HOME

Guangzhou is a city full of historical and cultural heritage. Over the years, many influential figures, including artists, revolutionaries, and Cantonese opera stars had lived here. And their former residences are hidden in the city’s streets and alleys. Let’s go for a walk to discover their footprints.

1. House of Bruce Lee’s father

At the end of an alleyway in Yongqingfang (永庆坊), Liwan district, sits the former residence of Lee Hoi-chuen (李海泉) — kung fu movie icon Bruce Lee's father, who was a famous Cantonese opera actor. 

(Photo/Yongqingfang)

The house is a classical Xiguan mansion and retains its original wood and brick structure, delicate carved girders, and colorful carved glass screens. 

(Photo/Yongqingfang)

Bruce Lee grew up in this house, and there is an exhibition on the second floor showing his signature martial arts moves and cinematic achievements. The sticks and costumes he once used are also on display in the house.

(Photos/Yongqingfang)

2. Former residence of Zhan Tianyou

Zhan Tianyou (詹天佑) was a distinguished engineer widely regarded as the "father of China's railways". He was born in Guangzhou and spent his childhood at a Xiguan mansion on Enning Lu (恩宁路), Liwan district.

(GIF/Guangzhou Daily)

Zhan was in charge of the construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou (张家口) Railway from 1905 to 1909, which was the first railway designed and built solely by Chinese. He managed to overcome many challenges when building the railway and impressed the world by designing a Y-shaped switchback rail to navigate across the steep slopes around the Badaling section of the Great Wall. 

(GIF/Guangzhou Daily)

In the garden of his Guangzhou residence, models of the Y-shaped switchback rail and the Great Wall section are set up, vividly showing to visitors Zhan’s pioneering work. Inside the mansion, a number of precious exhibits, such as drawing instrument, railway components, and written documents, tell more about the engineer’s stories of growing up and completing the mega railway project.

(Photo/Guangzhou Daily)

3. Former residence of Hung Sin-nui

Speaking of Cantonese opera, Hung Sin-nui (红线女) has been a household name, recognized globally for her unique Hung-tone singing style. 

(Photo/广州越秀发布)

The Cantonese opera master once resided at a western-style cottage in the Overseas Chinese Village in Yuexiu district. The cottage has two and a half stories, and is equipped with a delicate garden. The living room, dining room, kitchen and study room are preserved in their original, while other rooms are turned into exhibition halls, displaying Hung’s stage costumes, related news articles, etc..

(Photos/广州越秀发布)

Hung decorated the living room in pink, which is her favorite color. And she received the late Chinese premier Zhou Enlai and his wife in this place.

(Photo/广州越秀发布)

A hand-cranked projector is placed at the corner of the stairway. And visitors can play some Cantonese opera pieces performed by Hung Sin-nui and appreciate her graceful voice.

4. Shixiang Garden (十香园)

A hidden gem in the bustling downtown area of Haizhu district, this tranquil and exquisite garden is the former residence of Ju Lian (居廉) and his cousin brother Ju Chao (居巢), both well-known painters in the Lingnan Region in the late Qing Dynasty.

(Photo/广州海珠发布)

Here, Ju Lian trained batches of art students from Guangdong and Guangxi regions. Some of them later became first-class painters, and the garden is deemed as the birthplace of the Lingnan School of Painting.

(Photos/中国广州发布)

The garden is elegantly designed in traditional Lingnan style, featuring winding corridors, quaint rocks and ponds, creating changing landscape. Ten kinds of fragrant flowers are planted in the garden, which fills the air with pleasant aromas. Visitors can also admire calligraphy and painting works, fine sculptures and porcelain wares in the garden.

(Photo/广州海珠发布)

5. Former residence of Jiang Guangnai

Adjacent to the picturesque Lychee Bay scenic area, the former residence of Jiang Guangnai (蒋光鼐) constitutes a part of the Liwan Museum.

Built between the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, the residence is a typical Lingnan-style mansion with distinctive lintel decorations.

(Photo/GZphotos)

The first and second floors of the building set up a regular exhibition introducing the life and contributions of Jiang Guangnai, a respected general who led the Chinese army to put up heroic resistance against Japanese invasion in Shanghai. The third floor is holding another exhibition presenting stories of other revolutionary figures of Liwan in the 19th and 20th centuries.

(Photos/GZphotos)

After visiting the former residence of Jiang Guangnai, people can go to other parts of the Liwan Museum, including the former residences of Chen Lianzhong (陈廉仲) and Chen Lianbo (陈廉伯), two leading Canton merchants.

The Liwan Museum artistically combines western and traditional Xiguan architectural elements. Visitors can not only find European-style columns, archways and spiral staircases, but also local Manchurian windows, grey bricks and Tanglong (horizontal wooden bars) doors.

(Photos/GZphotos)

Source: 中国广州发布

Author: Pauline