Dong Shankou: The Romantic Nature of Guangzhou — The guardian of hidden history and antique culture

It’s 7’o clock in the morning. Buses and cars start crashing in on the streets while subways cut through the world of the underground. And as the shrieking sounds of the big machines fill the air, the city wakes up with people rushing in different directions. Lining up for a cup of coffee and wiping away the weary look from yesterday, we are walking under the dome of modern culture.

But just for a second, there seems to be a distant yawn coming from the depths of the city — everything but theskyscrapers in Zhujiang New Town (CBD of Guangzhou). It is Dong Shankou, the romantic nature of Guangzhou.

Dong Shankou, a secret jam of antique beauty

Wandering in the alleys, crossing through delicate buildings of quaint elegance, past a vintage garden that smells of blossoming cercis and roses, explorers of this hidden land might find themselves lost in the Neverland of the last century — the time of Qipao — composed yet romantic, steady and refined. And as beams of sunshine fall through the morning breeze, reliefs on the red brick walls will tell stories of the hidden history of Guangzhou.

Lanes covered with fallen cercis petals, delicate balconies whose colors have faded, a cat is yawning as it lay on a bike. The old are chatting as they wander along those winding paths. And just around the corner of a back alley, the young are enjoying sips of latte in a coffee shop while a fluffy cat with a pouty faceis laying on the counter. It might sounds a bit surprising, but in this secret garden just two blocks away from those busy flyovers, a modern art gallery could be found in an antique palace built in last century. The beautiful tune of Chinese zithers sneaks out of a stylish music workshop and lingers around the old neighbourhood, and when the night falls, neon lights inside of the music houses will bring the old neighbourhood back to life again.

Beams of sunlight fall on the red brick walls

Pressure airs away in thecozy atmosphere

Among all those roses, bushes and vintage four-story buildings, the Kui Palace (逵园) stands in silence and pride. Known as one of the eight most famous historic palaces in Guangzhou, Kui Palace has become a popular art gallery after a long period of eclipse. Artists of the new generation from all over the world, young students after class, local residents who just finish lunch — the gate of Kui, the palace of both history and modern art, welcomes everyone, as does Dong Shankou. Despite the seasons of blossoms, of palm trees, of falling leaves and of gloomy chill, there will always be somewhere like the Kui Palace, ART23, or Badmarket that treasures the sentimental joy of exploring the combination of both antique and modern culture.

The world of art inside the Kui Palace

The combination of both modern and historic art is everywhere

Lining up for a cup of, catching up with an early bus, or rushing to the subway, we are all heading for a certain destination along a certain road. But look around. We could slow down if we wanted to; we could run away if we wanted to. We could go back to our romantic nature in the hidden gardens of Dong Shankou, enjoying a cup of real coffee in a historic four-story building and soaking our weary minds in the dream of an exotic back alley.

It’s 7’o clock in the morning. Dong Shankou is still in the middle of a dream.