# Liwan, Guangzhou

Liwan District is one of 11 urban districts of the prefecture-level city of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, China. The district is split into two parts by the Pearl River: Xiguan in the northeast and Fangcun in the southwest. The area has a prominent history, dating back to the Qin dynasty, and hosts a number of major historic sites. Liwan District spans an area of 62.4 square kilometres (24.1 sq mi), and as of the end of 2023, has a population of about 1,113,000.

## Toponymy

Liwan District was named after "Lizhi Wan" (simplified Chinese: 荔枝湾; traditional Chinese: 荔枝灣; pinyin: Lìzhī Wān; lit. 'Lychee Bay'), which is derived from poem of "a bay of green water and red lychees along both banks".

## History

From the Qin dynasty through the Qing dynasty, the area of present-day Liwan District belonged to Panyu County and Nanhai County. Liwan was historically located outside the western gates of Guangzhou, in an area known as Xiguan (simplified Chinese: 西关; traditional Chinese: 西關; pinyin: Xīguān; Jyutping: sai1 gwaan1). The district was also the site of the historic area of Huadi, at the southwest of Guangzhou's downtown area and south of Pearl River.
The area of present-day Liwan, along with Guangfu (present Yuexiu), was merged into the newly-formed city of Guangzhou upon its incorporation, on February 15, 1921. Liwan covers an area of 16.2 square kilometres (6.3 sq mi), and has a permanent population of about 540,000 and a permanent nonnative population of over 200,000.

### People's Republic of China

In the months following the proclamation of the People's Republic of China, the area of present-day Liwan District changed administrative organization a number of times.
On October 14, 1949, the government organized the area as Fangcun District (Chinese: 芳村区; pinyin: Fāngcūn Qū). On November 15, it absorbed Chongwen District (Chinese: 崇文区; pinyin: Chóngwén Qū). In June 1954, Fangcun District was abolished, and its area was split between Henan District (Chinese: 河南区; pinyin: Hénán Qū) and Xinjiao District (Chinese: 新滘区; pinyin: Xīnjiào Qū). In April 1959, eight production brigades from Nanhai County were merged into Guangzhou City, and the area of former Fangcun District was placed under the jurisdiction of Jiao District (Chinese: 郊区; pinyin: Jiāo Qū), Guangzhou. After being briefly re-established, Fangcun District was abolished once again on May 11, 1962, and merged into Jiao District. In May 1985, the State Council officially approved the re-establishment of Fangcun District of Guangzhou. In September 2005, Fangcun District was abolished, and re-established as Liwan District.

## Geography

Liwan District is positioned in the west part of Guangzhou, on along the banks of the Pearl River. It is bordered by Yuexiu District to the east, Baiyun District to the north, and Nanhai District in Foshan to the west.

### Climate

The area of Liwan District is frequently affected by typhoons. In 2023, the area experienced a total annual precipitation of 1,932.2 millimetres (76.07 in), of which the cumulative precipitation during the flood season (March 27-October 31) was 1,711.7 millimetres (67.39 in), accounting for 88.6% of the annual precipitation.

