Xiguan or Sai Kwan (Chinese: 西關; Mandarin Pinyin: Xīguān; Jyutping: Sai1 Gwaan1; literally "West Gate") is a traditional geographical division of Guangzhou, China. It is situated in Liwan District. The north of the area reaches Xicun (Chinese: 西村; Mandarin Pinyin: Xīcūn; Jyutping: Sai1 Cyun1; literally "West Village") and it borders on Renmin Lu (Chinese: 人民路; Mandarin Pinyin: Rénmín Lù; Jyutping: Jan4 Man4 Lou6; literally "People's Rd.") eastwards. And Pearl River lies on its west and south. The area outside the west gate of Guangzhou is collectively called Xiguan in Ming and Qing Dynasty. It is worth mentioning that the name is still in use nowadays.
In the past, Guangzhou, or commonly called the capital of Guangdong Province (Chinese: 省城; Mandarin Pinyin: Shěngchéng; Jyutping: Saang2 Seng4) had three city gates respectively on its east, south and west. They are Dongguan (Chinese: 東關; Mandarin Pinyin: Dōngguān; Jyutping: Dung1 Gwaan1; literally "East Gate"), Nanguan (Chinese: 南關; Mandarin Pinyin: Nánguān; Jyutping: Naam4 Gwaan1; literally "South Gate") and Xiguan (Chinese: 西關; Mandarin Pinyin: Xīguān; Jyutping: Sai1 Gwaan1; literally "West Gate"). There are mountains in the north of the city so there was no such thing called Beiguan (Chinese: 北關; Mandarin Pinyin: Běiguān; Jyutping: Bak7 Gwaan1; literally "North Gate"). Guan (Chinese: 關; Mandarin Pinyin: guān; Jyutping: gwaan1) means gate in Chinese. Thus, Xiguan refers to the area outside the west gate of Guangzhou.
The former but more commonly known translation for Xiguan is Sai Kwan (Cantonese Romanisation). Other less often translations are West Kwan, West Gate, West Suburbs, West Outskirts or West Guan. Currently, the official translation is Xiguan in accordance with Hanyu Pinyin, the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet.
Xiguan in narrow sense is the authentic Xiguan, the west outskirts of the ancient city, Guangzhou. It is alternatively called Xiyuan (Chinese: 西園; Mandarin Pinyin: Xīyuán; Jyutping: Sai1 Jyun4; literally "West Garden") or Xiguanjiao (Chinese: 西關角; Mandarin Pinyin: Xīguānjiǎo; Jyutping: Sai1 Gwaan1 Gok8; literally "West Gate Corner"). An old slang goes in Guangzhou that Dongcun, Xiqiao, Nanfu, Beipin (Chinese: 東村、西俏、南富、北貧; Mandarin Pinyin: Dōngcn Xīqiào Nánfù Běipín; Jyutping: Dung1 Cyun1, Sai1 Ciu3, Naam4 Fu3, Bak7 Pan5; literally "Villages in the east, smartness in the west, richness in the south, poverty in the north"). In the slang, Xiqiao refers to Xiguan. The north of Xiguan reaches Xicun and it borders on Renmin Lu eastwards. And Pearl River lies on its west and south. That is to say, Xiguan covers former Liwan District excluding Litchi Bay (Chinese: 荔枝灣; Mandarin Pinyin: Lìzhī Wān; Jyutping: Lai6 Zi1 Waan1) and Xicun (Chinese: 西村; Mandarin Pinyin: Xīcūn; Jyutping: Sai1 Cyun1; literally "West Village").
It is worth mentioning that Xiguan lies to the west of Taiping Gate (Chinese: 太平門; Mandarin Pinyin: Tàipíng Mén; Jyutping: Taai3 Ping4 Mun4; literally "Peace and Security Gate"). Xiguan is the suburb of Guangzhou and it was administrated by Nanhai County (Chinese: 南海縣; Mandarin Pinyin: Nánhǎi Xiàn; Jyutping: Naam4 Hoi2 Jyun6-2) rather than Panyu County (Chinese: 番禺縣; Mandarin Pinyin: Pānyú Xiàn; Jyutping: Pun1 Jyu4 Jyun6-2) (covering former Yuexiu District and former Dongshan District). Therefore, it was not regarded as part of the capital of Guangdong Province (Chinese: 省城; Mandarin Pinyin: Shěngchéng; Jyutping: Saang2 Seng4).
