Let's start talking about old Guangzhou from a small alley hidden in the bustling city. As the saying goes, 'Xiguan Miss, Dongshan Young Master,' in the past, most of the residents in Dongshan, Guangzhou were high-ranking officials and nobles, while Xiguan was home to many wealthy merchants. 'Xiguan Miss, Dongshan Young Master' refers to the sons of officials in Dongshan and the daughters of wealthy families in Xiguan. This alley was where the young masters of Dongshan used to live.
TheOwlsHouse Owl-Themed Café (Flagship Store)
TheOwlsHouse Owl-Themed Café is most loved for its courtyard and vintage indoor decorations, exuding a strong Republic of China vibe. The courtyard is furnished with some wooden tables and chairs, perfect for enjoying the breeze outdoors in late summer and early autumn. The café is adorned with various owl decorations, each with a unique and adorable appearance. From the name to the decor, it seems the owner has a special fondness for owls. Ascending the stairs to the top floor, besides two rooms, there is a large terrace with a few green wooden chairs and freely climbing ivy, creating a very picturesque scene.
Kui Garden
Compared to the retro style of the Owl Cafe, this place focuses more on creating an artistic atmosphere. Among the Dongshan Western-style buildings, Yu Garden, Chun Garden, Jian Garden, Kui Garden, and Ming Garden are collectively known as the Five Major Overseas Chinese Gardens. The first floor is a gallery with quite simple decorations, regularly exhibiting different artworks. Walking up the wooden stairs, the second floor is a Western-style cafe with vibrant indoor colors, such as bright yellow and grass green, which are very eye-catching. The decor remains artistic, while the crocheted iron windows and flower-tiled floor exude a nostalgic charm. On the balcony, the tables and chairs are also flower-tiled, leaning against the old red brick wall, as if you can still feel the breath of old times.
Chunyuan Houjie No.2 Coffee Shop
Not far from Kuiyuan, there is a forest-style pastoral coffee shop: Chunyuan Houjie No.2 Coffee Shop. As soon as you enter, you see green plants climbing over the iron railings and filling the windows, truly living up to its name, a garden full of spring. The small space at the entrance is filled with various dried flowers, and the chandeliers and furniture are very unique. The fireplace and Christmas tree give a warm festive atmosphere, and the black and white graffiti in the hallway adds an artistic touch. Compared to the forest style at the entrance, the second and third floors are more minimalist.
Zini Tang, a place that even many locals might not have heard of. It is rarely recommended when searching for creative parks in Guangzhou online, and there are not many reviews on public review platforms. In the 1950s and 1960s, this was the Zini Sugar Factory, which had over 4,000 employees at its peak. It has been abandoned for many years since production ceased, but the rare Soviet-style factory has been very well preserved. The factory covers a total area of more than 360,000 square meters, with a core area of about 80,000 square meters. In the dilapidated factory area, a sense of desolation hits you. Most of the shop decorations are very retro, perfectly blending into the old factory area. Don't hesitate to take photos here; it's definitely a great place for nostalgic portraits.
goodone Old Warehouse
What preserves the past is not just old buildings, but also the old items we were once very familiar with. The common household items from our childhood have long been replaced, but encountering them again always feels particularly close. Besides old items, the old warehouse also produces some self-made goods, most of which have a retro style.
Some corners still hide surprises, such as the People's Commune in the Grand Hall, artists' graffiti, quiet courtyards for resting, and small literary shops for browsing. The traces of old times are still visible. A casual stroll might lead to unexpected encounters with beauty. The People's Hall is one of the most iconic buildings in Xiaozhou Village. The yellow building stands out in the village, with a three-dimensional five-pointed star at the base of the wall. Inside, red characters proclaim 'Long live the People's Commune' and 'Hold high the great banner of Mao Zedong Thought and forge ahead bravely,' which is quite novel.
Among the four major gardens in Lingnan, only one is located in Guangzhou, which is Yuyin Mountain House. Contrary to its deserved fame, this place is so low-key that it is often overlooked. It is rarely mentioned in regular travel guides, and even in five-day in-depth tour routes, it is nowhere to be found, which is somewhat unfair. However, precisely because of this, the vast garden has only a few visitors, making the ancient garden even more serene.