## Administrative divisions

| Name | Chinese (S) | Hanyu Pinyin | Guangdong Romanization | Population (2010) | Area (km$^2$) |
| Baihedong Subdistrict [zh] | 白鹤洞街道 | Báihèdòng Jiēdào | bag6 hog6 dung6 gai1 dou6 | 48,238 | 3.10 |
| Caihong Subdistrict [zh] | 彩虹街道 | Cǎihóng Jiēdào | coi2 hung4 gai1 dou6 | 54,348 | 1.06 |
| Chajiao Subdistrict [zh] | 茶滘街道 | Chájiào Jiēdào | ca4 geo3 gai1 dou6 | 54,918 | 4.05 |
| Changhua Subdistrict [zh] | 昌华街道 | Chānghuá Jiēdào | cêng1 wa4 gai1 dou6 | 32,778 | 1.61 |
| Chongkou Subdistrict [zh] | 冲口街道 | Chōngkǒu Jiēdào | cung1 heo2 gai1 dou6 | 48,097 | 4.20 |
| Dongjiao Subdistrict [zh] | 东漖街道 | Dōngjiào Jiēdào | dung1 gao3 gai1 dou6 | 35,889 | 4.60 |
| Dongsha Subdistrict [zh] | 东沙街道 | Dōngshā Jiēdào | dung1 Shā gai1 dou6 | 29013 | 7.90 |
| Duobao Subdistrict [zh] | 多宝街道 | Duōbǎo Jiēdào | do1 bou2 gai1 dou6 | 32,581 | 0.86 |
| Fengyuan Subdistrict [zh] | 逢源街道 | Féngyuán Jiēdào | fung4 yun4 gai1 dou6 | 59,337 | 0.78 |
| Hailong Subdistrict [zh] | 海龙街道 | Hǎilóng Jiēdào | hoi2 lung4 gai1 dou6 | 31,801 | 9.49 |
| Huadi Subdistrict | 花地街道 | Huādì Jiēdào | fa1 déi2 gai1 dou6 | 39,635 | 1.63 |
| Hualin Subdistrict [zh] | 华林街道 | Huálín Jiēdào | wa4 lem4 gai1 dou6 | 46,309 | 0.72 |
| Jinhua Subdistrict | 金花街道 | Jīnhuā Jiēdào | gem1 fa1 gai1 dou6 | 54,670 | 1.16 |
| Lingnan Subdistrict [zh] | 岭南街道 | Lǐngnán Jiēdào | ling5 nam4 gai1 dou6 | 27,560 | 0.90 |
| Longjin Subdistrict [zh] | 龙津街道 | Lóngjīn Jiēdào | lung4 zên1 gai1 dou6 | 43,518 | 0.53 |
| Nanyuan Subdistrict [zh] | 南源街道 | Nányuán Jiēdào | nam4 yun4 gai1 dou6 | 70,066 | 1.85 |
| Qiaozhong Subdistrict [zh] | 桥中街道 | Qiáozhōng Jiēdào | kiu4 zung1 gai1 dou6 | 31,643 | 4.40 |
| Shamian Subdistrict | 沙面街道 | Shāmiàn Jiēdào | sa1 min2 gai1 dou6 | 3,397 | 0.30 |
| Shiweitang Subdistrict [zh] | 石围塘街道 | Shíwéitáng Jiēdào | ség6 wei4 tong4 gai1 dou6 | 57,192 | 5.18 |
| Xicun Subdistrict [zh] | 西村街道 | Xicūn Jiēdào | sei1 qun1 gai1 dou6 | 45,069 | 3.27 |
| Zhanqian Subdistrict [zh] | 站前街道 | Zhànqián Jiēdào | zam6 qin4 gai1 dou6 | 27,431 | 0.96 |
| Zhongnan Subdistrict [zh] | 中南街道 | Zhōngnán Jiēdào | zung1 nam4 gai1 dou6 | 24,710 | 7.00 |

## Demographics

As of the end of 2023, Liwan District has a permanent population of 1,113,000, and a hukou population of 804,800. Its population growth rate in 2023 was -1.98‰ (per mille).

## Transport

Liwan district has a well-developed transport network connecting with the railway station and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in the north. Renmin Bridge and Zhujiang Tunnel link the banks of the Pearl River in the southern part of Liwan. Zhujiang Bridge, which connects Nanhai and Foshan, links the east and west together in Liwan's west. Guangzhou South Railway Cargo Station of Jingguang Railway and Xinfeng Terminal are in Liwan's southwest. No. 107 State Highway and Guang-Fo Highway connecting with Guang-Shen Highway are through to Hong Kong. Line 1 of Guangzhou Metro and Inner overhead road pass through the District.

### Metro

Liwan is currently service by six metro lines operated by Guangzhou Metro:
* Line 1 - Chen Clan Academy ( 8 ), Changshou Lu, Huangsha ( 6 ), Fangcun ( 11 ), Huadiwan, Kengkou, Xilang ( Guangfo )
* Line 5 - Jiaokou, Tanwei ( 6 ), Zhongshanba ( 11 ), Xichang, Xicun ( 8 )
* Line 6 - Hesha, Tanwei ( 5 ), Ruyifang ( 11 ), Huangsha ( 1 ), Cultural Park ( 8 )
* Line 8 - Cultural Park ( 6 ), Hualinsi Buddhist Temple, Chen Clan Academy ( 1 ), Caihong Bridge ( 11 ), Xicun ( 5 )
* Line 11 - Caihong Bridge ( 8 ), Zhongshanba ( 5 ), Ruyifang ( 6 ), Shiweitang, Fangcun ( 1 ), Dachongkou, Shachong ( Guangfo ), Hedong East
* Guangfo line - Longxi, Jushu, Xilang ( 1 ), Hedong, Shachong ( 11 )

