荔灣，舊稱“西關(guān)”，因區(qū)內(nèi)有“一灣青水綠，兩岸荔枝紅”美譽(yù)的“荔枝灣”而得名�，F(xiàn)轄區(qū)面積16.2平方公里，常住人口50多萬，常住外來人口２０多萬。
荔灣區(qū)位于廣州繁華市區(qū)西部，地處珠江東、北岸，交通樞紐縱橫交錯；北接火車站、白云機(jī)場；南有人民橋、珠江隧道貫通珠江兩岸；西邊有珠江大橋飛架東西，連通南海、佛山；西南有京廣鐵路廣州貨運(yùn)南站及廣州港新風(fēng)作業(yè)碼頭；更有107國道，廣佛高速公路連接廣深高速公路，直通香港。廣州地鐵１號線縱貫全區(qū)，形成海、陸、空立體交通網(wǎng)絡(luò)，使荔灣區(qū)的地理位置得天獨(dú)厚，為商家必爭之地。
百年華埠耀寰宇--上下九步行街，是中國最繁華的商業(yè)步行街之一，是廣州市標(biāo)志性形象工程，被譽(yù)為"羊城十大旅游美景 --西關(guān)商廊"。整條街由風(fēng)格獨(dú)特、古色古香的騎樓茶樓建筑組成，是南歐建筑與廣州特色相結(jié)合的產(chǎn)物。街內(nèi)還有中國數(shù)一數(shù)二的玉器市場-華林寺玉器街和著名的國家級農(nóng)副產(chǎn)品市場和中藥材市場--清平市場。1400多年前，印度高僧達(dá)摩到中國傳教，首先在西關(guān)下九路登陸（今"西來初地"），并建"西來庵"（今華林寺），開創(chuàng)了中國佛教禪宗和嵩山少林寺。自1995年上下九步行街開通以來，已先后接待了江澤民、李鵬、、朱镕基、葉選平、董建華等領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人。
通商口岸譽(yù)古今--"十三行"早在明末清初，就是中國對外貿(mào)易的唯一通商口岸；沙面島過去是英、法等國的租界，是當(dāng)今中國最富有歐陸風(fēng)情的地方之一，島內(nèi)坐落著上百棟集歐美各國20世紀(jì)初風(fēng)格的建筑，名木古樹林立，眺望珠江白鵝潭，更有江闊天高、氣象萬千之感！
"西關(guān)美食"甲天下--力求"色香味形意"完美結(jié)合，享有"食在荔灣"之盛譽(yù)。南信雙皮奶、歐成記上湯鮮蝦云吞面、德昌咸煎餅、荔灣艇仔粥等等，數(shù)量多達(dá)數(shù)百種；以陶陶居、趣香餅家、蓮香樓、榮華等為代表的廣式月餅蜚聲海內(nèi)外，遠(yuǎn)銷世界各地。
民俗風(fēng)情垂青史--西關(guān)除以端莊淑雅、追求新潮的"西關(guān)小姐"遐爾聞名外，書畫、粵劇等也有獨(dú)特的成就。嶺南畫派創(chuàng)始于西關(guān)；粵曲、粵劇群眾基礎(chǔ)深厚，有幾十個"私伙局"，素有＂粵劇曲藝之鄉(xiāng)＂之稱。
建筑文化冠南粵--陳氏書院是全國重點(diǎn)文物保護(hù)單位，代表了嶺南建筑藝術(shù)的最高成就，石雕、磚雕、木雕、陶雕、泥雕、鐵鑄、門畫、壁畫布滿了全部廳堂和廊廡，造型美觀，工藝精巧。郭沫若曾贊嘆道："天工人可代，人工天不逾"！早在20年代，陳氏書院就被國際學(xué)者載入世界性代表建筑之一。西關(guān)大屋是最具西關(guān)民俗風(fēng)情特色的建筑，裝飾講究、工藝精美，趟攏門、滿洲窗獨(dú)具特色。
粵劇鑾輿堂
粵劇蠻輿堂位于西關(guān)恩寧路永慶二巷7號之一。鑾輿堂原是粵劇八和會館屬下的德和堂，德和堂是粵劇的武家堂口，后改稱為鑾輿堂。門口兩扇高4米、寬1.1米、厚0.08米，一整塊無駁口的大木門，原為黃沙八和會館大門，經(jīng)歷了一百多年歷史，極為罕見，有著一段傳奇的故事，它雖然歷盡了滄桑，飽經(jīng)戰(zhàn)火，但卻無損傷，并曾在羊城國際粵劇藝術(shù)博覽會展示過。寬敞的大廳，擺放著酸枝臺椅，陳設(shè)古色古香，廳堂還保存著已故武功師傅梁金峰捐贈的紅船木樁和師傅自拍練武功108種招式的照片，以傳后人。二樓設(shè)有華光寶殿，寶殿高3米、寬2.7米、深為0.9米，配以用錦緞制成的具有傳統(tǒng)色彩的橫衽、長幡、臺圍等。里面擺放著用樟木雕刻而成的田竇二師、張騫師父、華光師父幾位先師像，每年農(nóng)歷三月二十四日、二十八和九月二十八日分別為行拜紀(jì)念師父的寶誕，尤以農(nóng)歷九月二十八日紀(jì)念華光師父的寶誕特別隆重，前來行拜的有二、三百人之多，熱鬧非凡。傳說華光師父是天上火神，屬救命師父，又稱"三眼華光"。遠(yuǎn)至美國三藩市、新加坡、香港等地粵劇同仁都分別舉行紀(jì)念華光先師的盛會。
