Keepers of the century past

Numerous qilou were built at the time, using imported materials like cement and iron bars. Today, a walk through the historical neighborhood with arcade buildings lining its streets still reminds visitors of an era marked by the pursuit of wealth and utility, aesthetics and creativity, as well as the mix of modern and traditional.

Shantou is a rainy city with a subtropical climate. The ground floor colonnades separate pedestrians from traffic, provide shelter from the sun, wind and rain, and make retail more appealing, says photographer and architectural expert Cai Haisong, who has been photographing the historical architecture of the Chaoshan region for more than three decades.

He says that the height of the three or four-story arcade buildings is almost the same as the width of the road, which is ideal for lighting and ventilation.

Underground drainage ditches discharged rainwater and sewage into the sea, and were covered with flagstones to permit the passage of pedestrians and vehicles. The ditches were so spacious that it was possible for people to walk through them while bent over.

The qilou facades are inspired by Western and Southeast Asian architectural styles. The classical Greek columns on the ground floor are strong and elegant. Some buildings have stained-glass windows. There are verandas and terraces on higher floors.