Ningning Lu and I spent the afternoon in search of Xiguan mansions (historic Guangzhou style houses) — the first phase of our research for a new project in Guangzhou. Wandering the back lanes and alleys of the Liwan district behind Shangxiajiu Promenade 上下九步行街, we saw dozens of the main wooden doors accompanied by a Tanglong (horizontal wooden bars) and a pair of 'café style' outer doors at the entrance.
Peeking through the open doors, some are homes, some shops, some restaurants — the interior is very symmetrically structured; from the front to the back of the house is the portal, the hallway, the main hall, the first room, the second hall and the back room. There should also be a patio and garden inside.