八和會館
粵劇不似京劇昆曲，被舊世之人稱為“國粹”，可它卻獨(dú)具一個風(fēng)情萬種的浪漫雅號——“南國紅豆”。有詩言道“南國紅豆寄相思”，由此不難聯(lián)想，那九曲回腸、鉆云破霧的凄厲柔婉之粵曲，寄托呈遞的也正是粵人原汁原味的心聲故情和衷懷鄉(xiāng)韻吧…… 西關(guān)有一條馬路叫“恩寧路”。在這條馬路上，曾經(jīng)幾立著一個全世界華人僑胞都耳熟能詳、神往眷戀的傳奇式建筑——八和會館；人們對它的名字之熟悉恍若如雷貫耳，余韻繞梁，那種親近之情并不亞于第十甫。
“八和會館”是粵劇藝人的行會，從前稱為"瓊花會館"，當(dāng)時(shí)設(shè)于佛山。因粵劇藝人參加太平天國革命，"瓊花會館"于咸豐4年（1845年）被清政府夷為平地，粵劇藝人連遭殺害，走投無路的粵劇藝人們便無奈背井離鄉(xiāng)，有的漂洋過海，遠(yuǎn)走南洋，有的則逃到西關(guān)的黃沙。清末光緒15年（公元1889年），粵劇藝人受難者得到了一個讀書人梁同善大義凜然無私鼎助，即幫助他們上訴朝廷并最終獲得勝訴，粵劇藝術(shù)才得以重見天日，得以復(fù)活。自那時(shí)起，“置之死地而后生”的粵劇人士揚(yáng)眉吐氣地在黃沙買地，并建起一座可容千人居住的大廈——八和會館，令舉世華人震驚又振奮，于是紛紛相傳互告，成為傳奇美談。而名不見經(jīng)傳的黃沙自有了八和會館后，日漸興旺發(fā)達(dá)起來，成為西關(guān)旺地鬧市，也成了舊廣州一大聲色犬馬的風(fēng)情景觀。
在繁囂的滾滾市聲里，八和會館像一座“火樹銀花不夜天”的娛樂城，燈飾璀璨，夜夜笙歌，粵劇紅伶名優(yōu)競相登臺亮藝，接戲賣戲；戲迷票友“追星族”們更是欣喜若狂地聽?wèi)螯c(diǎn)戲，捧戲歡戲，大批的粵劇“發(fā)燒友”們就是從那年月應(yīng)運(yùn)而生、形成氣候的吧！
1937年，日本戰(zhàn)機(jī)轟炸廣州，"八和會館"被炸得煙飛灰滅�？箲�(zhàn)勝利后的第二年（1946年），海外"八和"子弟希望復(fù)合，再次舉行義演籌款，在恩寧路重建"八和會館"，并改名為"廣東省粵劇八和聯(lián)誼會"。所謂"八和"，就是八個"行頭"組成，包括戲服、演員、樂器、掛畫等，缺一不可。
建于舊城區(qū)民居之間的"八和會館"來頭可是不小，面積雖小，但它對粵劇藝人的凝聚力和吸引力卻是奇大的。會館的三面墻壁上都張貼著有關(guān)演出的宣傳海報(bào)，和歷代穗港粵劇名人的劇照，一張張熟悉的面孔，計(jì)有著名的陳醒漢、關(guān)德興、靚少佳、任劍輝和白雪仙、梁醒波、鄧碧云等等粵劇名人，還有大家熟悉的香港影視名人，如汪明荃、羅家英、李香琴、鄭少秋等等。 "八和"在世界各地都有分會，凡有華人的地方，只要有粵劇，就有八和會館。因?yàn)閺V州八和悠久的歷史淵源和深厚的文化底蘊(yùn)，世界各地的八和便尊其為祖。每年的師傅誕，廣州、香港的八和成員都會聚首一堂，而廣州八和會館就成了主要基地。此外，會員還特地在廣州興建了粵劇八和公墓，顯示八和子弟同心同德，心心相連。
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Liwan, traditionally known as Xiguan, is named after Lizhi Wan (Litchi Bay) in the district which is depicted by a poet as "Green water in the bay, red litchis on both banks." The district occupies an area of 16.2 square kilometers with a permanent population of 500,000, and more than 200,000 non-permanent residents.
