On October 26, 2023, the annual Historical and Cultural Science Popularization Event in Guangzhou’s Liwan District took place at the Cantonese Opera Art Museum. Professor Jiang Yinghe from the History Department of Sun Yat-sen University delivered a lecture titled “The Cultural Functions of the Western Trading Houses in Guangzhou’s Thirteen Factories,” emphasizing the significant historical role of the Thirteen Factories in Sino-foreign cultural exchanges. He described these factories as a microcosm of the blending of Chinese and Western cultures.
The event was organized by the Liwan District Committee’s Publicity Department, the National Archives of Liwan District, the Liwan District Bureau of Culture, Tourism, and Sports, and the New Era Civilization Practice Center of Liwan. In his opening remarks, Jiang clarified that the Thirteen Factories refer not only to the “Thirteen Factory Road” in downtown Guangzhou but represent a vast area of trading houses and a trade system throughout history.
During the Qing Dynasty, Guangzhou’s strategic geographical position and established trading traditions made it the primary destination for Western nations’ trade with China. According to the Qing Dynasty’s foreign affairs regulations, Western merchants were permitted to conduct trade only within designated areas outside the city, along the banks of the Pearl River. As trade progressed and management systems improved, these merchants gradually established their residences along the river, known as “foreign houses” (Western trading houses).
The Thirteen Foreign Houses served as official locations for major Western trading companies and individual merchants engaging in import and export activities, as well as their residences during their trading ventures in Guangzhou.
As trade flourished, the area along the Pearl River transformed into a diverse community, significantly contributing to cultural exchanges, diplomatic interactions, and the spread of religion, establishing the Thirteen Factories as a pivotal venue for cross-cultural dialogue and giving Guangzhou a distinct global flavor.
Jiang noted that the primary function of the Thirteen Foreign Houses was undoubtedly as a site for Sino-Western trade. This area began to emerge in the early 18th century and became more defined after the establishment of the Cohong in 1760. Its evolution reflected both the growth of Guangzhou’s trade and the contest for influence between Chinese and foreign powers.
Notably, the Western trading houses facilitated a variety of cross-cultural exchanges in science, art, and ideas. Jiang highlighted that the Dutch and British East India Companies employed artists to document local flora and fauna, taking these artworks back to their home countries. Additionally, the presence of foreign merchants influenced local culture; for example, banquet practices in the trading houses incorporated Western instruments and music, while the riverside square was transformed into one of China’s earliest Western-style gardens.
Jiang concluded by asserting that the history of Guangzhou’s Thirteen Factories is not only a reflection of the blending of Chinese and Western cultures but also an early embodiment of globalization. Through this trading platform, Guangzhou emerged as one of the centers for foreign trade, providing a unique space and opportunity for the collision and exchange of Sino-Western civilizations.
