In old Guangzhou, let's start with a hidden alley in the bustling city. As the saying goes, "Miss from Xiguan, young master from Dongshan." In the past, prominent officials and wealthy people resided in Dongshan, while Xiguan was dominated by business tycoons. "Miss from Xiguan, young master from Dongshan" refers to the government officials' children in Dongshan and the wealthy girls from Xiguan. This alley was the residence of the young masters from Dongshan at that time.
The Owl's House, a café with an owl theme (flagship store)
THEOwlsHouse is a owl-themed café with a beautiful courtyard and vintage interior decoration, exuding a strong Republican era style. The courtyard is adorned with wooden tables and chairs, perfect for enjoying the breeze in late summer and early autumn. Inside the café, there are many owl decorations of various shapes, which are cute and charming. From the name of the café to the decorations, it is clear that the owner must have a special love for owls. Upstairs, besides two rooms, there is also a large terrace with several green wooden chairs and ivy climbing on the walls, creating a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.
Kui Garden
Compared to the vintage style of the Owl Cafe, this place pays more attention to creating an artistic atmosphere. In the Yang Mansion on Dongshan, Yuguan, Chunyuan, Jianyuan, Kuanyuan, and Mingyuan are collectively known as the five major overseas Chinese gardens. The first floor is a gallery, decorated in a minimalist style, with different paintings regularly exhibited. Walking up the wooden stairs, the second floor is a cafe with a Western-style influence, with bright colors such as bright yellow and grass green. The decorations still maintain an artistic flair, while the crochet iron windows and floral brick floors exude a nostalgic atmosphere. On the balcony, both the tabletop and chairs resemble floral tiles, leaning against the old red brick wall, as if still able to feel the breath of the old times.
2 Chunyuan Houjie Coffee Shop
Not far from Kui Garden is a countryside-style cafe called Café No. 2 on Chunyuan Back Street. As soon as you enter, you can see green plants climbing the iron railings and filling the windows, truly living up to its name of "Spring Garden". The small space at the entrance is filled with various dried flowers, and the chandeliers and tables and chairs are also very unique. The fireplace and Christmas tree create a warm festive atmosphere, and the black and white graffiti in the hallway adds an artistic touch to the interior. Compared to the forest-style entrance, the second and third floors are more minimalist.
Purple Clay Hall, probably unheard of by many locals, rarely recommended when searching for Guangzhou Creative Park online, and even few reviews on popular review sites. In the 1950s and 1960s, it was the Purple Ni Sugar Factory, with over 4,000 employees at its peak. It has been abandoned for many years, but the rare Soviet-style factory has been preserved in very good condition. The total area of the factory is over 360,000 square meters, with a core area of approximately 80,000 square meters. In the dilapidated factory area, a desolate ruins feeling hits you. The shop decorations are mostly retro, perfectly blending into the old factory area. Don't hesitate to click the shutter, it's definitely a great place for nostalgic portraits.
Goodone Vintage Store
What remains of the past is not just old buildings, but also the familiar old objects we used to know well, the decorations we often saw in our childhood homes. They have been updated and replaced, but encountering them again always makes people feel especially close. In addition to old objects, the old goods warehouse also produces some products with a retro style.
Some corners still hide surprises, such as the People's Commune in the Grand Hall, artist's graffiti, quiet courtyards for resting, and literary small shops to browse. The old times can still be traced. Walking casually, you may unexpectedly encounter beauty. The People's Hall is one of the most iconic buildings in Xiaozhou Village, with its yellow color particularly vibrant within the village. The walls are adorned with three-dimensional five-pointed stars, and the interior is painted in red letters stating "Long live the People's Commune" and "Hold high the great banner of Mao Zedong Thought and advance courageously," which is quite novel.
Four famous gardens of Lingnan, among which only one is located in Guangzhou, that is Yuyin Mountain Villa. It is often overlooked due to its low-key nature despite its deserved fame. It is rarely mentioned in conventional travel guides, and even the five-day deep travel itinerary does not include its presence, which is somewhat unfair. However, precisely because of this, the sprawling garden only has a few visitors, highlighting the tranquility of ancient gardens.
