Guangzhou’s commercial arcade architecture

Guangzhou’s commercial arcade architecture

After the Opium War in 1840, the development of modern architecture in Guangzhou went through several stages, including the introduction of Western architecture, the revival of traditional architecture, and the influx of modernist architecture. Western-style buildings in Guangzhou can be categorized as follows: religious buildings such as the Sacred Heart Cathedral (Stone House); public buildings such as the former Guangzhou Post and Telegraph Administration Building, the Canton Customs Building, the Municipal Government Building, the Provincial Finance Department Building, and the Provincial Federation of Trade Unions Building; residential buildings such as the Xiguan mansions, bamboo-tube houses, as well as the garden villas and small Western-style houses in Dongshan; commemorative buildings such as the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and the Seamen’s Pavilion; and commercial arcade buildings such as the Aiqun Building, the Nanfang Building, the Municipal Bank Building, the Provincial Bank Building, the New Asia Hotel, and those spread across Guangzhou’s main commercial streets (arcade commercial streets).

In fact, commercial arcade architecture first appeared over 2,000 years ago in ancient Greece, later becoming popular in Europe, and only spreading to various parts of the world in modern times. The "arcade" part of commercial buildings extends over the sidewalk at the front half of the structure, connecting along the street to form a free-flowing pedestrian corridor that can stretch for hundreds or even one or two thousand meters. There is a saying in Guangzhou: “The child’s face changes in an instant,” which refers to the rapidly changing weather. Arcades are perfectly suited to this climate, quickly becoming all the rage throughout Guangzhou and gradually forming the city’s dominant street scene. Arcade buildings are particularly concentrated on commercial streets such as Shifu Road, Shangxiajiu Road, Zhongshan Road, Jiefang Road, Renmin South Road, and Yide Road. The area around Xihoukou boasts the most impressive arcades: the New Asia Hotel, the Nanfang Building, and the Aiqun Building were all standout examples of early arcade architecture in Guangzhou. After the 1960s, this style was rarely adopted in newly built commercial districts in Guangzhou.

The Aiqun Hotel

The Aiqun Hotel

The Aiqun Hotel