The charm of the Xiguan area, especially the inner street environment, And the lively and calm temperament of Xiguan people has not been blown away by the rain and wind. The vigorous and calm character has developed and changed in the new era. ”

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Produced by Jiang Yongzhong, Xu Fang

Planning/Guan Yawen, Zhou Xian

Text/Guangzhou Daily New Flower City reporters: Ni Ming, intern Zou Yonglin

Photo/Guangzhou Daily New Flower City reporters: Mo Weinong, Yang Yaoye, Su Junjie, Ni Ming, Chen Youzi (except signature)

Guangzhou Daily New Flower City Editor: Zhao Xiaoman