Page 147 - JCAU-7-1

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Development of the Thirteen Factories

of the Guangzhou factories was itself a manifestation of and other spatial elements gave the quarter a distinctive
globalization. character, incorporating early “modern” features into its
The concept of Western factories can be traced back to design.
the funduqs and fondacos—commercial establishments in Globalization and modernization were key factors
the Mediterranean world during the Middle Ages—which in shaping the development of the Thirteen Factories,
spread globally with Portuguese maritime expansion. These fostering an open and inclusive spirit in Guangzhou. Even
facilities served as marketplaces, warehouses, customs after their destruction in 1856, the area where the Thirteen
offices, defense points, and even government institutions. Factories once stood was redeveloped to reflect global and
Successive maritime powers, including the Netherlands, modern practices in modern architectural design and the
England, and France, adopted this architectural and development of wholesale markets. Although the Thirteen
functional model for use in port cities worldwide. Factories themselves no longer exist, their legacy of
In Guangzhou, the early factories similarly drew on openness and inclusiveness endures in Guangzhou and will
local architectural styles, adapted to meet their functional surely continue to influence the city’s urban development
requirements. Western merchants initially rented hang in the future.
buildings in Guangzhou, which served as residences and Acknowledgments
warehouses. These structures, characterized by a three-bay
width and multi-hall depth, were connected to piers and None.
provided spaces for storing goods, living, and conducting
trade. Over time, Westerners transformed these leased Funding
hangs into factories, changing both their external This work was supported by the National Social Science
appearances and internal layouts to better suit their needs. Foundation of China (NSFC): Study on the Interaction
The transformation of the Thirteen Factories from between Eastern and Western Architectural Cultures in
native hangs to Western-style factories was accompanied the Canton System Period (grand number: 21VJXT011).
by the gradual introduction of Western architectural Conflict of interest
elements into China. Early factories incorporated porticos
and arcades, while later ones featured colonnades, The authors declare no competing interests.
triangular pediments, and Palladian motifs in the design
of verandas. These elements demonstrate the influence of Authors contributions
Western classical architecture and Renaissance styles in Conceptualization: Changxin Peng
Guangzhou. One of the most notable changes in the spatial Investigation: Xueping Gu
organization of the factories was the elimination of the Methodology: Changxin Peng
ceremonial halls traditionally found on the central axis of Writing – original draft: Xueping Gu
the local hangs. These were replaced with arched corridors Writing – review & editing: Xueping Gu
extending from the front to the back of each factory. These
corridors became the central organizational features, Ethics approval and consent to participate
facilitating the transportation of goods within each factory Not applicable.
and redefining internal spaces. The design of the arched
corridor retained the concept of the inner court found in a Consent for publication
fondaco, but due to the elongated and narrow footprints of
the local hang buildings, the inner court was compressed Not applicable.
into a long and narrow corridor. Through this adaptation, Availability of data
the architecture evolved from hang to factory in both
appearance and internal spatial layout, reflecting the The authors confirm that all data generated or analyzed
global mobility of architectural styles driven by economic during this study are included in this published article.
globalization. Furthermore, the Qing government’s control References
over foreign merchants created a “closed” factory quarter.
Unlike the independent factories found in other regions Conner, P. (2014). Trans. by Yu, Y. Y. The Hongs of Canton:
along global trade routes, the Thirteen Factories quarter Western Merchants in South China 1700-1900, as Seen in
in Guangzhou allowed Western merchants some influence Chinese Export Paintings. Beijing: The Commercial Press.
over the planning of the district. The construction of Constable, O. R. (2003). Housing the Stranger in the Mediterranean
commercial streets, squares, gardens, a church, a club, World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Volume 7 Issue 1 (2025) 14 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.3676