The Charm of Xiguan, the Essence of Old Guangzhou, Brought into a Hotel

Xiguan's old houses in Guangzhou had become a place I almost "forgot" because I had been there countless times. Whenever friends visited Guangzhou for the first time, I would take them to Liwan District, where Xiguan's old houses are concentrated. Although few buildings in this area can now be called true Xiguan houses, the Xiguan Folk Custom Museum, transformed from an old Xiguan house, still showcases the rich local characteristics of Manchuria windows, transom windows, wooden stairs, and carvings, creating a strong Lingnan charm. The charm of Xiguan always has its exquisite aspects and encapsulates the essence of Guangzhou. 1. Now, Conrad Guangzhou has "moved" Xiguan's old houses into the hotel, using them as the main design inspiration to create a design unique to Guangzhou. From the moment you enter the lobby, you can see the comfortable and elegant atmosphere created by the custom-made chandeliers. The basic inspiration for the hotel lobby comes from Manchuria windows. By using the unique patterns of these windows and combining them with the lanterns above the lobby, the design is both traditional and grand. 2. Having had many opportunities to visit hotels, I've increasingly found that spiral staircases have become a major feature of hotel design. Conrad Guangzhou is no exception. This ten-meter-high spiral staircase, leading from the lobby to the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors, is custom-made in collaboration with Lasvit, a top glass manufacturer in the Czech Republic. It is composed of a total of 360 copper frames and crystal glass panels, making it a beautiful and unique piece of art. 3. If you pay close attention, you'll find that the handrails of the spiral staircase are wrapped in woven leather, offering a pleasant tactile experience. This texture represents the comfort and luxury that the Conrad brand stands for. Later, I learned that the hotel chose "Xiguan's old houses" as its design inspiration because they represent a bygone era of luxurious and distinctive lifestyle, combining the southern Chinese lifestyle represented by Guangzhou with elements of Western cultural exchange. The Conrad hotel brand, on the other hand, represents a modern, fashionable, and luxurious lifestyle. This is a perfect parallel and match. 4. Take a closer look at the background wall of the lobby check-in area. The embedded metal artwork is inspired by the "Thirteen Hongs," specialized trading companies licensed by the Qing government in Guangzhou during the period of foreign trade. In the elevator waiting area leading to the guest rooms, there is a ceramic sculpture titled "Untitled" by Wang Qi from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. It consists of seven square ceramic layers stacked on top of each other, symbolizing rising step by step. 5. While strolling around the hotel, I also discovered that in addition to the art installations, the paintings selected and displayed in the public areas, guest rooms, and even bathrooms, all have an artistic and humanistic atmosphere. These decorative paintings are more or less related to the Lingnan style of Guangzhou, depicting the flowers and trees that bloom all year round, the evergreen scenery of Guangzhou, scenes from the daily life of traditional Lingnan dwellings, and Lingnan rooftops under the blue sky and white clouds. 6. Speaking of emerald green, I particularly like how the hotel's Conrad Suite uses and interprets this color, which is not easy to control. It creates a touch of freshness and lightness. This color scheme represents a bright spot in the ordinary streets built with Lingnan gray bricks and solid wood, and also reflects the cheerful and straightforward character of Cantonese people. This emerald green brings a refreshing feeling and injects inspiration and richness into the Lingnan Xiguan retro style. 7. Unlike the Conrad Suite, the Presidential Suite is adorned with a touch of antique Chinese red. The suite is designed based on the aristocratic mansions in modern Lingnan history, creating an elegant and natural atmosphere reminiscent of the grand Lingnan families of the past.