Life of Guangzhou - Historic GZ Roads

In the "digital era" of the 21st century, numbers can be seen everywhere in our daily lives. To the Chinese in particular, numbers are one of the most common and mysterious elements found in Chinese names, especially in Guangzhou, a city with a history of over 2,200 years. Consequently, there are many strange and interesting stories behind Guangzhou's numbered roads.

Road No. 1 – Yi De Road (click the pics for details)

"Yi" means "1" in Chinese.The renowned Guangzhou Sacred Heart Stone House Cathedral stands here and it is also one of the busiest merchant streets in Guangzhou – known for its dried seafood shops and toy stores – and the surrounding area is filled with trading centers that were active even in ancient times.

Road No. 2 – Er Sha Di and Er Sha Island

"Er" in Chinese means "2." Curiously, very few places in Guangzhou have the word "Er" in their names. An alluvial plain – a type of geographical phenomenon common in the Pearl River Delta – is called "Sha Di" in Cantonese. Er Sha Di (or Alluvial Plain Two) is located in Guangzhou's former Fangcun District, near the Fangcun Flower Market.

Road No. 3 – San Yuan Li, San Yuan Gong, San Yu Road

"San" means "3." In Cantonese "San" has a similar pronunciation to "sheng 生," which means living and vibrant.There is a Sanyu Road in Guangzhou's former Dongshan District. It is famous for being the location of Guangzhou's three richest and most powerful families in the past. And San Yuan Gong id the largest Taoism Temple in Guangzhou.

Road No. 4 – Hai Tian Si Wang Street

Si (四)" means four in Chinese. It is an ominous number, for the phonetic "si" has a similar pronunciation with the word die (死) in Chinese.
"Si Fang Pao Tai (四方炮台)" the Fort Quartet, was a major Fort in the Anti-Britain war 160 years ago.

Road No.5 – Wu Xian Guan

"Wu (五)" means "Five" in Mandarin. "Wu Xian Guan" (五仙观 the Temple of the Five Immortals) was built to worship the five celestial gods which are said to have descended upon Guangzhou riding five rams holding spikes of rice in their hands.

Road No.6 – Liu Rong Lu

"Liu Rong Lu" (六榕路Six Banyan Road) in Guangzhou is named after Liu Rong Temple (六榕寺). Both Hui Neng, a famous dignitary and Su Dongpo, an ancient poet lived in the temple bringing fame and reputation to this haven of peace and tranquility.

Road No.7 – Qi Xing Gang

"Qi" means "七 Seven" in Mandarin."Qi Xing Gang" (七星岗Seven-Star Mountain), is the location of an ancient shipping wharf which dates back hundreds of years. "Qi Zhu Rong" (七株榕 Seven Banyans) is located on Shishu Road in Yuexiu District.

Road No.8 – Ba Qi Er Ma Lu

"Ba" means "Eight" but its pronunciation is also similar to "Fa" which means "prosperous" in Chinese. For that reason, it's Chinese people's favorite number. The road in Guangzhou named Ba Qi Er Ma Lu (八旗二马路) is a trace left from the immigration waves from northern China that occurred during the Qing Dynasty (1616 - 1911).

Road No.9 – Jiu Ru Tong Jin

"Jiu" means "Nine" in Chinese. It is an auspicious number, symbolizing longevity. There are "Jiu Ru Tong Jin (九如通津), Jiu Gong Fang (九功坊), Jiu Yao Fang (九曜坊)... In Yuexiu District, there used to be a winding road with nine bends on it, which explains the name a street in Guangzhou "Jiu Dou Xiang" (九兜巷), the street with "nine bends".

Road No.10 – Shi San Hang

"Shi" means "Ten" in Chinese. "Shi San Hang" (十三行, The Thirteen Industries), used to be a famous commercial area in Guangzhou. It can be considered as the cradle of China's international trade. "Shi Xiang Yuan" (十香园 Ten Fragrances Garden) is located on Huade Street on the southern bank of the Pearl River. "Shi Xiang" means "ten fragrances" and it refers to ten different kinds of plants which were found in this garden.

Road No.100 – Bai Zi Heng Lu

Bai means "Hundred" in Chinese. "Bai Zi Heng Lu (百子横路 One Hundred Sons Road)": In the past, it was a custom for a bride to cross this road, hoping it would help them give birth to lots of boys after their marriage. The custom wasn't abandoned until the 1980s, obviously a result of the one-child policy.