Xiguan in broad sense is also called New Xiguan, referring to either former Liwan District or current Liwan District (covering former Liwan District and former Fangcun District).
Liwan District is orientated by Guangzhou City Government as an urban area of most Lingnan (Chinese: 嶺南; Mandarin Pinyin: Lǐngnán; Jyutping: Ling5 Naam4; literally "Ridge South") characteristics in Guangzhou.
This page mainly introduces Xiguan in narrow sense and slightly mentions about Litchi Bay and Xicun. For further information about Xiguan in broad sense, please read Liwan District.
On October 27th, 2006, in response to the concerned proposal motioned by Guangzhou Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang Revolutionary Committee, Liwan District Government said that Plan on Preserving Traditional Xiguan blocks and Liwan Kaleidoscope (Chinese: 西關傳統街區與荔灣區風情保護規劃) had been approved and adopted, which has defined the scope of Xiguan for the first time.
The north boundary of Xiguan is Zhongshan Qilu (Chinese: 中山七路; Mandarin Pinyin: Zhōngshān Qīlù; Jyutping: Zung1 Saan1 Cat7 Lou8; literally "Sun Yat-sen Rd., 7th") and Zhongshan Balu (Chinese: 中山八路; Mandarin Pinyin: Zhōngshān Bālù; Jyutping: Zung1 Saan1 Baat8 Lou8; literally "Sun Yat-sen Rd., 8th") (thus bring into Chen Clan Academy into Xiguan's scope) and its east one is Renmin Zhonglu (Chinese: 人民中路; Mandarin Pinyin: Rénmín Zhōnglù; Jyutping: Jan4 Man4 Zung1 Lou6; literally "People's Rd., C.") and Renmin Nanlu (Chinese: 人民南路; Mandarin Pinyin: Rénmín Nánlù; Jyutping: Jan4 Man4 Naam4 Lou6; literally "People's Rd., S."). Its south and west reach Pearl River. The division covers an area of 536 hectare (5.36 square metres).
The definition has generally covered Xiguan in narrow sense.
Former Liwan District comprised Xiguan, Litchi Bay and Xicun. These three parts, which were administrated by Nanhai County before ROC 10 (1921), were outside the west city wall.
Xiguan was outside Taiping Gate on the west city wall (currently Renmin Lu). Its south point reaches the mouth of Xihao (Chinese: 西濠; Mandarin Pinyin: Xīháo; Jyutping: Sai1 Hou4; literally "West Moat") and its north reaches Diyi Jin (Chinese: 第一津; Mandarin Pinyin: Dyī Jn; Jyutping: Dai6 Jat7 Zeon1; literally "1st Quay"). Shamian Island lies in its south. The area from Diyi Jin to Taiping Gate was called Upper Xiguan (Chinese: 上西關; Mandarin Pinyin: Shàng Xīguān; Jyutping: Soeng6 Sai1 Gwaan1) and the area stretching westwards from Guangfu Zhonglu (Chinese: 光復中路; Mandarin Pinyin: Guāngfù Zhōnglù; Jyutping: Gwong1 Fuk9 Zung1 Lou6; literally "Territory Recovery Rd., C.") to Huangsha (Chinese: 黃沙; Mandarin Pinyin: Huángshā; Jyutping: Wong4-2 Saa1; literally "Yellow Beach") and Huagui Lu (Chinese: 華貴路; Mandarin Pinyin: Huáguì Lù; Jyutping: Waa4 Gwai3 Lou6; literally "Dignity & Grace Rd.") was named Lower Xiguan (Chinese: 下西關; Mandarin Pinyin: Xià Xīguān; Jyutping: Haa6 Sai1 Gwaan1).
