Former Site of the Canton Customs House

Former Site of the Canton Customs House

The Former Site of the Canton Customs House is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province and a base for patriotic education.

The Canton Customs was the earliest customs authority established by the Chinese government. In 1685 (the 24th year of the Kangxi reign in the Qing Dynasty), the Qing government set up the Canton Maritime Customs in Guangzhou as an administrative body to manage foreign trade. In the 10th year of the Xianfeng reign (1860 AD), the Canton Customs Tax Department officially established its headquarters at the current site.

Canton Customs Building

The Canton Customs Building (commonly known as the Big Clock Tower) is located on Yanjiang West Road in Guangzhou. It was originally built in 1860 as a simple two-story structure. In 1872

Canton Customs Building

, the building was rebuilt due to termite damage. In 1899, it was destroyed by fire and had to be reconstructed. On December 9 of the first year of the Republic of China (1912), another major fire severely damaged the upper floors, making repairs nearly impossible. The foundation of the new Canton Customs Building was laid in 1914 (the third year of the Republic of China) at the current site, and it was completed in 1915. In 1913, the government began reconstruction, and the building was completed in the autumn of 1916.

The Canton Customs Building was designed by British architect David Dick, resulting in a white, Ancient Roman-style structure that became one of the representative works of modern Western neoclassical architecture. This 31-meter-tall building was constructed entirely with materials imported from Britain. Its grand stone steps, colonnades, and pedimented portico feature rigorous composition and a majestic presence. The most eye-catching feature is the 13-meter-high clock tower on the top floor.

Thus, the Canton Customs Building is also called the Big Clock Tower. In April 1925, a photo of the building was displayed at the "American Architectural Exhibition of Technical Achievements."

The building faces south and has a construction area of 4,421 square meters. It is a reinforced concrete structure with its southeast façade built from granite, standing four stories high. At the top is a domed clock tower, with each of its four sides featuring paired Tuscan columns and a large four-faced clock. The clock contains five bells of varying sizes, all manufactured in Britain in 1915. The original interior layout and structure remain largely intact. The original Chinese characters “粤海关” (Canton Customs) above the central archway have been changed to “广州海关” (Guangzhou Customs).

Having stood for over a century, the Canton Customs Building not only remains the operational headquarters of the Guangzhou Customs — one of China’s most important customs authorities — bearing witness to a hundred years of history, but is also a beloved clock tower among the residents of Guangzhou. In August 1993, it was designated as a cultural relics protection unit by the Guangzhou Municipal People's Government. On July 17, 2002, it was included in the fourth batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units.

The Guangzhou Branch of the China Customs Museum is located in the Canton Customs Big Clock Tower.

Address: No. 29, Yanjiang West Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou

Type: Museum

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 020-81013617

Opening Hours:

Wednesday: 9:00–16:00; closed on other days.

Ticket Information:

Free admission.

Transportation

Take bus routes Guangzhou 81 or Guangzhou Peak Hour Express 50 to the Cultural Park Bus Terminal, then walk to the site.

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Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units