Tag Archives: Pearl River

Guangzhou Xiguan preserves lots of traditional architectures of ancient styles

As the ancient town of Guangzhou, Xiguan is located in Liwan district with its north to Xicun, south to Pearl River, east to Renmin Road and west to Xiaobei River. Now it has become a place for people to memorize the history of Guangzhou. Are you ready for Canton fair 2013? If you have no time to travel in China,  Welcome to Xiguan when you come to Guangdong for Guangzhou Fair.

417
Xiguan is the ancient Guangzhou town and is located in the Liwan district. Today it is a historic and a very important location memorizing and highlighting the important history of the country. It is known mainly for the well preserved traditional architecture and ancient styles of houses.
Today’s Litchi Bay is exuding renewed vitality and elegance on the back of its rich cultural heritage and local people’s hard work. It’s a symbol of the millennia-old Xiguan culture, having borne witness to Xiguan culture and history and the evolution of ecology and civilization.
The history of litchi planting in the Litchi Bay dates back to 196 BC. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, litchi fruits produced here were tributes to the emperor and gifts for foreign diplomats, hence the name “Litchi Bay” or “Litchi Shoals” for this fertile land.

418
Xiguan preserves lots of traditional architectures of ancient styles. Xiguan Mansion is one of the representations. The facade of a Xiguan Mansion was generally built with grey bricks, and the main wooden door is accompanied by a Tanglong (horizontal wooden bars) and a pair of ‘café style’ outer doors at the entrance. The interior is very symmetrically structured; from the front to the back of the house there are as follows: the portal, the hallway, the main hall, the first room, the second hall and the back room. There is also a patio and garden inside. Hardwood furniture, carved wooden ornaments, stained glass Manchuia windows, and many other Cantonese features come together to create an old Guangzhou style house. In the past, only the well-to-do families of businessmen or officials could live in these grand and magnificent places.

Haizhu Bridge is an iron bridge across the Pearl River in Guangzhou

Haizhu Bridge is an iron bridge across the Pearl River in Guangzhou, China.

The bridge runs from Haizhu Square in the Yuexiu District, and south towards Jiangnan Avenue in the Haizhu District. Haizhu Bridge was the first bridge to be built across the Pearl River in Guangzhou. Work started in 1929 and ended in 1933, and was completed by the American contractor Markton Company.

The bridge was damaged by the Japanese in 1938, and again in 1949 by retreating Kuomintang forces. Today the bridge carries a two-lane, bidirectional road connecting the north and south banks of the Pearl River. In 2009, the bridge gained notoriety when a number of people threatened suicide by jumping off the bridge.

303

The renovation work on Guangzhou’s Haizhu Bridge will begin sometime this month. Two design and construction firms won the bidding yesterday (1st).  One of the two firms, the China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group, is regarded as one of the most experienced since it built many of China’s major bridges, including those in Wuhan and Nanjing. It is expected that it will take 200 million Yuan to renovate Haizhu Bridge. The Canton fair 2013 will be helded in Guangzhou, maybe you can go to Haizhu Bridge if you have a time.

The bridge is also a perfect place for couple to have a romantic time together. Watching the sun sets from the bridge might be one of the most romantic moments you could ever spend with your beloved one. Under the light shine and the quietness of the river water, it is indeed an ideal place for couples to just stroll along the bridge talking to each other more personally. In fact, the area nearby is lined up with a series of shops, bars and cafes with dimmed light creating even more romantic situation. Along the sideway of the bridge, there are also photographers offering their service to take photographs with the bridge and the water as the background.

Night cruises on the Pearl River are more attractive

Compared with daytime cruises on the Pearl River, night cruises are more attractive. The sparkling lights on both banks of the river and the moon reflecting on its waters create a magical atmosphere. It starts from the White Goose Pool and end at either the Guangzhou Bridge in the east or the Baihedong (White Crane Cave) in the south.

488  Book Canton Fair Hotel Package in cantontradefair.com or guangzhouhotel.com, get FREE ticket for Pearl River Night Cruise
Along the Pearl River, the views are magnificent. You can appreciate numerous historical sites and unique architectures, which are well reflecting of the history and culture of Guangzhou city. With sparkling lights on both banks of the river, modern buildings and several old bridges reflect themselves on the water surface, Pearl River Cruise creates a romantic atmosphere and leaves unforgetable impression to every visitor.

489
During the two hour cruise every visitor will be entranced by the beauty of the river and sights such as the White Goose Pool, Zhuhai Square, Aiqun Mansion, the Guangzhou Hotel and the European architecture of Shamian Island buildings. The ship also passes under ten famous bridges including Renmin Bridge, Haizhu Bridge, Guangzhou Bridge, and Jiefang Bridge.
As the third largest river in China, the Pearl River measures 2,129 meters in length, with its name deriving from the Haizhu Rock (Sea Pearl Rock). When the thousand-meter long Pearl River went through Guangzhou City, a huge rock island in the center of the river was scoured time and again and became smooth and bright like a pearl, called ‘Sea Pearl Rock’, hence the name ‘Pearl River’ for the river with this rock.

Guangzhou Pearl River Skyline

Guangzhou: a Fantastic City in Southern China

Leave a reply

Being the capital of Guangdong province, Guangzhou is a senior commercial city, the third metropolitan in mainland China and the stronghold of economy in Southern China. And it still plays an important role in the business area nowadays.

 

Guangzhou Sourcing Centres

As the host of China Import and Export Fair, Guangzhou is rich in sourcing centers in and nearby the city. For example, Guangzhou Metropolis Shoes City, the largest one-stop footwear wholesale market; Baima Garment Market, fashionable wholesale center of middle and high-class garments; Zhonggang Toy Products Wholesale Center, a large-scale toy products wholesale plaza; and so on.

Guangzhou Cloth Market

 

 

Guangzhou Baima clothing wholesale market is the largest market with the best decoration, matching the most complete and the best managed clothes market in Guangzhou.

Guangzhou Fangcun Flower Market is the biggest flower market in Guangzhou which covers over 600,000 square meters and has put on sale 700,000 potted plants.

 

Guangzhou Diet

As the old saying “Eat in Guangzhou”, wealthy cuisines constitute a class of light Cantonese flavor and make Guangzhou’s name for gourmet’s heaven. As a matter of course, it’s the best choice for those who aren’t catered to the spicy food.

Cantonese Food and Dim Sum. Photo from internet.

 

Guangzhou Attractions

The wealthy attractions of Guangzhou also cope with its fame. There are varied places to fit different kinds travelers. If you are appealed by modern hotspots, Tianhe District, Canton Tower, Beijing Road and Pearl River Skyline will be in the favorable list. If you long for natural places, Yuexiu Park and Baiyun Mountain could be the best choice. If you yearn for historical and cultural experience, Chen Clan Academy, Liurong Temple, Zhenhai Tower and Cantonese Opera are recommended. If you come with your family, just dip your toe in Xiangjiang Safari Park and Chimelong Paradise. There are so many attractions, just go and explore out!!

Guangzhou Guangxiao Temple. With its typical magnificent architecture features, the academy is honored as the representation of Cantonese architectures and folk arts.

Guangzhou Pearl River Skyline