Litchi Bay refer to the area from outside Xiguan to the riverside of Pearl River, currently from Duobao Lu (Chinese: 多寶路; Mandarin Pinyin: Duōbǎo Lù; Jyutping: Do1 Bou2 Lou6; literally "Treasure Rd."), Longjin Lu (Chinese: 龍津路; Mandarin Pinyin: Lóngjīn Lù; Jyutping: Lung4 Zeon1 Lou6; literally "Dragon Quay Rd.") and Pantang (Chinese: 泮塘; Mandarin Pinyin: Pàntáng; Jyutping: Bun6-3 Tong4-2; literally "Half Pond") to Zhongshan Balu and Liwan Lu (Chinese: 荔灣路; Mandarin Pinyin: Lìwān Lù; Jyutping: Lai6 Waan1 Lou6; literally "Litchi Bay Rd.").
Xicun refers to the area northwest to Xiguan and Litchi Bay.
Xiguan is the window of Xixue Dongjian (Chinese: 西學東漸; Mandarin Pinyin: Xīxué Dōngjiān; Jyutping: Sai1 Hok9 Dung1 Zim1; literally "Western Learning or Dissemination of Western Learning to the Orient or Western Learning Spreading to the East or Western Learning Introduced Into China") in contemporary South China. It is also one of the cradlelands of Lingnan culture. Xiguan culture is one of the substances of Guangfu (Chinese: 廣府; Mandarin Pinyin: Guǎngfǔ; Jyutping: Gwong2 Fu2; literally "Cantonese") culture.
Xiguan Accents (Chinese: 西關口音), or Xiguan Dialect (Chinese: 西關話), is an accent or a sub-dialect of Guangzhou Dialect (Chinese: 廣州話 or 廣州方言), Cantonese (Chinese: 粵語). It refers to the accent which people in Xiguan speak in. Cantonese takes Guangzhou Dialect as the standard and Guangzhou Dialect used to take Xiguan Dialect as standard. With an increasing number of outlanders moving in, Xiguan accent can only be heard among the older population and it's near extinction. Apart from including Xiguan accent, Guangzhouhua Zidian (Chinese: 廣州話字典; literally "Guangzhou Dialect Dictionary") also takes in ecdemic accents such as Nanhai's and Hong Kong's.
| Xiguan accent | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiguan dialect | ||||
| Spoken in | Mainland China | |||
| Region | Xiguan, Liwan District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province | |||
| Native speakers | Nearly none (date missing) | |||
| Language family |
Sino-Tibetan
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| Language codes | ||||
| ISO 639-3 | – | |||
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The speakers of Xiguan Accents are mainly native residents in Xiguan in the past. Nowadays, people living in Xiguan have generally lost Xiguan Accents; what they are actually speaking with is the relaxed pronunciation (Chinese: 懶音) of Xiguan Dialect.
| Xiguan Accent | Downtown Accent | English Translation |
| han3(瞓)覺 (Close to the ancient pronunciation of "睏") | fan3(瞓)覺 | To sleep |
| ji1(依)家 | ji4(而)家 | Now |
| ji1(依)個 | ni1(呢)個 | This, these |
Due to Xiguan's anear geographical position to Nanhai, the problem of the confusion of consonants n & l consists in both Xiguan Accents and Nanhai Accents. They mispronounce n as l. Nevertheless, compared with Nanhai Accents, this problem is relatively mild.
Speakers of Xiguan Accents pronounce zero consonant (Chinese: 零聲母) as the consonant ng, for instance, "屋(uk7)" as "nguk7" and "壓(aat8)" as "ngaat8".
