Step into the opulent world of Xiguan Grand Houses (Xiguan Da Wu 西关大屋), where the wealthiest Cantonese families of the Ming and Qing dynasties once resided. These architectural masterpieces blend soaring spaces with intimate courtyards, their intricate woodcarvings and满洲窗 (stained-glass windows) glowing like jewel boxes in the subtropical sun.
Two centuries ago, Xiguan was the neighborhood for Guangzhou’s wealthy elite. Today, Xiguan Grand Houses stand alongside Beijing’s siheyuan courtyards and Shanghai’s shikumen lanes as cherished “memory ports” of China’s urban heritage.
These architectural treasures offer more than just visual delight—they’re time capsules of Lingnan sophistication.
Walking through Enning Road’s heritage district, you don’t just see history—you feel the rhythm of old Guangzhou: the morning tea rituals, the silk gowns rustling through courtyards, the scholar’s ink drying in tiled-studied rooms. Every archway invites you to step deeper into another era.
Vanishing Heritage
From 800 residences during Guangzhou’s mercantile golden age, fewer than 100 survive today. Notable examples include:
Notable Examples to Visit Today:
📍 Yongqing Fang (永庆坊) – The revitalized heart of Xiguan culture, where restored grand houses now house artisan workshops, teahouses, and the Lingnan Architectural Museum. Don’t miss:
Liwan Museum (荔湾博物馆) – A meticulously preserved Xiguan residence with original stained-glass windows and courtyard gardens
Enning Road’s arcaded walkways – Lined with qipao-clad mannequins evoking 1930s Guangzhou glamour
📍 Surviving Hidden Gems
While many original houses are now private residences, keen-eyed visitors can spot remnants like:
Ornate door carvings along Duobao Road (多宝路)
Qingyun Lanes (cooling alleys) weaving through Bao’an Main Street (宝安正街)
📍 15 Shisanfu Main Street – A perfectly preserved time capsule with original Qing-era joinery (十三甫正街15号)
📍 ADDRESS & TRANSPORT
🏠 Address:
English: Yongqing Fang Heritage Quarter, Liwan District, Guangzhou (Enning Rd/Duobao Rd/Baohua Rd area)
Chinese: 广州市荔湾区永庆坊片区（恩宁路、多宝路、宝华路一带）
🚇 By Metro (Most Recommended):
Take Line 1 to Changshou Lu Station (长寿路站), Exit D2. Walk 10min south to Enning Road.
Or Line 6 to Huangsha Station (黄沙站), Exit B. Cross Liwan Lake Park to reach Yongqing Fang.
🚖 By Taxi/Didi:
Show the driver:
“请到荔湾区恩宁路永庆坊”
(Pronounced: “Qǐng dào Lìwān qū Ēnníng lù Yǒngqìng fāng”)
🎫 TICKET & HOURS
💰 Admission:
Yongqing Fang Area: Free (open-air heritage zone)
Liwan Museum (荔湾博物馆): ¥10/adult (free for children under 1.2m)
💳 Payment:
Cash (small bills preferred)
Mobile Pay: WeChat Pay/Alipay (must have Chinese bank account)
⏰ Opening Hours:
Yongqing Fang: 24/7 (best visited 9:00-20:00)
Liwan Museum: 9:00-17:00 (closed Mondays)
🚶 SUGGESTED ITINERARY
⏱️ Short Visit (1-2 hrs):
Start at Yongqing Fang’s main gate (恩宁路99号)
Explore Qingyun Alleys and stained-glass window displays
Visit Liwan Museum (authentic preserved mansion)
🌅 Half-Day Trip (3-4 hrs):
Pair with:
Liwan Lake Park (荔湾湖公园) – Classic Lingnan garden
Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street – Arcade shopping with Cantonese snacks
🌍 NEARBY HIGHLIGHTS
🏯 Cultural Sites:
Chen Clan Ancestral Hall (陈家祠) : 15min by taxi
Why Visit:
✦ 1894-built “living textbook” of Cantonese folk art
✦ Hypnotic ceramic ridge carvings (广式灰塑) depicting mythical scenes
✦ Guangdong Folk Art Museum housed within
Hualin Temple (华林寺): Hidden 1,400-year-old Buddhist sanctuary
🍜 Famous Eateries:
Guangzhou Restaurant (广州酒家)
Location: 文昌南路2号 (2 Wenchang Nan Lu) – 10min taxi from Yongqing Fang
Why Go: Founded in 1935, this Michelin-plated institution perfected “Cantonese cuisine’s four treasures”:
Lianxiang Lou (莲香楼): 5min walk – Century-old dim sum (try “Xiguan Shaomai”)
Panxi Restaurant (泮溪酒家)
Location: 荔湾区龙津西路151号 (151 Longjin Xi Lu) – 5min walk from Liwan Lake
Why Special:
✦ 1960s Time Capsule: One of China’s first state banquet venues for foreign dignitaries
✦ Lakeside Pavilions: Dine in Qing-style waterside corridors
✦ Must-Order: 泮溪马蹄糕 (Water Chestnut Cake), 金牌虾饺 (Gold Medal Shrimp Dumplings)
Taotaoju Restaurant (陶陶居)
After visiting Xiguan Grand Houses, join locals for morning tea at Taotaoju’s original 1880s location (第十甫路20号) – look for the antique revolving floor.