I. The Time Narrative of a Century-Old Street: From Ying’en Street to a National Cultural and Tourism Landmark
Stepping into Sunwen West Road in Shiqi Subdistrict, Zhongshan City, the direction that the bluestone slab road extends hides the century-old memories of Xiangshan, a hometown of overseas Chinese. Formerly known as “Ying’en Street”, this road was renamed “Sunwen Road” in 1925 to commemorate Dr. Sun Yat-sen and has since become the core vein of Zhongshan’s commerce and culture. Today’s Sunwen West Road Cultural Tourism Pedestrian Street, over 500 meters long, is lined with dozens of century-old Southeast Asian-style buildings on both sides—the arcades and carved window lintels of late 19th-century European colonial style are perfectly integrated with the sunshade and rain shelter corridors of Lingnan arcades. Between the blue brick walls and wooden floors, historical traces such as the carved lintel of “Fushoutang” and the old signboard of “Shiqi Hotel” can still be found.
This “Eurasian mixed” architectural style is a cultural gift brought back by overseas Chinese who went abroad to make a living. The renovation project has always adhered to the principle of “restoring old buildings to their original state”. The construction team used dry ice peeling technology to remove later coatings, revealing the original blue bricks of overseas Chinese houses and marks such as bullet holes, and restored precious relics such as the Republic of China-style lanterns and square ancient wells. From the completion of the two-phase renovation in 1997, to the joint creation of a “T”-shaped experience block with Xingzhong Square in 2013, and then to being rated as a provincial-level tourism and leisure block in 2021 and entering the national list in 2023, this century-old street has been revitalized while being protected, becoming an urban living room integrating shopping, recreation, sightseeing and leisure.
II. In-Depth Check-In of Core Attractions: The Two-Way Journey of History and Trend
(I) Historical Building Cluster: Touching the Glory of the Overseas Chinese Merchant Era
- Former Site of Wing On Company: Representing the leading business giants of Xiangshan, this Southeast Asian arcade retains the European-style dome and carved railings of that year and was once the top department store in South China. Although the interior of the building has now been transformed into a commercial format, the retro signboard and arcade columns on the exterior wall still make people imagine the prosperous scene of “goods circulating between China and foreign countries”.
- Former Site of Sihao Grand Hotel: Known as the “No.1 Building in Zhongshan” during the Republic of China, the Roman columns on the arcade facade complement the Lingnan Manchu windows. It was once a gathering place for political and business celebrities, and today, through the renovated glass windows, one can still glimpse the glamorous years behind the revolving door back then.
- Xiangshan Commercial and Cultural Museum: China’s first special museum of commercial culture, hidden in a century-old arcade at No.152 Sunwen West Road (former site of Shiqi General Chamber of Commerce). The museum is open for free (9:00-17:00, admission stops at 16:30). Through exhibits such as old firm contracts and overseas Chinese merchants’ relics, it fully presents the changes of Xiangshan from the “starting point of the Maritime Silk Road” to the “cradle of modern commerce”. It was also rated as a “Chinese Cultural Heritage Base” in 2007.
(II) Xingzhong Square: The Trendy Flagship on the Riverside
Completed in 2013, Xingzhong Square is positioned as the “premier riverside commercial flagship in West Pearl River Delta”, perfectly integrating Southeast Asian style with modern commerce. Its “one river and two streets” pattern is a highlight—the Qijiang River winds through, the Southeast Asian-style shopping street is full of cultural and creative trendy brands and time-honored brands, and the riverside food and bar street gathers flavors from all over the world. Must-experience items include:
- Colorful Ferris Wheel: The 108-meter-high “Eye of Zhongshan”, whose light show at night reflects with the Qijiang River, is the best viewing angle to overlook the night view of the “two banks of one river” (it is recommended to take it after 19:00 to avoid daytime exposure).
- Vintage Car Museum: It houses dozens of classic vintage cars, from Republic of China-style sedans to retro sports cars, each carrying the memories of the times.
- Giant Screen Cinema and Cultural and Creative Space: In the seventh-generation shopping center-style lifestyle mall, there are not only fashion department stores and giant screen cinemas, but also intangible cultural heritage studios and master workshops, meeting diverse consumption needs.
(III) Characteristic Experience Zones: Coexistence of Fireworks and Literary Style
- Riverside Lingnan-style Bar Street: After nightfall, the bar street by the Qijiang River is full of vitality. Live band performances, Southeast Asian food stalls and river breeze accompany each other, making it the first choice for young people’s nightlife.
- Back Streets and Mountain Landscapes: In recent years, renovated back streets such as Fufengli and Qinglongli have connected the Yandun Mountain leisure trail and viewing platform. Climbing the mountain allows you to overlook the panoramic view of the block, and along the way, there are old Zhongshan tea shops and Southeast Asian-style experience zones.
III. Ultra-Practical Travel Guide: Unlocking Transportation, Routes and Food
(I) Transportation Guide
- Bus: Take buses No.001, 002, 005, 009, etc., to the “Sunwen West Road Cultural Tourism Pedestrian Street” station and walk 2 minutes to the entrance.