Speakers of Xiguan Accents pronounce vowels ei and ai as i. The phenomenon also lies in Nanhai Accents, such as:
| The Character | Xiguan Accent | Downtown Accent | English Translation |
| 使 | si2 | sai2 | To make, to cause, to use |
| 死 | si2 | sei2 | To die |
| 四 | si3 | sei3 | Four |
| 嘶 | si1 | sai1 (Owing to the Popularization of Mandarin (Chinese: 推廣普通話), an increasing number of people read si1 rather than sai1, influenced by Mandarin) | Neigh, hiss |
Additionally, speakers of Xiguan Accents enhance dental consonants (Chinese: 舌尖齒音). That is to say, downtown people pronounce "知", "雌" and "斯" as [tɕi], [tɕʰi] and [ɕi] (comparatively relaxed in the oral area, close to [tɕ], [tɕʰ] and [ɕ] in IPA; and yet Speakers of Xiguan Accents pronounce [tsi], [tsʰi] and [si] (The tip of tongue pushes up against upper teeth and blocks up air current. Tense in the oral area, similar to zh, ch and sh in Mandarin without rolling tongue). To be precise, dental consonants are similar to the consonants of 左", "初" and "所" (i.e., [ts], [tsʰ] and [s]) in Downtown Accents. In summary, speakers of Xiguan Accents pronounce [tɕ], [tɕʰ] and [ɕ] as [ts], [tsʰ] and [s]. A saying representing Xiguan Accents goes that Servant, take some money to buy some seadless kaki fruits (Chinese: 亞"四"，擰幾毫"紙"，去買啲水"柿").
Xiguan lies to the west of Taiping Gate (Chinese: 太平門; Mandarin Pinyin: Tàipíng Mén; Jyutping: Taai3 Ping4 Mun4; literally "Peace and Security Gate"). Xiguan is the suburb of Guangzhou and it was administrated by Nanhai County (Chinese: 南海縣; Mandarin Pinyin: Nánhǎi Xiàn; Jyutping: Naam4 Hoi2 Jyun6-2) rather than Panyu County (Chinese: 番禺縣; Mandarin Pinyin: Pānyú Xiàn; Jyutping: Pun1 Jyu4 Jyun6-2) (covering former Yuexiu District and former Dongshan District). Therefore, it was not regarded as part of the capital of Guangdong Province (Chinese: 省城; Mandarin Pinyin: Shěngchéng; Jyutping: Saang2 Seng4). Therefore, Xiguan Dialect should be regarded as suburban accents, distinguished from Downtown Accent (Chinese: 城內音), esp. Dongshan Accents (Chinese: 東山口音). Notwithstanding, Xiguan lies close to the capital of Guangdong Province so the gap is narrow.
雖處城外，西關卻成爲達官貴人的青睞之地。很多富人喜歡把別墅建在西關（成爲今天僅存的西關大屋）。正是因爲如此，西關口音成了富人的標誌，帶西關口音之人非富則貴，西關口音倍受時人尊崇，曾一度被公認為廣州方言的貴族口音。 在推普運動開展前，媒體均以西關音作爲標準音，多雇用來自西關一帶的播音員；粵劇的唱腔咬字也以西關口音為准。大多數語言學家認爲廣州話（又被稱為"省城話"）是粵語主要的一種口語形式，以廣州西關一帶居民的口音為正宗。廣州粵語學者以廣州西關口音為正宗廣州音，廣州話（廣州市地區之粵語）普遍認定為語言學上粵語的代表音。
由於舊時西關並不算作省城的一部分，有部分人認爲廣州話不應以西關口音爲標準，而應該是以城內音（特別是東山口音）爲標準。有人甚至認爲西關口音是粵語懶音的源頭實際上，若真的要探求粵語懶音的源頭，那應該是n、l不分的南海音、ng脫落的番禺音和香港早期的懶音。對廣州話以何爲標準暫無定論，但由於西關口音廣泛傳播，且西關後來成爲廣州城的一部分參見荔灣區，經濟較爲發達，大多數語言學家均認爲廣州話應以西關口音爲標準。
雖然西關口音被視為標準廣州話口音，但現在依《廣州音字典》所收字音來看，並沒有專門視西關口音為主收對象，而是以當前珠三角、港澳通用口音為標準。由於中國大陸採取Popularize Mandarin (Chinese: 推廣普通話)的政策，而且改革開放後不少外省人南遷至廣東，加之在香港粵語流行曲、電視及電影的影響下，香港事實上已經取代廣州成為粵語文化的中心。很多西關人連廣州話都講得不好，更不必說西關口音了。另外，隨著西關居民逐漸遷往其他地區（老城區空心化），城市化致使西關部分地區遭拆遷，西關口音漸漸消退、失散，這種以村、鄉為基礎的小範圍方言是粵語分支的一個特色，城市化把一些曾經廣泛存在過的方言消退掉。現在只能從西關老人家和一些致力於文化保育的人士口中聽到西關口音。現今，廣東媒體對粵語的發音問題已不再重視，只有少部分播音員仍然能說一口標準的廣州話（西關口音），例如廣州電視臺《羊城度度有段古》嘉賓主持、廣州説書藝人顏志圖仍帶有濃厚的西關口音。西關口音、東山口音、廣州河南口音已幾乎混為一體，西關口音正逐漸消失。
There are varieties of customs in Xiguan, which are comparatively well conserved among districts in Guangzhou.