Liwan District is located in the west of downtown Guangzhou, on the east and north bank of the Pearl River. It is the center for transportation with the railway station and Baiyun International Airport to its north, Renmin Bridge and Pearl River Tunnel to its south connecting both banks of the river, Pearl River Bridge to its west connecting Nanhai and Foshan, Guangzhou South freight terminal of Beijing-Guangzhou Railway and Guangzhou Xinfeng Dock to its southwest, 107 National Highway and Guangzhou-Foshan Highway connecting with Guangzhou-Shenzhen Highway toward Hong Kong, Number One Route of Guangzhou Subway passing through the entire district; all these create a complete transportation network including water, land and air routes in the district. Liwan District is therefore a unique attraction for business people.
Shangxiajiu Pedestrians' Shopping Street is a prosperous commercial society, with a history of more than one hundred years, and is one of the most bustling commercial pedestrians' shopping streets in China and a trademark project of the city. It is also known as the Xiguan Commercial Corridor and is one of the Top Ten Guangzhou Tourist Attractions. The street is composed of the unique and ancient architecture of qilou and teahouses, featuring the characteristics of south European and local styles. The street hosts Hualin Temple Jadeware Street, the number one jadeware market in China, and Qingping Market, national market for agricultural and sideline products as well as traditional Chinese medicinal materials. More than 1,400 years ago, Dharma, an accomplished Indian monk who came to China as a missionary, firstly landed at Xiajiu Road (today's Xilaichudi, the first landing place of the westerners) and constructed Xilai Temple (today's Hualin Temple), paving the way for establishing Chinese Buddhism Zen and Shaolin Temple at Mount Song. Shangxiajiu Pedestrians' Shopping Street was opened in 1995 and since then, many top state officials including Jiang Zemin, Li Peng, Zhu Rongji, Ye Xuanping and Tung Chee-hwa have visited the place.
Shisanhang (Thirteen Hongs) was a famous treaty port at the end of Ming Dynasty and the beginning of Qing Dynasty. It was the only treaty port open for foreign businessmen in China. Shamian Islet used to be the foreign settlement for Britain and France and is now one of the places with the most characteristic European style in China. There are more than one hundred examples of 20th century European and American architecture. These stand among the ancient woods, overlooking the White Swan Pond of the Pearl River, where you can enjoy wide and variable views.
Xiguan is a Heaven for Gourmets: the local cuisine combines color, flavor, taste, presenting a form and implied connotation to produce perfect food; Liwan District is accordingly known as the heaven for gourmets. There are hundreds of famous foods here including Nanxin double layer milk custard, Ouchengji fresh shrimp wonton and noodle with broth, Dechang salted fried pancake, Liwan boat porridge. The Cantonese style moon cake is popular throughout the world with Taotaoju, Quxiang Cake house, Lianxianglou and Ronghua as its leading producers.
Xiguan is famous for its historical folk customs: graceful, gentle and fashionable Xiguan Ladies, painting and calligraphy as well as Cantonese opera. The famous Lingnan (south of the five ridges) painting school originated from Xiguan; both Guangdong music and Guangdong opera enjoy great popularity among local people here, where there are dozens of private opera troupes, making Xiguan the Hometown of Cantonese Opera.
Top architectural culture in south Guangdong: Chens Academy is a key historical site and enjoys national protection and demonstrates the highest achievements of Lingnan architecture. The main halls and corridors are decorated with stone, brick, wood, porcelain, and clay carvings, iron casts, door paintings and wall paintings. All of these are exquisitely made with skillful techniques. Guo Moruo once praised: "People can produce what the nature produces, yet the nature can not surpass what people produce." In the 1920s, Chens Academy was listed as one of the world's architectural masterpieces by international scholars. Xiguan civil house demonstrates the unique style of the place and houses with the collection of Xiguan folk customs, featuring detailed decoration, exquisite handcrafts, Tang Long doors and Manchu windows.