- Self-Driving: It is recommended to park at the intelligent parking lot at the junction of Guangming Road and Fengming Road (76 parking spaces) or the parking lot at No.10 Zhuqiwei (8 parking spaces). It is free within 30 minutes, 5 yuan within 1 hour, and a maximum of 24 yuan for 24 hours; you can also choose the parking lot on the northwest side of Sunwen West Road Department Store Building.
- Direct Access via Shenzhong Channel: Departing from Shenzhen via the Shenzhong Channel, you can arrive within 1 hour. There are exclusive check-in points for the Shenzhong “Qi” Encounter Season around the scenic area.
(II) One-Day Tour Golden Route
- Pre-tour & Morning Meal
- Starting Point: Morning Morning Fireworks
- Breakfast Option: Haohui Restaurant, featuring signature Meatball Porridge and Pig Intestine Noodles (with strong local characteristics)
- Morning Historical Tour (Core Attractions)This section focuses on cultural and historical exploration, with the following spots in sequence:
- Xiangshan Commercial and Cultural Museum: Free admission, recommended visit duration of 1.5 hours (suitable for understanding local commercial and cultural history)
- Former Site of Wing On Company: A must-visit for photo check-ins (with retro architectural style, easy to take nostalgic photos)
- Former Site of Sihao Grand Hotel: For in-depth historical exploration (can learn about the city’s past hotel and industry development)
- Afternoon Leisure & ExperienceThe afternoon is dominated by slow-paced leisure and characteristic tasting, including three types of activities:
- Food Experience: Lailong Dim Sum (authentic Cantonese morning tea) and Sun Qizhen Tea House (tasting overseas Chinese hometown-style tea and snacks)
- Shopping & Cultural Creation: Visit cultural and creative stores such as Fanhua Creation or Juixiang Garden (can buy local cultural and creative souvenirs)
- Night Tour of Qijiang River (Nighttime Amusement)The night itinerary is centered around the Qijiang River and its surrounding areas, combining dinner, amusement and relaxation:
- Dinner Options: Southeast Asian cuisine or Hong Kong and Macao-style dishes at restaurants near Xingzhong Square
- Scenic Experience: Ride the Colorful Ferris Wheel to enjoy the night view of the city and the river
- Leisure Time: Visit Binjiang Bar Street for a relaxed “tipsy time” (suitable for relaxing after a day of traveling)
(III) Must-Eat Food List
- Time-Honored Classics:
- Haohui Restaurant: Representative of old Shiqi breakfast, with fresh and chewy meatball porridge and pig intestine noodles drizzled with garlic sauce, which is full of aroma.
- Juixiang Garden: A century-old brand, freshly baked almond cakes and chicken cakes are the first choice for souvenirs.
- Meiyile: A local ice cream brand in Zhongshan, classic mung bean sand ice is essential for relieving summer heat.
- Southeast Asian and Lingnan Fusion Dishes:
- Nanchenghang Southeast Asian Restaurant: Southeast Asian flavors in an arcade, with Tom Yum Goong soup and curry beef brisket worth trying.
- Shiwei Xiangshan Food Zone: Retro stalls bring back childhood flavors such as glass factory snow bricks and tofu pudding, and there are also intangible cultural heritage food performances.
(IV) Accommodation Recommendations
- Jingdesen Business Travel Hotel: With a modern design style, it is a 10-minute walk from the pedestrian street, suitable for both business and leisure.
- High-End Homestays: Newly added overseas Chinese hometown-themed homestays around the block retain the characteristics of arcade buildings, and some can overlook the night view of the Qijiang River.
(V) Notes
- Best Time to Visit: It is recommended to arrange one day. Visit historical buildings and museums in the morning, experience cultural and creative products and food in the afternoon, and enjoy the Ferris wheel night view in the evening. During holidays, there are also intangible cultural heritage parades and concerts.
- Activity Information: Follow the official WeChat account “Cultural Tourism Zhongshan” or the mini-program “Smart Tour Zhongshan” to check the latest activities (such as Golden Land Concert, Guochao Travel Photography Show). Some activities can exchange tickets with consumption vouchers.
- Photography Tips: The best shooting spots are the arcade columns, old signboards, Ferris wheel and Qijiang River in the same frame. It is recommended to wear light-colored clothes, and the light in the early morning or evening is the best for taking photos.
- Shopping Recommendations: In addition to specialties such as almond cakes and chicken cakes, you can buy intangible cultural heritage handicrafts such as bone carvings and embroideries, or limited peripherals from Zhongshan Cultural and Creative Intangible Heritage Inheritance Hall.
IV. Conclusion: Century-Old Sunwen West Road, New Surprises Every Time
From the mottled brick walls of arcades to the bright lights of the Ferris wheel, from the legendary stories of overseas Chinese merchants to the trendy gathering place for young people, the charm of Sunwen West Road lies in being “old but not declining, new but not impetuous”. Here, there are both the tumbling dances of the national intangible cultural heritage Liufang Cloud Dragon and the passionate performances of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Pop Music Week; one can not only enjoy a cup of time-precipitated tea in an old teahouse, but also encounter the collision of tradition and modernity in a cultural and creative store.
As a national-level tourism and leisure block, it is not only Zhongshan’s city card, but also a model of cultural and tourism integration in the Greater Bay Area. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a food lover, a parent-child family or a young trendsetter, you can find your own fun here—after all, in the embrace of the Qijiang River and arcades, every step is at the intersection of history and the present.
