The Pan Family Mansion

The Pan Family Mansion

The Pan Family Mansion was the former residence of Pan Zhencheng, the wealthiest man in Guangzhou during the Qing Dynasty, and his clan, located in Longxi Village (now Haizhu District) in Henan (the area now known as Haizhu District). From the mid-Qing period during the reigns of Emperors Qianlong to Daoguang (1736–1850), over the span of more than a hundred years, the Pan family operated foreign trade businesses such as Tongwen Hang and Tongfu Hang in the Thirteen Hongs of Guangzhou. They amassed great wealth and power, were enthusiastic about cultural education and public welfare, achieved remarkable success in the imperial examinations, and produced many notable figures. Pan Zhencheng, Pan Youwei, Pan Youdu, and Pan Zhengwei were among the most distinguished.

The Pan Family Mansion was originally part of the Pan Family Garden in Longxi Village. The Pan Family Garden was initially established by Pan Zhencheng after he migrated from Fujian to Guangdong, where he founded a village and ancestral hall in Henan, Guangzhou. It was subsequently expanded over more than a hundred years by his descendants, including Youdu, Youwei, and Zhengwei. The garden spanned an area of approximately 18 hectares, covering about 600 meters from north to south and 300 meters from east to west, including the present-day Longxi First Alley, Longxi New Street, Qizha Street, and Pan Family Ancestral Hall Road. At its center was a large square pond, surrounded by over ten halls and pavilions, including the Pan Family Mansion, Liusong Garden, Nansnow Nest, Kanxuan Tower, Shushi Mountain House, Yisong Hall, Nanshu, Li Studio, Qinghua Pool House, and Ting Tower. These formed a series of uniquely styled gardens, featuring riverside pavilions, hillside towers, lush greenery, and fragrant blossoms—truly a renowned garden of its time that enjoyed great prestige. Unfortunately, over the years, apart from a large portion of the Pan Family Mansion still inhabited by its descendants, the rest of the garden has been replaced by roads, high-rises, and residential lanes.

The Pan Family Mansion is located at No. 2 Longqing North Street, Tongfu West Road. It faces south and was built around the mid-19th century, with a history of over 100 years. The entire mansion is approximately 77 meters deep and 25 meters wide, covering a floor area of about 2,600 square meters. It is divided into three bays and five courtyards. The east and west sides house bedrooms, side halls, living rooms, kitchens, etc., while the central axis consists of ceremonial halls, arranged from front to back as the First Gate, Second Gate, Ancestral Hall, Old Madam’s Hall, and Shrine Hall. Each gate and hall is separated by a courtyard to facilitate ventilation and lighting. There are also two Qingyun Lanes within the residence. The entire structure is built with brick, wood, and stone, using high-quality materials and featuring elaborate decorations. The surrounding walls are made of polished blue bricks with stone bases, and the main gate is framed with granite and fitted with hardwood doors. The ceremonial halls have traditional Chinese roofs with Western-style hanging fixtures, and the windows are fitted with stained glass, blending Chinese and Western architectural styles. The western side of the mansion was expropriated and rebuilt in the early 20th century, leaving only the central axis and eastern side, covering about 1,900 square meters. However, after a century of weathering, the remaining sections are now quite dilapidated.

Pan Zhengwei (1791–1850), courtesy name Jitong, art name Yuting, was the grandson of Pan Zhencheng and the fourth son of Pan Youdu. After inheriting the family business from two generations, he further expanded operations under the name Tongfu Hang, representing Pan Shaoguang. His business flourished even more, marking the peak of the Pan family's trade. He remained a leader among the Thirteen Hongs and was respected by foreign merchants as the “Third Pan Qiguan.” According to incomplete statistics, his family fortune was valued at about 100 million francs at the time, not including assets in North China.

Although Pan Zhengwei was a wealthy merchant, he continued the Pan family tradition of generosity, philanthropy, helping the poor, and contributing to the nation. According to incomplete statistics... More details on Pan Zhengwei ++

Pan Zhencheng (1714–1788), courtesy name Xunxian, art name Wenyan, also known as Qi, was originally from Longxi Village, Zhangzhou, Fujian. He later moved to Longxi Village in Henan, Guangzhou (now Nanhuaxi Street, Haizhu District), and is regarded as the founding ancestor of the Pan family who settled and registered in Guangdong.

In his prime, Pan Zhencheng engaged in foreign trade, dealing in silk and tea, and earned substantial profits. In the 1740s, he established Tongwen Hang in the Thirteen Hongs of Guangzhou, which became very prosperous. Later, he partnered with nine other merchants to form the Foreign Trade Company. With his skills and wealth, he held the leadership position among the merchants for nearly 30 years. Tongwen Hang almost monopolized the raw silk trade with British merchants. He established... More details on Pan Zhencheng ++

Pan Youdu (1755–1820), courtesy name Xiachen, art names Yingshang and Ronggu, was the fourth son of Pan Zhencheng. In his youth, he inherited his family’s scholarly traditions, extensively studied classical texts, and later took over the family business, managing the operations of Tongwen Hang. Due to his deep understanding of foreign trade, he earned the trust of the government, which praised him as “most proficient in foreign affairs,” leading to further business growth. Later, the position of Chief Merchant of the Thirteen Hongs changed hands briefly, but he soon regained the role through his reputation in foreign trade and personal capability, earning the title “Second Pan Qiguan” (Puankhequa II) from foreign merchants in China. He later established Tongfu Hang... More details on Pan Youdu ++

Pan Youwei (1743–1821), courtesy name Zhuochen, art names Yilin and Yitang, was the second son of Pan Zhencheng. Instead of joining his father in business, he chose the path of civil service. Erudite and talented, he passed the imperial examination as a Juren (recommended man) in 1770 and became a Jinshi (presented scholar) two years later. He was appointed as an Imperial Secretariat Clerk and participated in compiling the Siku Quanshu (Complete Library in Four Branches of Literature). However, due to his principled character and refusal to flatter the powerful, he never received a promotion during his 17 years in the capital. Later, he returned home to observe mourning for his parents as per filial tradition and never re-entered official service. He retired to a quiet life in the countryside, dedicating himself to writing and scholarship. He was a disciple of Weng Fanggang and excelled in poetry and calligraphy, as well as painting colored flowers. His poetry was compared to that of the contemporary literati Zhang... More details on Pan Youwei ++