Guangzhou Hidden Gem! A Gorgeous, Vintage-Style Literature Hall You Could Spend the Whole Day In! 📚

#guangzhoutrip Tucked away on Wende Road, near the lively Beijing Road and the Nanyue King Museum, stands the quietly elegant Sun Yat-sen Literature Hall — a timeless gem with a story to tell. With its red walls, green glazed tiles, and traditional palace-style architecture, the building still exudes the grandeur of its past. Step through the main gate and you’re greeted by sunlight filtering across the patterned floor tiles and tall arched windows. The vintage vibes and spacious layout feel both calming and inspiring. This place has deep cultural roots. Back in the Song Dynasty, it was home to Guangfu Academy, the earliest and most prestigious government-run school in Guangzhou. During the Southern Song period, a royal library called Yushu Pavilion was added — the earliest recorded library in the city. It played a vital role in making knowledge and books accessible to the public, breaking down social barriers around learning and sparking intellectual growth across southern China. Right in front of the current hall, you can still find the tranquil Hanmo Pool, a serene green pond dating back to 1370 — a quiet relic from the academy days. Fast forward to the 20th century: in 1927, overseas Chinese rallied to raise nearly 300,000 yuan to commemorate Sun Yat-sen by building a grand library on the original academy site. Inspired by Western libraries, it became the Guangzhou Municipal Sun Yat-sen Library, a modern marvel of its time. Today, after several transformations and relocations, the building serves as the Children’s Section of the Guangdong Sun Yat-sen Library, now known as the Sun Yat-sen Literature Hall. While it mainly hosts children’s books today, its historical spirit and graceful charm still captivate visitors. Strolling beneath the dappled shadows and by the quiet pond, it truly feels like walking into the pages of a faded book — a peaceful step back into a time full of knowledge, dreams, and legacy. 📍Location: Sun Yat-sen Literature Hall 📮Address: No. 81, North Wende Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou #travel