Wine Merchants Guild Hall

Wine Merchants Guild Hall

The Wine Merchants Guild Hall is situated at No. 22 Zumiao Street, within the Zumiao Subdistrict. Constructed during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty (1796–1820), it features a flush-gable roof and covers around 40 square meters in area, with a depth of two bays and one opening. The main entrance’s gable walls are adorned with floral plaster designs. Records from the 1984 cultural relics survey state: “On both sides of the second bay, there is an inscribed stele known as the ‘Wine Merchants Guild Hall Stele’ from the Jiaqing era.” This guild hall served as a gathering place for wine merchants to discuss important matters, and holds significant value for the study of Foshan’s commercial development history and local brewing culture.

Historical records indicate that during the Yongzheng era, the Wine Merchants Guild Hall originally functioned as the guild hall for the iron stir-frying trade. Later, during the Qianlong era, it was sold to the distilled spirits trade and became the Wine Merchants Guild Hall, serving as a venue where brewers met to discuss key industry issues.

The Wine Merchants Guild Hall performed two key functions that the general liquor industry association did not: First, setting prices for related liquor products. Its members were leading businesses in Foshan’s brewing and distilling trades, and through collective discussion, they established fair market prices to maintain competitive balance. Second, levying taxes on the liquor industry. After China’s defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War, the Qing government signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki with Japan. To cover the massive indemnity of 230 million taels of silver, the government began imposing additional taxes across various sectors, with the thriving liquor industry being among the first targeted. The Qing government dispatched official Gangyi to Foshan, Guangdong, to collect 4 million taels in heavy taxes—even small street vendors selling alcohol were not spared.

The Wine Merchants Guild Hall is now managed by Guangdong Shiwan Distillery Co., Ltd., and is primarily used for the display and promotion of Lingnan liquor culture. It houses numerous cultural relics, photographs, and textual materials related to the region’s drinking traditions, while also showcasing and selling the “Shiwan” brand series of liquors and related products. Guangdong Shiwan Distillery Co., Ltd. traces its origins to the Chen Taiji Liquor Shop, established in the 10th year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty. The distillery is located on Zhuzi Street in Shiwan (now No. 106 Taiping Street) and has been producing liquor on the same site for over 180 years, making it a time-honored Chinese brand. According to the *Foshan Zhongyi Township Annals · Daoguang Edition*: “It is said that the excellent water quality, ample rice supply, and well-seasoned fermentation vats combine to give the liquor its uniquely rich flavor. Among the local products, the Chen Zongju (Chen Taiji) Liquor Shop is the most renowned.”

During the Republican era, the Chen Taiji Liquor Shop had branches in Foshan, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Macau. According to the Shiwan Distillery archives: For many years, the Chen Taiji Liquor Shop enjoyed a leading position in the industry due to strong product sales and was also a core member of the Wine Merchants Guild Hall, participating in major decision-making meetings concerning Foshan’s liquor trade. In October 2011, the Wine Merchants Guild Hall officially opened to the public. Prior to its reopening, the Shiwan Distillery collected extensive historical materials and redesigned the interior to transform the guild hall into an immersive exhibition space for liquor history and culture.

Inside the Wine Merchants Guild Hall, the aroma of fine liquor fills the air. The soft glow of lanterns filters through the vibrant stained glass of the windows. Sit quietly by the Eight Immortals table, sipping a taste of Shiwan’s finest brew, while the old copper ceiling fans spin faster, their whir blending with the air in a moment that seems to transport you through time. Though no longer a meeting place for guild discussions, the exhibits—including physical artifacts and historic photographs—vividly showcase the rich heritage of Lingnan liquor culture. They offer visitors insight into the evolution of the local liquor industry and the history of the Chen Taiji Liquor Shop, such as Qing Dynasty liquor jars that have been in continuous use for a century, and traditional signage from the Chen Taiji shop.

In October 2006, the Foshan Municipal People's Government designated it as a cultural relics protection unit.

Address: No. 1 Zumiao Street, Chancheng District, Foshan City

Zumiao Subdistrict: Located in the northeastern part of Chancheng District, Foshan City, Zumiao Subdistrict stretches east to Guilan Road, south along Jihua Road, west to the Foshan Avenue boundary, and north to the northern bank of the Fenjiang River. Covering an area of 21.5 square kilometers with a population of about 600,000, it governs 64 administrative villages (residential committees). As the core area of Foshan’s urban center, it hosts the municipal government and Party committee headquarters, and concentrates most of the city’s cultural, educational, medical, and social welfare institutions. It is now the political, economic, commercial, and cultural hub of Foshan.

Deep Historical and Cultural Roots. As the heart of Foshan, Zumiao Subdistrict boasts a history spanning a thousand years… More details about Zumiao Subdistrict ++