Customs during Spring Festival, Ching Ming Festival, Qixi Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and Dongzhi Festival (Winter Solstice Festival) are more or less the same as those in other places in Guangzhou.
During Duanwu Festival (alternatively known as Dragon Boat Festival), people in Xiguan watch dragon boat races and eat Zongzi. Male residents row dragon boats.
西關的特色建築有騎樓、西關大屋以及麻石街巷(青石板路)；沙面、長堤和西堤一帶亦有西洋風格的建築。
從秦漢開始，位於南蠻之地的嶺南先民吸收中原文化，形成富有嶺南特色的建築。近代受西方的建築風格影響，西關的建築出現了新的變化，又融入了西方的元素。
Xiguan Residences (Chinese: 西關大屋; Mandarin Pinyin: Xīguān Dàwū; Jyutping: Sai1 Gwaan1 Daai6 Uk7), which used to be the residences of wealthy businessmen, are the typical representative of vernacular dwellings in Xiguan.
大門一般分為三道(三重門)，廣州人稱"三件頭"。 臨街最外的一道是四扇對開的屏風門(也叫矮腳吊扇門或花門)。屏風門之後是趟櫳push-and-pull bars，趟櫳之後為洋雜木大門，是真正的大門。
西關大屋主要分佈在十八甫富善地區、楊巷、楊仁里、十二甫、寶華地區、逢源地區、寶源地區及多寶地區，在西村地區也略有分佈。
窗戶被稱為"滿州窗"。這種窗戶均等地分為左右三列，每列上下三扇，合共九扇。其開閉方式為上下推拉，各段窗扇可任意推到任何位置。窗上通常鑲嵌有色花玻璃。
西關大屋平面佈局一般為左右對稱，中軸線上為主要廳堂，每廳為一進，全屋一般為二至三進，廳之間用小天井相隔，天井有上蓋，靠天窗採光通風。廳的兩側為偏廳、偏房，大屋子偏房的兩側還有巷，叫"青雲巷"。
竹筒屋是富有嶺南特色的傳統民居，比西關大屋相對簡陋和狹窄。這種建築開間小，進深大，兩者之比由1∶4至1∶8， 由前至後排列以天井間隔的多所房間，形如竹筒。通風、排水及交通主要靠天井和巷道來解決，屋深長則天井相應增多。外觀似為一層，但因層高達4.5 米，故常置夾層，並設樓梯。牆基用石塊砌築，牆身用青磚，山牆承重，木構架，瓦頂。
Granite Streets and Lanes (Chinese: 麻石街巷) were paved with granite, widely distributed around Xiguan Residences.
Some people claim that arcades (Chinese: 騎樓) in Xiguan correlate closely to the residences of ancient people living in Nanyue (Chinese: 南越). They are considered as the trace of Baiyue (Chinese: 百越) Stilt house (Chinese: 干欄屋).
