Liwan District (Xiguan) Guangzhou: Sights, Food & Metro (2026)

What Liwan and Xiguan Are

The Pearl River splits Liwan in two. North of the river, in the northeast of the district, is the old Xiguan quarter. Southwest of the river is Fangcun. Liwan borders Yuexiu District to the east and Foshan's Nanhai District to the west. Xiguan was the suburb that grew outside the walled city's western gates, and today it makes up most of Liwan north of the river. That is why locals and guidebooks use the two names almost interchangeably.

The district takes its name from Lizhi Wan, or Litchi Bay, the creeks of old Xiguan that flow into the Pearl River. On the riverbank beside Shamian sat the Thirteen Factories, the foreign trading enclave. According to the district government, this was the only port open to foreign trade in China from 1757 to 1842. The present Liwan District was re-established in its current form in 2005.

According to the district government's overview, published in June 2026, Liwan covers 62.4 km² of land and water (59.1 km² of land). It is divided into 22 subdistricts and had 1.129 million residents at the end of 2025. It contains 14 provincial-level historic and cultural blocks and 190 protected heritage units.

Main Sights in Liwan

Chen Clan Academy

The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, usually called the Chen Clan Academy, was built in 1894 by 72 Chen clans. It now houses the Guangdong Folk Art Museum and is a national-level protected site. It stands on Zhongshan 7th Road, directly beside the metro station of the same name. Our Chen Clan Ancestral Hall guide covers the building in detail.

Shamian Island

Shamian is a 0.3 km² sandbank island on the Pearl River. It was divided into British and French concessions from 1859 until 1943, and its former concession buildings make it look quite unlike the rest of Xiguan. Like the Chen Clan Academy, it is a national-level protected site. See our Shamian Island guide for a walking plan.

Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street

Shangxiajiu opened in September 1995, and the district government calls it Guangzhou's first commercial pedestrian street. It runs for roughly 1,200 metres, is lined with arcade buildings, and has more than 300 shops. It makes a natural starting point for a walk through the old quarter.

Enning Road and Yongqingfang

Enning Road is one of Xiguan's arcade streets. Yongqingfang, on Enning Road beside the Lizhiwan canal, is an 11.37-hectare historic quarter that has been restored through micro-renovation. It keeps the city's most complete surviving group of qilou arcade buildings, mostly from the 1930s. Inside are Bruce Lee's ancestral home, the Bahe Huiguan and craft studios. It receives more than 20 million visitors a year, and more than 800,000 came during the 2026 National Day holiday alone.

Litchi Bay and the temples

Litchi Bay (Lizhi Wan) is the network of Xiguan creeks that gave the district its name, and its waterside is closely tied to the area's food history: Litchi Bay sampan congee is named after it. Liwan's other headline sights include Hualin Temple and the Renwei Temple. Liwan Lake Park is on Duobao Road.

Walking the streets of Xiguan costs nothing, because they are public streets. Individual sights such as the Chen Clan Academy charge their own admission, so check each one's current ticket and opening details before you go.

Food in Xiguan

The district promotes itself with the saying "food in Guangzhou, flavour in Xiguan", and food is a big reason to come here. Local specialities include Nanxin double-skin milk, Wuzhanji Jidi congee, Yinji rice noodle rolls, Shunji coconut ice cream, Ouchengji wonton noodles, Panxi water-chestnut cake and Litchi Bay sampan congee.

Liwan is also home to several of Guangzhou's time-honoured teahouses and restaurants, including Panxi, Tao Tao Ju, Lianxiang Lou and Guangzhou Restaurant. They are traditional places for morning tea and dim sum. A good approach is to share several small dishes rather than order one large meal, so you can try more of the local specialities in one sitting.

For dish-by-dish background, read our Cantonese food in Guangzhou guide and the Guangzhou dim sum guide.

Who Should Stay in Liwan

Liwan suits travellers who want heritage and classic Cantonese food on their doorstep. Staying near Shangxiajiu, the Chen Clan Academy or Shamian puts the old quarter within walking distance early and late in the day. The metro links the district directly to the rest of the city. Line 1 runs through Huangsha, Changshou Lu and Chen Clan Academy, and Lines 5, 6, 8 and 11 also have stations here.

If heritage is not the focus of your trip, compare Liwan with Tianhe District before booking. Fangcun, on the southwest bank of the river, is also part of Liwan, but the sights in this guide are on the Xiguan side, north of the river.

Getting There and Getting Around

The metro is the simplest way to reach each part of Liwan. The network here has grown recently. Line 8 reached Hualinsi Buddhist Temple and Chen Clan Academy stations on 26 November 2020, and Line 11, which serves Ruyifang, Caihong Bridge and Zhongshanba, opened on 28 December 2024. Older guides may not list these stations.

• Shamian Island: Huangsha station (Line 1 and Line 6 interchange), under the junction of Datong Road and Liu'ersan Road, near Shamian Island and the White Swan Hotel.
• Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street: Line 1 Changshou Lu station, at Changshou Road West and Baohua Road. Alternatively, use Line 8 Hualinsi Buddhist Temple station, where exit E is on Xiajiu Road. Exits B and C2/D are on Changshou East/West Road and C1 is on Middle Kangwang Road.
• Chen Clan Academy: Chen Clan Academy station (Line 1 and Line 8 interchange), under Zhongshan 7th Road beside the academy.
• Liwan Lake Park and Duobao Road: Ruyifang station (Line 6 and Line 11), exit D1. Exits A, B and E are on Huangsha Avenue.
• Cultural Park: Cultural Park station (Line 6 and Line 8), with exits on Xidi Ermalu (A, D) and Liu'ersan Road (B).
• Other stations north of the river: Line 5 Zhongshanba, Xichang and Xicun, and Line 11 Caihong Bridge and Zhongshanba.
• Fangcun (south of the river): Line 1 Fangcun, Huadiwan, Kengkou and Xilang, plus Lines 10, 11, 22 and the Guangfo Line.

For Yongqingfang and Enning Road, check a map app for the walk from your nearest station. Once you are in Xiguan, walking is the best way to get around. Many of the most interesting alleys are too narrow for cars. If you are arriving by rail, see our Guangzhou Railway Station guide for connections into the city.

Tips for Visiting Liwan

Expect crowds at Yongqingfang and Shangxiajiu during Chinese public holidays. Yongqingfang alone drew more than 800,000 visitors over the 2026 National Day holiday, so weekdays outside holiday periods are calmer. Wear comfortable walking shoes, carry a small umbrella for sun and sudden rain, and keep your passport with you, since some sights may ask for ID when you book or enter. Check the current opening times and booking rules of individual sights before you set out, as they are set by each venue rather than by the district.