Taiwan Media Looks at Mainland China: Yearbook of Modern Architecture—Arcade Building in the Old Town of Beihai, Guangxi

　　China News Service, Beijing, February 21st Recently, Taiwan's "Economic Daily" published a report on Beihai City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, introducing the arcade buildings in the old town of Beihai, Guangxi.

　　The report pointed out that the Beihai Old Town Historical and Cultural Tourism District is the birthplace of Beihai City and consists of three streets: Zhuhai Road, Shaji Street and Zhongshan Road. Among them, Zhuhai Road Old Street is the core neighborhood of the historical and cultural city of Beihai. It was built in 1821 and has a total length of 1.27 kilometers. It is the longest straight line and the best-preserved arcade building in Lingnan. It is known as the vivid "Modern Architecture Yearbook" .

Zhuhai Road old street arcade building. Image source: Taiwan's "Economic Daily"

　　In 1876, Beihai became one of the foreign trade ports. Influenced by Western culture, the biggest feature of the old town is the combination of Chinese and Western architectural styles, and the integration of Chinese and Western cultural life. Before 1927, Zhuhai Road was the most prosperous commercial district in Beihai, with rows of shops. The middle section mainly sold Suzhou and Hangzhou silk and satin, the eastern section sold seafood and dry goods, and the western section was close to Waisha Port. The shops mainly sold fishermen's supplies.

　　As time goes by, although the prosperity is no longer there, the architecture of the old street has deep regional characteristics. Shu Yi, the son of the famous writer Lao She, once pointed out that Zhuhai Road is exactly the same as Singapore’s national treasure Old Street. British architecture expert Rhett Butler also believes that the historical and cultural value of Zhuhai Road is of great significance to Beihai, South China, the whole of China and the world.

　　Zhuhai Road, an old street with a history of nearly 200 years, has absorbed the characteristics of Lingnan and Western architectural art styles, presenting a layout of front shops and back houses, with features such as mid-top shops, drag cage doors, and Western-style parapet decoration. Along the street are arcade-style buildings that combine Chinese and Western styles. Influenced by Western scroll-style buildings such as consulates built by Britain, France, Germany and other countries at the end of the 19th century, the tops of windows on street walls are mostly scroll-arch structures, with carved lines on the outer edges and tops of window columns, forming exquisitely crafted aerial windows. Sculpture Gallery. The arcade part is the extension of the road to both sides and the extension of the pavement outwards. Passers-by walking under the arcade can not only protect themselves from rain and sun, but also enjoy shopping.

Zhuhai Road Old Street. Image source: Taiwan's "Economic Daily"

　　Beihai has existed as a trading city since its birth. The old streets took shape in response to the development of commerce, laying the foundation for urban life. In its heyday, Beihai City was a major commercial port in South China, with numerous business houses and every inch of land was worth a lot of money. In the 1920s and 1930s, in addition to wine shops and singing studios, the old street also had a variety of folk entertainment activities, such as dragon dance, lion dance, movies, Cantonese opera, etc.

　　The main attractions in the old city include the Christian Chapel, Dong'an Horse Head, the former site of Sanhuang Temple, Maruichi Pharmacy, Street Ferry, etc.