Liwan, Guangzhou

Liwan 荔湾区
District
Shamian Subdistrict riverfront
Liwan in Guangzhou
Coordinates: 23°06′56″N 113°14′18″E
Country	People's Republic of China
Province	Guangdong
Sub-provincial city	Guangzhou
Area
• Total	62.40 km2 (24.09 sq mi)
Population  (2006)
• Total	705,262
• Density	11,000/km2 (29,000/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code	510145
Area code	020
Website	http://www.lw.gov.cn/

Liwan, Guangzhou
Simplified Chinese	荔湾区
Traditional Chinese	荔灣區
Jyutping	Lai6 Waan1 Keoi1
Hanyu Pinyin	Lìwān Qū
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Lìwān Qū Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Laihwāan Kēui Jyutping Lai6 Waan1 Keoi1 Canton Romanization lei6 wan1 kêu1 IPA [lɐj˨.wan˥]
Alternative Chinese name
Simplified Chinese	荔湾
Traditional Chinese	荔灣
Jyutping	Lai6 Waan1
Hanyu Pinyin	Lìwān
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Lìwān Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Laihwāan Jyutping Lai6 Waan1 Canton Romanization lei6 wan1
Second alternative Chinese name
Simplified Chinese	西关
Traditional Chinese	西關
Jyutping	Sai1 Gwaan1
Hanyu Pinyin	Xiguān
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Xiguān Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Sāigwāan Jyutping Sai1 Gwaan1 Canton Romanization sei1 guan1
Third alternative Chinese name
Chinese	芳村
Jyutping	Fong1 Cyun1
Hanyu Pinyin	Fāngcūn
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Fāngcūn Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Fōng Chyūn Jyutping Fong1 Cyun1 Canton Romanization fong1 qun1

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.

History

Main article: Xiguan

Liwan District was named after "Lizhiwan", which is derived from poem of "a bay of green water and red lychees along both banks". It 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. Liwan District is positioned in the flourishing west part of Guangzhou, on the northeast bank of the Pearl River.

Liwan was originally a western suburb of Guangzhou known as Xiguan and Huadai/Huadi located in between two counties of Panyu County and Nanhai County. On 15 February 1921 Liwan along with Guangfu (present Yuexiu) formed the City of Guangzhou.

Fangcun, in the western part of Liwan District, lay at the southwest of Guangzhou's downtown area and south of Pearl River. It was established as a "Fangcun District" in 1949 after the Chinese Communist Party took over Guangzhou from the Kuomintang. In 2005, it was withdrawn and merged with Liwan.

Administrative divisions

Name	Chinese (S)	Hanyu Pinyin	Guangdong Romanization	Population (2010)	Area (km2)
Baihedong Subdistrict	白鹤洞街道	Báihèdòng Jiēdào	bag6 hog6 dung6 gai1 dou6	48,238	3.10
Caihong Subdistrict	彩虹街道	Cǎihóng Jiēdào	coi2 hung4 gai1 dou6	54,348	1.06
Chajiao Subdistrict	茶滘街道	Chájiào Jiēdào	ca4 geo3 gai1 dou6	54,918	4.05
Changhua Subdistrict	昌华街道	Chānghuá Jiēdào	cêng1 wa4 gai1 dou6	32,778	1.61
Chongkou Subdistrict	冲口街道	Chōngkǒu Jiēdào	cung1 heo2 gai1 dou6	48,097	4.20
Dongjiao Subdistrict	东漖街道	Dōngjiào Jiēdào	dung1 gao3 gai1 dou6	35,889	4.60
Dongsha Subdistrict	东沙街道	Dōngshā Jiēdào	dung1 Shā gai1 dou6	29013	7.90
Duobao Subdistrict	多宝街道	Duōbǎo Jiēdào	do1 bou2 gai1 dou6	32,581	0.86
Fengyuan Subdistrict	逢源街道	Féngyuán Jiēdào	fung4 yun4 gai1 dou6	59,337	0.78
Hailong Subdistrict	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	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	岭南街道	Lǐngnán Jiēdào	ling5 nam4 gai1 dou6	27,560	0.90
Longjin Subdistrict	龙津街道	Lóngjīn Jiēdào	lung4 zên1 gai1 dou6	43,518	0.53
Nanyuan Subdistrict	南源街道	Nányuán Jiēdào	nam4 yun4 gai1 dou6	70,066	1.85
Qiaozhong Subdistrict	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	石围塘街道	Shíwéitáng Jiēdào	ség6 wei4 tong4 gai1 dou6	57,192	5.18
Xicun Subdistrict	西村街道	Xicūn Jiēdào	sei1 qun1 gai1 dou6	45,069	3.27
Zhanqian Subdistrict	站前街道	Zhànqián Jiēdào	zam6 qin4 gai1 dou6	27,431	0.96
Zhongnan Subdistrict	中南街道	Zhōngnán Jiēdào	zung1 nam4 gai1 dou6	24,710	7.00

Transport

Liwan district has a well-developed transport network which enables it to reap benefits as an important place for business. There is a developed traffic 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 four metro lines operated by Guangzhou Metro:

•      Line 1 - Chen Clan Academy, Changshou Lu, Huangsha ( 6 ), Fangcun, Huadiwan, Kengkou, Xilang ( Guangfo )
•      Line 5 - Jiaokou, Tanwei ( 6 ), Zhongshanba, Xichang, Xicun
•      Line 6 - Hesha, Tanwei ( 5 ), Ruyifang, Huangsha ( 1 ), Cultural Park ( 8 )
•      Line 8 - Cultural Park ( 6 )
•      Guangfo line - Longxi, Jushu, Xilang ( 1 ), Hedong, Shachong

Tourism

Liwan District has many attractions and historical sites. The historically famous Lizhiwan (lit. Lychee Bay) has a 1000-year history. Shisanhang had a foreign trade privilege for hundred years. Haishan Xianguan had a leader of Lingnan horticulture, which made contribution to the development of Lingnan culture. Now, there are two national key protection units Chen Learning Academy (Chen Clan Temple) and Shamian Ancient Buildings, out of which Chen Learning Academy was elected one of the 8 new scenic spots of Guangzhou. 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 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. All those spots are like pearls dotted in this valuable land and show people its glorious and splendid past.

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's developed commerce. National ethical commercial street Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street is arrayed with shops and gathers a lot of businessmen. in 1995, Shangxiajiu Lu was declared the first weekend commercial pedestrian street of Guangzhou. 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. Market is flourishing, which radiates the whole nation and the Southeast Asia as well as the world.

Liwan District is a gathering place of star-level restaurants of Guangzhou, including White Swan Hotel, Guangzhou Restaurant, Shengli Hotel, Qingping Restaurant, Taotaoju Restaurant, Lianxianglou Restaurant and Panxi Restaurant. Various special Liwan foods with long history and both famous at home and abroad are available, including 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
• Guangzhou True Light Middle School
• Guangzhou Peiying Middle School (Formerly known as Guangzhou Puiying Middle School)
• The Thirty-Fifth Middle School (广州第三十五中学).

External links

• Official website of Liwan District Government