Isn’t it amazing how a place can transform from a humble suburb to a vibrant hub of culture and history? Welcome to Dongshan Subdistrict in Guangzhou. It is a captivating area that retains its traditional charm.
Dongshan, meaning Eastern Hills, was once a small poor eastern suburb. This was during the Ming Dynasty. Then an influential court official built Dongshan Temple here. More people came. Homes and shops increased. Dongshan started to grow. The Dongshan Temple no longer exists. However, it lives on in the names of neighborhood streets like Miao Xian Zhi Jie. This means temple front straight street. It showed visitors the street in front of the temple.
In the 20th century Westerners settled here. Preachers built churches, schools and orphanages. Wealthy Westerners made their homes. They brought balconies, stained glass and Greco-Roman pillars. This European style became known as Dongshang Yang Fang. It means Dongshan Foreign Style.
As Dongshan grew it became home to wealthy Chinese. The term Dongshan Dashao was used for the local wealthy young men. The stylish young men from Dongshan and the rich young women from Xiguan were considered a perfect match.
Today Dongshan retains many old structures. The Christian church remains. You can also see old houses. They range from small chateaus to true mansions. The streets are quiet and uncrowded.
Take a walk down Dongshan Da Jie. Here you can see classical architecture. It meets Chinese decor and large bright signage. You will find many places to eat and shops to explore. The walking street ends at the canal on Xin He Pu Lu. It offers a pleasant walk with trees and flowers.
Explore the hidden community of tiny streets and older buildings. Some are in the Yang Fang style.
Another pleasant walk starts on Yandun Lu. You will pass shops, including silk and handicraft stores. Turn left up Si Bei Tong Jin Lu. You will see No 7 Middle School and Dongshan Christian Church. This beautiful stone church was built in 1909.
Continue down Xu Gu Yuan. It is graced by Dongshan’s most impressive structures. Jian Yuan, Mu Yuan and Ming Yuan are all along this street. Some owners have beautiful gardens on their balconies.
Take a walk down the canal to Dongshan Park. It is a green area along a man-made lake. The canal runs into the Pearl River by Haiyin Bridge.
Dongshankou is a labyrinth of alleys. Several main roads form a grid. They surround the commercial quarter. Wander around the streets. Experience a blend of old and new. Chic bars, coffee shops and trendy boutiques are interspersed with historical mansions.
Dongshan is the largest Western-style building complex in Guangzhou. It is the cradle of China’s democratic revolution. It is also the vanguard of China’s opening up to the world.
Dongshan’s model of development is almost impossible to replicate. It became a gathering place for the elite. Overseas Chinese invested and acquired property. Residents were the country’s most cultivated. They were called Dongshan Shaoye. They represented the first batch of children from affluent families to receive a Western education.
Dongshan remains a magnet for the wealthy. It is a designated area. Students living here are eligible for admission to the city’s most sought-after schools. Dongshan is culturally buoyant. It has both elegance and innovative thinking. Times have changed but the intrinsic value remains constant. That’s why inclusivity and new developments thrive here.