## Tourism

Liwan District has many attractions and historical sites. The historically famous "Lizhi Wan" (simplified Chinese: 荔枝湾; traditional Chinese: 荔枝灣; pinyin: Lìzhī Wān; lit. 'Lychee Bay'), has a 1,000-year history. In addition, there are historic sites where Dr. Sun Yat-sen, Zhan Tianyou, Chen Shaobai and Tang Tingguang lived or worked. There are Guangya School setup by Zhang Zhidong, a member of the Westernization Movement in the late Qing Dynasty and relic site of Xicun Industrial Zone developed by Chen Jitang when was in power during PC period.
Major historic sites within Liwan District include the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Shamian Island, Xilaichudi [zh], Renwei Temple [zh], Huaiyuanyi (Chinese: 怀远驿; pinyin: Huáiyuǎnyì), the Thirteen Factories, Haishan Xianguan [zh], the site of the Bahe Huiguan [zh], the site of the Jinlun Huiguan [zh], the Hip Tung Wo Engineering Works [zh], and the Nanfang Building. Of these, Chen Clan Ancestral Hall and Shamian Island are designated as national key protected cultural relic units. The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall was elected one of the 8 new scenic spots of Guangzhou. Haishan Xianguan was historically a leader of Lingnan horticulture, and contributed to the development of Lingnan culture. The area of the Thirteen Factories was the sole legal site of foreign trade within China for nearly one hundred years.
There are several municipality-level relic spots: Hualin Temple, one of Guangzhou's Buddhist “five jungles”, Taoist Zhenwudi Renwei Temple, Jiang Guangding’s former residence, Li Wentian’s Taihua Building and Xiguan big house.
In order to integrate those typical spots organically for tourists’ convenience, Liwan District Administration divides them into 4 tourist areas, Xiguan Folk Custom Area, Chen Clan Temple Cultural and Leisure Area, Shamian Continental Tourist Area, and Shisanhang Commercial and Cultural Area. It is proposed to build large-scale “Lingnan Custom” tourist project at Xiguan Folk Custom Area so as to provide domestic and foreign tourists with all-directional services in tour, culture, leisure, foods and accommodation.
Liwan District is home to Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street, a prominent commercial pedestrian street first opened in 1995. In 1996, it was elected one of the 10 tourist attractions of Guangzhou. There are many special streets such as blackwood and jade street, ceramic crafts street, and more than 100 wholesale markets engaged in traditional Chinese medicine, aquatic products, shoes, stationery, metal ware, textile (knitted), electric appliance (communications) and decoration materials, among which Qingping Traditional Chinese Herbs and Huangsha Aquatic Product Market are State-level markets; Yiyuan Stationery Market, Guangdong Electric Appliance City are province-level markets.
Liwan District is home to a number of prominent restaurants, including that of the White Swan Hotel, Guangzhou Restaurant [zh], Shengli Hotel, Qingping Restaurant, Tao Tao Ju [zh], Lianxiang Lou, and Panxi Restaurant [zh]. Famous local culinary specialties include Shunji coconut ice cream, Wuzhanji Jidi congee, Tingzai congee, Ouchengji dumpling and Nanxin double-condensed milk.

## Economy

MINISO has its headquarters in Liwan District.

## Education

Schools include:
* Guangzhou Xiehe High School [zh; zh-yue]
* Guangzhou True Light Middle School
* Guangzhou Peiying Middle School [zh; zh-yue] (Formerly known as Guangzhou Puiying Middle School)
* The Thirty-Fifth Middle School (广州第三十五中学).

## Notable people

* Liang Lizhen, table tennis player
* Liang Yiwen [zh], OB-GYN
* Zhan Tianyou, railroad engineer
* Zhang Zhujun [zh], physician and revolutionary