The Pan Family Courtyard

The Pan Family Courtyard

The Pan Family Courtyard is a cultural heritage site protected by the Guangzhou Municipal Government.

The Pan Family Courtyard is located at No. 231 Nanhuazhong Road, Haichuang Subdistrict, Haizhu District.

Long before the establishment of Haizhu District, there was Nanhuaxi Street — this tranquil lane was once the residential area for the wealthy merchants of the Thirteen Hongs. After two hundred years of dramatic change, every alley and old house here carries rich historical stories and the memories of generations of residents. And the majestic and elegant Pan Family Courtyard is situated right at No. 231 Nanhuazhong Road.

The Pan Family Courtyard was built by descendants of Pan Zhencheng, once known as the wealthiest man in Guangzhou. It has stood for over 100 years. When first constructed, the building faced the ancient gardens of Haichuang Temple to the south, bordered the surging Pearl River to the north, leaned against the clear stream of Xixia to the west, with the Shuzhu Bridge crossing over it — a serene spot amid bustling surroundings. A century later, it still retains its grandeur from that time and remains habitable.

What’s truly astonishing is that the teak wood floors of the Pan residence remain glossy and bright even after a hundred years, rivaling the wooden floors in modern luxury homes. The louvered doors inside the house cleverly combine lighting, ventilation, and warmth in a single design, showcasing remarkable human-centered ingenuity. Just a brief glance is enough to imagine the “luxury” of those wealthy merchants back in the day. Renowned architectural expert Tang Guohua considers it a Western-style building that is “comparable to Shamian.”

The Pan Family architectural complex in Nanhuaxi is the largest and most complete cluster of structures directly linked to the history of the Thirteen Hongs still in existence. As the best-preserved building within the complex, the Pan Family Courtyard is one of the few remaining remnants of the Thirteen Hongs. It serves as physical evidence of the activities carried out in Haizhu District by the Pan family, the wealthiest lineage among the merchant houses of the Thirteen Hongs.

In December 2008, it was designated as part of the Seventh Batch of Guangzhou Municipal Cultural Heritage Protection Units.

Haichuang Subdistrict: Located in the northwest of Haizhu District, Haichuang Subdistrict is home to the district’s Party committee and government offices. The subdistrict covers a total area of 1.45 square kilometers, with 28,300 households (including 21,800 registered and 6,500 non-registered households) and a total population of 89,000 (including 68,000 registered and 21,000 non-registered residents). Formed in May 1998 through the merger of former Baogang Subdistrict, Haichuang Subdistrict, and Yuelong Subdistrict, it is a typical administrative subdistrict in an old urban area. The subdistrict has 16 departments, 14 community neighborhood committees, 60 primary-level Party (general) branches, and... Detailed information about Haichuang Subdistrict ++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Guangzhou Municipal Cultural Heritage Protection Units