Liwan Museum

Overview

Liwan Museum (荔湾博物馆) occupies a meticulously restored Qing-dynasty merchant's mansion in the heart of Guangzhou's historic Xiguan quarter. The museum chronicles the commercial and cultural life of western Guangzhou through furniture, porcelain, and period room recreations.

Highlights

• Xiguan Mansion Recreation: A furnished reproduction of a traditional wealthy merchant's house with carved wooden screens and patterned-glass skylights.
• Courtyard Garden: A pocket-sized classical Lingnan garden with rockeries and koi ponds.
• Cantonese Daily Life Exhibit: Tools, textiles, and photographs from 19th-century Liwan.

History

Housed in the former Chenyuan Residence (built 1890s), the museum opened in 2000 after an extensive restoration that faithfully reproduced Xiguan domestic architecture.

Visitor Tips

• Free Admission: Bring ID for ticket collection.
• Closed: Mondays.
• Duration: 45–60 minutes.