西关 (Xīguān): Xiguan (historic western district of old Guangzhou, known for Cantonese merchant culture and Lingnan architecture)

Meanings

1 Xiguan (historic western district of old Guangzhou, known for Cantonese merchant culture and Lingnan architecture)

Characters

西

Examples

西关是广州老城的代表地区。

Xīguān shì Guǎngzhōu lǎochéng de dàibiǎo dìqū.

Xiguan is a representative area of old Guangzhou.

她是典型的西关小姐。

Tā shì diǎnxíng de Xīguān xiǎojie.

She's a classic "Xiguan lady."

Tips

culture

西关小姐 ("Xiguan Misses") is a Cantonese cultural type — young women from the wealthy merchant families of late-Qing and Republican Xiguan, imagined as refined, soft-spoken, and educated. Paired with 东山少爷 (young masters of the eastern 东山 district) in Guangzhou folklore.

history

Xiguan was the original commercial heart of old Guangzhou, home to the 十三行 (Thirteen Factories) — the foreign trade enclave that was, from 1757 to 1842, China's sole authorized port for Western merchants. The area still preserves 西关大屋 (Xiguan Big Houses) and 骑楼 arcade streets.