On the other hand, some people insist that arcades are structures built in 1925 when streets were extended and roads were constructed on a large scale in Guangzhou. Their design is deemed to have derived from ancient Greece.
Arcades connect houses and make a long path for pedestrians to keep out wind, rain and the glare of sunshine. Arcades seem to be exactly designed for the climate in Guangzhou and meanwhile makes it much more convenient for stores to display their goods and attract customers.
This kind of structure has always been the main feature of Guangzhou's commercial atmosphere and has become the sign of Guangdong Street or Canton Street (Chinese: 廣東街) in other places, such as Jinling Donglu (Chinese: 金陵東路) in Shanghai
Arcades in Guangzhou first appeared in the area around Sacred Heart Cathedral (Chinese: 聖心大教堂) on Yide Lu (Chinese: 一德路; Mandarin Pinyin: Yīdé Lù; Jyutping: Jat7 Dak7 Lou6; literally "Yide Rd."). Later, other business quarters in Guangzhou fell over each other in eagerness to imitate the example such as Shangxiajiu (Chinese: 上下九; Mandarin Pinyin: Shàngxiàjiǔ; Jyutping: Soeng6 Haa6 Gau2), Zhongshan Lu, Enning Lu (Chinese: 恩寧路; Mandarin Pinyin: Ēnníng Lù; Jyutping: Jan1 Ning4 Lou6; literally "Enning Rd.") and Renmin Nanlu.
Main article: Shamian Island
沙面原是白鵝潭畔一片沙洲，由珠江上游河道流沙衝擊而成，故名。廣州沙面租界形成於第二次鴉片戰爭期間。1859年，沙面西部44英畝被劃為英租界，東部11英畝為沙面法租界。沙面的大量建築基本上是在19世紀末以後建造的。昌盛時，沙面外國洋行達30多家，一個世紀來有近70座樓宇由14個不同國家用作領事館、銀行、商行和教堂(天主教露德聖母堂和基督新教沙面會堂)。Speaking of architectural forms, buildings on Shamian can be divided into four categories: New Baroque, Neoclassical, Verandah and Pseudo-Gothic.
19世紀末20世紀初，廣州沿江的長堤、西堤一帶興建了大型的辦公及商業建築，反映了19世紀西方流行的新古典式的建築風格，保留了希臘、羅馬時期的建築特點。
Delicacies which have earned the title of Chinese Famous Food are as follows: Peanut & Sesame Filled Cake of Ronghua Teahouse , Shuangpinai and Milk With Ginger Juice of Nanxin , Shrimp Wonton of Ouchengji , Jidi Congee of Wuzhanji , Ginger Juice & Milk Custard Tart of Qingping Restaurant , Sweetheart Cake of Lianxianglou Teahouse , Rice Noodle Roll With Beef of Yinji and Goose Liver Boiled Dumplings of Jinzhongge .
Delicacies which have earned the title of Guangzhou Famous Food are as follows: Milk With Ginger Juice of Xinghualou Teahouse , Milk Paste of Fenghuang , Sesame Paste Sweet Dumplings of Rongde , Sachima of Satangji , Sampan Congee , Salty Pancake of Dechang , Stuffed Glutinous Rice Dumpling and Burst(Laughing) Deep-fried Pastry Ball of Liangyingji , White Sugar Lunjiao Cake of Guohua , Coconut Ice Cream and Grass Jelly of Shunji Bingshi .
The Chinese character Ji is often used in a restaurant's signage, often following the owner's name. For instance, Kaiji is named this way because of its owner's name KAI , Ye Jiankai.
Shuangpinai in Daliang , Shunde owns a most famous reputation. The founder of Nanxin comes from Shunde, and set up a shop in Guangzhou in 1943.
