Xiguan

Xiguan or Sai Kwan (simplified Chinese: 西关; traditional Chinese: 西關; pinyin: Xīguān; Jyutping: Sai1 Gwaan1; literally: "West Gate") is a traditional geographical division of Guangzhou, China. It is the former name of the Liwan District that reaches Xicun (Chinese: 西村; pinyin: Xīcūn; Jyutping: Sai1 Cyun1; literally: "West Village") in the north and borders on Renmin Road (人民路) to the east. The Pearl River lies to its west and south. The area outside the west gate of Guangzhou was collectively called Xiguan during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing Dynasties (1644–1911), a name that remains in use today.

Name

In the past, Guangzhou, or commonly called the capital of Guangdong Province (Chinese: 省城; pinyin: Shěngchéng; Jyutping: Saang2 Seng4) had three city gates respectively on its east, south and west. They are Dongguan (Chinese: 東關; pinyin: Dōngguān; Jyutping: Dung1 Gwaan1; literally: "East Gate"), Nanguan (Chinese: 南關; pinyin: Nánguān; Jyutping: Naam4 Gwaan1; literally: "South Gate") and Xiguan (Chinese: 西關; pinyin: Xīguān; Jyutping: Sai1 Gwaan1; literally: "West Gate"). There are mountains in the north of the city so there was no such thing called Beiguan (Chinese: 北關; pinyin: Běiguān; Jyutping: Bak7 Gwaan1; literally: "North Gate"). Guan (Chinese: 關; pinyin: guān; Jyutping: gwaan1) means gate in Chinese. Thus, Xiguan refers to the area outside the west gate of Guangzhou.