Tower studio

Tower studio

Located at No. 36, Yanjiang West Road, opposite Guangdong Customs Building, Liwan District, Guangzhou City, the tower is a dark green four storey building standing on the edge of the Pearl River. The tower is a new member of Mr. Chen Shaobai's Lianxing wharf office and residence. Chen Shaobai founded China Daily in 1899 on the order of Sun Yat Sen to publicize the revolution and raise funds.

Development history

The fourth floor of the shadow tower is a western style house, and the top floor is a Chinese style four eaves dripping water, which is really like a lighthouse in the Pearl Harbor night. It is "opposite" to the traditional customs building in Europe. Its function is not only in economy, because since the Qing Dynasty humiliated the country, the Chinese Customs was infiltrated or controlled by foreign forces. Until 1921, when the military government of the Republic of China, with Sun Yat Sen as president, issued an order to recover the customs management power, the British authorities in Hong Kong sent troops to Guangdong Customs to intimidate, and some foreign missions also clamored that "no intervention in customs administration is allowed". Therefore, the approval of the Guangzhou government for the construction of the tower studio in that year is quite reasonable.

Although it experienced the cruel struggle of various political forces in the 1920s, the war of Japanese invasion of China, the fleeing tide of the Jiang Dynasty, and the impact of the turmoil of the "Cultural Revolution", the tower has retained its original charm with its solid foundation and reinforced concrete frame structure. On the third floor, there are still some relatives of Mr. Chen Shaobai. In the hall and room, there are still some old things used by Mr. Chen Shaobai, such as desk, acid branch couch, high foot tea table, bed, screen and so on. According to the owner of the house, Sun Yat Sen once lived on the second floor of the tower in the 1920s, and the bathroom on the second floor was also equipped with a large bathtub used by the owner.

When you see things and think of people, you can't help but think of the poem "Yi TA Ying Lou" written by Chen Shaobai in 1928: "day after day, the Pearl coast is covered, and the door is closed after years of haggard. Where are the people with such scenery? I'm tired of remembering the ups and downs of the river. " From the poem, we think of Mr. Chen Shaobai's upright and selfless manner.

Chen Shaobai was born on August 27, 1869 in WAIHAI township of Xinhui (now in Waihai District of Jiangmen City). When he was young, he came into contact with Western books translated by his uncle Meng Nan and gradually developed the idea of striving for self-improvement. In 1888, Chen Shaobai came to Guangzhou Shaji (now 623 Road) to study in Gezhi academy, which was newly established by the Presbyterian Church of the United States. He is good at literature, song and Fu, poetry and painting, and is known as a "talented man" in the school. The next year, he was baptized into Christianity. In January 1890, he met Dr. Sun Yat Sen, and they shared the same ideals. In order to follow Sun Yat Sen, Chen Shaobai dropped out of school for two times: the first time, after knowing Sun Yat Sen, he left Gezhi academy and entered Liya English Medical College in Hong Kong where Sun Yat Sen was studying, regardless of his father's objection. During this period, Sun Yat Sen, Chen Shaobai, Yang Heling and you lie were dissatisfied with the corruption of the Qing Dynasty and admired Hong Xiuquan's rebellious spirit, claiming to be the "four bandits" against the Qing Dynasty. The second time was after Sun Yat Sen graduated. In the spring of 1893, he went to Guangzhou Xiguan Xianji to set up the East West pharmacy Bureau. He needed help from an assistant. Chen Shaobai, who had not yet graduated, once again disobeyed his father's wish and dropped out of school to go to Guangzhou to help Sun Yat Sen manage the pharmacy Bureau. In 1894, Sun Yat Sen embarked on the road of professional revolutionist, and Chen Shaobai followed Sun Yat Sen's revolution by ending the drug administration. In 1895, Sun Yat Sen, together with Chen Shaobai and others, established the Hong Kong Xingzhong Association and planned the Guangzhou Uprising. After the abortion of Guangzhou Uprising, Chen Shaobai continued to carry out revolutionary propaganda, raise funds and instigate Huizhou uprising. In 1908, he also helped zhentiansheng troupe of Xiguan in Guangzhou to perform patriotic plays in Nanyang.

After the revolution of 1911, Chen Shaobai resigned twice and devoted himself to industry and hometown construction. The first time was in November 1911, when Chen Shaobai was appointed director of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Guangdong military government in Guangzhou. In February 1912, the Nanjing provisional government was established. Sun Yat Sen resigned as the provisional president with the overall situation as the priority. Chen Shaobai also resigned to run the industry. He proposed that the Chinese should set up their own Guangdong airlines to sail Guangzhou Hong Kong routes. Later, he served as the general manager of Guangdong airlines, focusing on Guangzhou Hong Kong routes. At the end of 1918, the first World War ended. In order to revive the shipping industry, Britain bought old ships at a high price in Hong Kong. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Chen Shaobai sold all the company's ships to Britain in 1919, ended Guangdong airlines, bought Lianxing wharf, and built this four and a half story building beside the wharf as a wharf office.

On May 5, 1921, Sun Yat Sen took office as the president of the Republic of China in Guangzhou. He employed Chen Shaobai, Yang Heling and you lie, who were among the four bandits of that year, as the advisers of the presidential palace. Chen Shaobai gladly went to the post. In January 1922, he was appointed as the supervisor of the National Bank of China. Sun Yat Sen's plan for the northern expedition was not supported by Chen Jiongming, commander in chief of the Guangdong army at that time. Although Chen Shaobai had mediated the relationship between Sun Yat Sen and Chen Jiongming, it was in vain -- Chen Jiongming launched a rebellion on June 16 and besieged the presidential palace, so Chen Shaobai resigned again and returned to his hometown, but still sent ten thousand gold on August 9 to support Sun Yat Sen to continue the revolution. After that, Chen successively served as the director of the Overseas Corps, chairman of the Rural Affairs Committee, township head and so on, concentrating on the construction of his hometown. He also repeatedly warned his children and relatives that they should not become officials in politics by virtue of his reputation, and his children and grandchildren should follow the instructions. In the 1930s, Chen Shaobai refused the invitation to return to politics because he was dissatisfied with Chen Jitang's gambling and avoided living in Beijing. On December 23, 1934, Chen Shaobai died in Beijing at the age of 66.

Address: No.36 Yanjiang West Road, opposite to Guangdong Customs Building, Liwan District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province

Longitude: 113.25099945068

Latitude: 23.106800079346

Tel: 020-81014376

Chinese PinYin : Ta Ying Lou