Yongqingfang Travel Guide

Yongqingfang is located in the middle and north part of Enning Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou. Enning road is a typical Cantonese residential quarter feature for Building Overhang, Sai Kwan Mansion, townhouse and bamboo-like house.

Building Overhang -- the main character of overhang is doing business downstairs and living upstairs. The overhang architecture style could keep the sunlight and rain away for all seasons. It is the most popular business street architecture in Guangdong, Guangxi and Southeast Asian countries.

Sai Kwan Mansion and Townhouse – Both of the house tyles were built by rich family during the Qing and Republican period. Sai Kwan Mansion was traditional style and Townhouse was western style with garden.

Bamboo-like house – it is not made by bamboo; it looks like bamboo. The house style was for ordinary people who live in Yongqingfang and other streets in Guangzhou. These houses connect together, make the street with building overhang.

The streets of Yongqingfang are really narrow, the main street Yongqing Ave is only 2 meters wide; it is just enough space for four persons walking side by side. Here you could not only discover the local people who still live here, but also visit some creative and interesting shops.

Yongqingfang is the centre of Saikwan, where was the beginning and flourishing of Canton international trading during Qing and Republican period. There were so many celebrities had been in here such as Zhan Tianyou, Bruce Lee’s father, Li Wentian. Their former residence are places of interest you should not miss. Besides, there are 13 types of traditional Cantonese intangible cultural heritages stores and exhibitions here, such as Cantonese Opera, Canton Ivory Carving, Canton Jade Carving, Canton Wood Carving, Canton Pottery, Canton Embroidery, etc.

Main spots in Yongqingfang:
1. Bruce Lee Ancestral Mansion
Bruce’s father accommodated here for more than 10 years before he moved to Hong Kong.
Here you could not only discover Bruce’s life and movies here, but also discover the beauty of traditional folk house for the rich.

2. Jeme Tien Yow (Zhan Tianyou) Ancestral Mansion
The father of the Chinese railway – Jeme Tien Yow was born and grew up here. It is a typical Bamboo- like house.

3. Taihua Mansion (under repair)
It was a personal library which belonged to Li Wentian who got the third place in the imperial examination in Xianfeng Period of Qing Dynasty.

4. Cantonese Opera Art Museum
It is a professional museum for Cantonese Opera –one of the World intangible cultural Heritage. There are more than 5000 pieces of Cantonese opera collections, traditional stage, theatre and garden. There are shows weekly.

5. Barwo Artists Association of Kwangtung (Cantonese Opera Academy)
It has been the Cantonese Opera artists academy since 1889. The name Barwo in Cantonese means eight branches (different characters in opera) of the academy. Here the artist could not only practise and accommodate, but also have medical treatment, be educated and enjoy retirement.

6. Luanyu Takefu Branch house
It was one of the branches of Barwo Artist Association, for Takefu artist, which means martial role in Cantonese opera. It is the only existing branch house.

7. Grand Theatre
It has been opened to public since 1934. It is one of the most popular movie theatres in Sai Kwan.

8. Baoqing Pawnshop
It is one of the six largest pawnshops in Canton during Qing Dynasty and Republican period. There are two parts, in the front is the customers reception area, in the back is the vault.

9. No. 24, 26 and 28 of Yongqing Ave.
These are typical dwellings in Republican period, with lots of western elements and local Han people building preference.

10. Intangible Cultural Heritage shops and exhibitions
In Yongqingfang, there are more than ten types of intangible culture heritage you could discover. They are Canton Ivory Carving, Canton Jade Carving, Canton Wood Carving, Canton Pottery, Canton Embroidery, Olive nut Carving, Dancing Lion, Guqin, Bamboo Flute, Enamel Making, Canton Cake Tin, etc.