Guangzhou Thirteen Hongs (Shisanhang) Museum

Updated 2026-03-25

A gateway to China’s first global trading era

City: Guangzhou
Address: No. 37, Xidi Erma Road (West Side), Liwan District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510123, China
Cost: Free
Official website: http://www.lw.gov.cn/ywb/fw/ly/whss/content/post_9105819.html

Step back in time at the Guangzhou Thirteen Hongs Museum, located in Guangzhou Cultural Park. Built on the original site of the historic trading district, this museum is more than an exhibition space, it is a portal into one of the most pivotal periods of China’s global exchange.
The museum, opened in 2016, spans 4,700 m² and stands exactly where this bustling trading zone once operated.
P132 广州十三行博物馆内的环形壁画.jpg
## The Birth of Global Trade in Guangzhou
From 1757 to 1842, under the reign of Qianlong Emperor, Guangzhou was the only Chinese port open to Western trade.
This system, known as the Thirteen Hongs, was made up of licensed merchant houses called “hong” that controlled all foreign commerce.

## Exhibitions
The History of the Thirteen Hongs
The main exhibition (2,450 m²) : the rise of Guangzhou as a global trade hub
→ objects were produced in Guangzhou for export and became highly popular in Europe and the United States :
- Guangcai porcelain
- Pith paintings and reverse glass paintings
- Cantonese embroidery
- Furniture, silverware, lacquerware

### Opening Hours
9:00-17:30 (No entry after 17:00, close on Monday except for public holidays)