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Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Development of the Thirteen Factories

Figure 11. Distribution of factories in 1748 – 1749 (locations marked in red circles by the authors). Source: John Friedrich Dalman. Dagbok under resån
fran Giötheborg til Canton 1748 – 1749.

factories that Western countries typically built along global quarter’s formation, with shops on either side offering a
shipping routes to address conflicts with competitors wide range of exported goods. In November 1822, a fire
and local residents, the factories in Guangzhou were destroyed all the factories and streets in the quarter. During
concentrated in a single area. This distinct arrangement reconstruction, New China Street and Lienhing Street were
resulted from strong local government control over foreign added as internal firebreaks. As a result, the rebuilt quarter
merchants, reflecting the dominant role of national will in consisted of 13 factories and four streets (Figure 12). Unlike
regulating foreign trade. As a result, the development of the neighboring hang district, the Thirteen Factories quarter
the Thirteen Factories quarter contributed significantly to was deliberately planned to accommodate business needs
the district’s distinctive development and planning. and mitigate the risks of future fires.

5.2. Planning of The Thirteen Factories before the Each hang in the Thirteen Factories quarter had a pier
First Opium War (1839 – 1842) at its front to facilitate the transportation of goods. During
The Thirteen Factories quarter was bounded by Factory the nearly century-long construction, Western merchants
Street to the north, West Moat to the east, Pearl River to the continued to use sediment from the Pearl River to
south, and Xinglong Street to the west. It consisted of 17 reclaim land, creating additional space for their activities.
factories (hangs) and two commercial streets running east They also displayed their national flags in front of their
to west, including Creek Factory, Dutch Factory, Jiyi Hang, factories, symbolizing the establishment of trading posts
English Factory, and Hog Lane, followed by Chow-Chow by their respective countries. The space between the piers
Factory, Old English Factory, Swedish Factory, French and the factories gradually evolved into a square, which
Factory, Baoshun Factory, Wanyuan Hang, Guangyuan served various purposes, including the transportation
Hang, and Old China Street. These were further joined by of goods, socializing, exercising, and leisurely activities.
Yen-tsze-chaou, Taihe Hang, Old Cohong, Spanish Factory, These squares also attracted city traders, who sold goods,
Tongwen Hang, and Danish Factory. Hog Lane, originally introduced business opportunities, and provided various
an old street created by the wharf leading to the Pearl River, services. The square of the Thirteen Factories exhibited
was transformed into a commercial street after the quarter’s a distinctly public character, resembling city squares in
establishment, featuring stores that provided daily necessities the West. When the Thirteen Factories were rebuilt after
for Westerners. Old China Street was opened during the the 1822 fire, one of the most striking changes was the

Volume 7 Issue 1 (2025) 10 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.3676