Guangdong Opera Luanyu Hall
Guangdong Opera Luanyu Hall is located at 7-1, Yongqing Lane 2, Ennin Road, Xiguan. Luanyutang used to be called Dehe Hall, a branch of Guangdong Opera Bahe Hall and an acrobatic school of Guangdong Opera. It has a wooden gate, measuring 4m x 1.1m x 0.08m and has no cracks. It was the former gate of Huangsha Bahe Hall. After more than one hundred years of weathering and wars, it is as new as it was then. It was once an exhibit at a Guangzhou opera exposition. The spacious hall is furnished with suanzhi tables and chairs in ancient styles, a red boat stump donated by Liang Jinfeng, the ex-martial skill master, and photos of his 108 martial skills to be learned by younger generations. The Huaguang Palace on the second floor, measuring 3m x 2.7m x 0.9m, is decorated with traditional brocade streamers and table coverings. In the palace are carved figures of Master Tian and Master Dou, Master Zhang Qian and Master Huaguang. On the lunar dates of March 24, 28 and September 28, their masters' respective birthdays, especially on September 29, the birthday of Master Huaguang, the birthday anniversary ceremony is the grandest with over two hundred worshipers present. It is believed that Master Huaguang is the God of Fire and is a savior master also known as three-eyed Huaguang. Guangdong opera artists in San Francisco, Singapore and Hong Kong all respectively hold grand ceremonies in memory of Master Huaguang.
Bahe Hall
Unlike Beijing opera or Kunqu opera, Guangdong opera is not celebrated outside China, but it has gained a poetic name, "Red Bean in the Southern Land". As a poem goes, "Red bean in the southern land is a carrier of love." The name reminds us of the sad touching melody that touches the heart and soul of the Guangdong people for it is a faithful expression of their nostalgia in their minds.
At Xiguan there is a road called Enning Road. By this road there used to be some novel architecture known to every overseas Chinese, Bahe Hall. This name is thunderous, lingering and intimate to Bahe artists no less than Dishifu.
Bahe Hall is a professional society of Guangdong opera artists, established in Foshan and formerly known as "Qionghua Hall". As Guangdong opera artists were involved in Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Qionghua Hall was destroyed by the Qing government in the 4th year of Emperor Xianfeng's rule, with some artists killed. Some left their homes or went abroad and some fled to Huangsha of Xiguan.
In the 15th year of Emperor Guangxu's rule and at the end of the Qing Dynasty (1889), Guangdong opera artists gained the support from Liang Tongshan, a scholar who firmly upheld justice and helped them by appealing to the imperial court and finally won the case. Guangdong opera was justified and regained its glory. After that, the survivors bought land at Huangsha and constructed a huge building which could accommodate a thousand people. The building was Bahe Hall and it surprised and encouraged the Chinese all over the world. Bahe was alive as a wonder in people's conversation. Huangsha, which had remained unknown before, grew to be a busy business center of Xiguan and brought Guangzhou to her heyday because of all the sensual pleasures.
In the noisy city, Bahe Hall was a recreational resort during sleepless nights. It was bustling with bright and colorful fireworks, brilliant lights, music and singing, with renowned Guangdong opera reformers on the stage and with talks and negotiations going on about performances. Numerous opera fans, amateurs and admirers were mad about operas, choosing and listening to operas while making excited comments. Large numbers of Guangdong opera fanciers emerged and gained a reputation at the right moment.
In 1937, Bahe Hall was bombarded and raised to the ground by Japanese planes. Two years after the victory over Japan (1946), overseas Bahe artists all hoped to restore their society. They put on charity performances to collect money and constructed the present Guangdong Opera Bahe Friendship Promotion Society formerly known as Bahe Hall. Bahe refers to the eight costumes and paraphernalia put together, including costumes, actors and actresses, musical instruments, paintings, etc. which are indispensable for opera performances.
Bahe Hall is significant although it is small and located among the urban houses. It is a tremendous attraction with great cohesiveness to Guangdong opera artists. On the three walls of the hall are posters depicting performances, photographs of great Guangdong opera artists who are familiar to opera fans, such as Chen Xinghan, Guan Dexing, Liang Shaojia, Ren Jianhui, Baixuexian, Liang Xingbo and Deng Biyun and also well-known movie and TV artists from Hong Kong, such as Wang Mingquan, Luo Jiaying, Li Xiangqin and Zhen Shaoqiu. Bahe Hall has branches everywhere in the world where there are Chinese and Guangdong opera performances. Bahe artists all over the world deem Guangzhou Bahe as the origin of Bahe arts for her historical connection with the world and her cultural profundity. On every birthday anniversary of the Bahe masters, Bahe artists from Guangzhou and Hong Kong gather at Bahe Hall, the center of Bahe artists. A public Bahe graveyard has been constructed in Guangzhou as a token of Bahe spirit and morality. |
