Generally 'Dongshan (东山)' is defined more as a geographic concept than an administrative region. Locals usually think of the area east to Dadao Lu (达道路), west to Dongshankou (东山口) Metro Station, south to Xinhepu Lu (新河浦路) and north to Nonglin Dong Lu (农林东路).
Manmade Xinhepu Brook
A historical mansion which used to belong to the rich and powerful
A historical mansion which used to belong to the rich and powerful
Mention Dongshan - a part of the original Dongshan district which was merged into the Yuexiu district in 2005 - and people will imaginatively relate the area to its historic buildings - Dongshan Yangfang (洋房, villa).
These villas are roughly divided into two types - courtyard villas and apartment villas - depending on their architectural layouts. Steeped in the Western style, these two or three story houses are often painted bright red and yellow and have columned porches.
Four typical villa architectures
These four gardens ('Yuan' in Chinese) – Chun Yuan (春园), Kui Yuan (逵园), Jian Yuan (简园) and Ming Yuan (明园), – are regarded as the most typical constructions of the existing 400 houses in the region, and are now protected by government laws.
These four are constructed of reinforced concrete and red bricks, and have balanced gardens both in front of and behind the buildings, with much greenery on the walls surrounding them.
Chun Yuan, a historical mansion which used to belong to the rich and powerful
Currently only the Chun Yuan is open to the public, as a history museum of the Chinese Communist Party leaders' residence. Relics, ornaments and historical documents, seen in the glass cabinets, remind visitors what the scene was like when it was a conference venue back in 1923.
The Memorial Hall for the third Congress of Chinese Communist Party
Kui Yuan, a historical mansion which used to belong to the rich and powerful
Behind the Chun Yuan is the stark red-brick Memorial Hall once used for meetings of the third "Congress of Chinese Communist Party". Opposite the hall is Kui Yuan now a private residence, the carved digits - '1922' – above its entranceway indicate the year of construction and were once a helpful coordinate for communist party members looking for their meeting hall.
Ming Yuan, a historical mansion which used to belong to the rich and powerful
The peaceful Peizheng Lu
Yellow façade of an old houses on the Peizheng Lu
Now a private residence, and previously owned by a couple of enterpriser brothers in the 1920s and later the German Consulate General in Guangzhou, Jian Yuan is located at a corner of the peaceful Peizheng Lu (培正路), seemingly less obvious than the other three.
History of the Dongshan area
Like the four gardens, other villas are mostly owned by the descendents of overseas Chinese celebrities, and the many military officers, and government officials who built the houses in the 1920-30s.
In contrast to the Xiguan area which was then a flourishing area for the wealthy, Dongshan was still at that time very remote and desolate. Some churchmen from the U.S. also settled here to start their missionary work, purchasing houses, building schools and hospitals.
When World War I broke out, many overseas Chinese returned to avoid the war, and as more and more decided to stay in Guangzhou, they tended to choose Dongshan, since many were Christians or Catholics and sending children to the religious schools was another consideration.
Back then, the wealthy business families lived in Xiguan region and military officials set their homes in Dongshan, thus began the spread of a well-know saying 'Dongshan Shaoye and Xiguan Xiaojie (东山少爷,西关小姐)' meaning 'Signorino in Dongshan and Ladies in Xiguan'. The phenomenon indicated that power and wealth had separately seized the eastern (Dong) and western (Xi) parts of the city.
Story-telling road names and schools
Most of the nostalgia remains in the green Dongshan, including names of roads, as well as the centuries-old Peizheng (培正) and Peidao (培道, later named No. 7) middle schools.
The Dongshan Christian Church on the Sibeitongjin Lu
The Sibeitongjin Lu surrounds the centurial-old No.7 Middle School of Guangzhou
Sibeitongjin (寺贝通津) is an old road surrounding the No. 7 Middle School and crossing the Dongshan Church, meaning (the road) at the back of (Dongshan) temple towards the pond. To maintain the security of the then girls school Peidao, the road to the pond was shut by the church causing much inconvenience for the current inhabitants. When the church decided to build another girls school, the residents were afraid the church would close the other way to the pond, so to avoid an argument, the local government set up a stone carving 'Sibeitongjin,' promising the road would always be smooth.
Xuguyuan Lu, named after an orphan house before
Another legendary Xuguyuan Lu (恤孤院路) is named to memorize the location of an orphanage. Yandun Lu (烟墩路) is the relic of a beacon tower, while Meihua Lu (美华路) is the former venue of the Meihua Book Shop during the Qing Dynasty.
The two oldest middle schools in the education-famous region are over one century old and enjoy prestigious reputations.
The entrance of centurial-old Peizheng Middle School
The entrance of the centurial-old No. 7 Middle School of Guangzhou
The entrance of the Peizheng Primary School next to the Peizheng Middle School
Now romantic cafés gathering
Strolling around this area you will find the spindling valleys and erect tall trees house some exotic constructions. Most of these villas have been redecorated into luxurious bars and cafés, or restored as private residences.
A chic club renovated from an old house on the Xuguyuan Lu
A café at the crossing of the Dadao Lu and Yandun Lu
Dongshan is now a convenient and modern community. Adjacent to the Tianhe and Zhongshan Lu, the region is connected with metro line one and dozens of bus lines. Local residents needs are easily met by the myriad of street markets and supermarkets in the area, and education and health needs are catered to by the many hospitals and schools in this prestigious downtown region.
Bus terminal of Line 3 and 215
A public square
A community square
The Guigang street
A grocery store at the Guigang street
(Written and photographed by Jessie Hwang)
Nanguan Cinema Revives
Popular Cinemas in Guangzhou
Ringing the Tocsin for Guangzhou's Time-Honored Brands
Where to Find Old Xiguan Houses in Guangzhou? 
Memories & Water: Life in Old Guangzhou 
Jammychai Reopens with Nostalgic Decoration