Xiguan Mansion |
Travel in Guangdong | |||
As a representative architecture of ancient Guangzhou (guǎng zhōu 广州), Xiguan Mansion (xī guān dà wū 西关大屋) showcases strong local architectural characteristics and style from its plane layout, arcade formation, section to trivial decoration. Xiguan (xī guān 西关) was the name given by Guangdong (guǎng dōng 广东) people to the area in Liwan District (lì wān qū 荔湾区) ranging from Xicun (xī cūn 西村) in the north and the Pearl River (zhū jiāng 珠江) in the south, to Renmin Road (rén mín lù 人民路) in the east and Xiaobei River (xiǎo běi jiāng 小北江) in the west, which also generally meant the area beyond the west city gate in the Ming (míng 明, 1368-1644) and Qing (qīng 清) dynasties. In that period there were many unique traditional old mansions and people called them Xiguan ancient mansion, which were the residence for the rich before. It has been an inseparable part of the history of Guangzhou ever since it came into being. A normal Xiguan Mansion covers an area of 400 square meters, constructed by wood and bricks. The front door always decorated with granite. When one enters, he will be greeted by the porch, entrance hall (mén tīng 门厅), middle hall (jiáo tīng 轿厅), main hall (zhèng tīng 正厅), the first chamber room (tóu fáng 头房), which is for the old generations of the family, the second hall (èr tīng, 二厅), which is a dining hall, and the second chamber room (èr fáng 二房), which is for the younger generation in the family. The living rooms and the kitchen are always deep into the house. In Xiguan Mansion, the sitting room is usually the center, which boosts the highest ceiling, the most spacious room, and the grandest decorations. All the furniture in Xiguan Mansion is made from rosewood. There are woodcarvings, pottery figurines and mural paintings.
|