Coconut ice cream of Shunji Bingshi is a well-known Xiguan snack. The restaurant was set up by a hawker named Lu Shun in 20s, 20th century. Coconut juice extracted from fresh coconut meat, diluted milk, eggs and refined white sugar are ingredients. The delicacies of Shunji were tasted by heads of foreign states and honoured guests such as Norodom Sihanouk from Cambodia in 50s and 60s, 20th century. The restaurant has acquired the title of Guangzhou Famous Food since 1956.
Kaiji is located on Longjin Donglu . Its owner is Ye Jiankai and he is jokingly called Dousha Kai because of the restaurant's food. Kaiji's Tangyuan (sweet dumplings) served with green bean soup and Vanilla green bean soup clear away diners' heat and toxic material and earn a high reputation in Guangzhou. The shop is Ye's grandfather's legacy.
Shrimp Wonton Noodle of Ouchengji is famous. The soup served with this delicacy is the double-stewed soup made of shrimp-roe, flounder and pig bones. Fresh pork, shrimp and eggs are used in stuffing of the wontons. The wonton wrapper is so thin that wontons appear carneous after being cooked thoroughly, thus called glass wontons .
Jidi Congee of Wuzhanji , alternatively called Sanyuan Jidi Congee , has been famous since Republic of China. Located in Wenchang Xiang , the restaurant is famous for its variety of congee, Jidi the congee in particular. This congee contains dried beancurd stick, gingko and flounder. The congee is also called Sanyuan Jidi Congee for the reason that the numbers of its ingredients in each bowl, namely pork balls, pork liver slices and pork intestine slices correspond respectively to the numbers of Zhuangyuan , Bangyan and Tanhua . Wuzhanji's Jidi Congee earned the title of Chinese Famous Food in 1997.
Rice noodle roll was originated by the Hexianguan Restaurant in Pantang during Second Sino-Japanese War and it has been a must in Guangzhou's restaurants. Rice noodle roll with beef of Yinji is the most famous type. Rice milk is steamed into rice pellicle with meat smash, fillet and pork liver on it and the pellicle is rolled and then cut apart.
Sampan Congee comes from Litchi Bay. It is called Sampan Congee because it was sold by Tanka people on sampans. Its ingredients used to be only river prawns and slices of fish meat. Now it has become a commonly seen snack and has gradually become dishes in restaurants and hotels. Its ingredients are unceasingly updated, with salted jellyfish, peanuts and fried vermicelli.
People in Xiguan pay particular attention to eating etiquette, especially in tea houses. They don't swear and they keep courteous to each other to express their gratitude. When pouring tea, they only pour tea to 80% of the cup. Furthermore, they devote particular care to gestures when pouring tea or wine and when picking up food with chopsticks and spoons.
They use diffrent vessels when dishing up different dishes and different cups when different kinds of wine are filled with.
Diners, especially businessmen, kill time as well as pry into market quotations, taking the advantage of dining.
In the past, gentle and simple, honour and low were trenchant in Xiguan. The disparity between rich and poor was wide. An old proverb rang a bell in Guangzhou that "Ladies in Xiguan, Gentlemen in Dongshan and riffraffs in Henan."
Waterway transport used to be indispensable in the former Liwan District of Xiguan. However, with the process of urbanization, many creeks have been converted into culverts. Nowadays, land transport has mostly replaced its status.
See Guangzhou Buses.
See Guangzhou Metro.
In 2005, former Fangcun District was emerged into Liwan District.
Liwan District administrates 22 Subdistricts (13 from former Liwan District plus 9 from former Fangcun District).
Xiguan is densely populated and its transportation is convenient. There are plenty of buildings with Guangzhou characteristics. Its folk atmosphere is rich and unique. Xiguan is something of an area which embodies Guangzhou local culture.
然而，隨著城市化的發展，西關居民逐漸遷往其他地區，而大量外來人口遷入(老城區空心化)，城市化致使西關部分地區遭拆遷。廣州電視臺新聞頻道新聞日日睇曾報導某街道以雨天路滑為由拆除部分麻石街，遭到居民強烈反對。西村一帶也於2008年開始清拆。老四區的傳統地位開始慢慢讓位於廣州新城區。