略论西关在广州中西文化交流中的历史地位

A note on the historical status of Xiguan in Sino-western cultural communication

西关是现广州市老城区荔湾区的俗称,地处广州市城区的西面,由于地理位置优越,靠近珠江主航道,自古商贸十分发达,商家云集,盛极一时,一度成为旧广州商贸中心和中国对外通商的重要口岸,成为"东学西渐"、"西学东渐"的桥梁,在广州中西文化交流中占据十分重要的地位,由此所孕育出来的个性鲜明的"西关文化"对中国近代文明进程起到了积极的推动作用。

Xiguan is the common name for Liwan district located in the western part of Guangzhou. Due to its geographical position which is near the Zhujiang River, it has been a prosperous commercial district since the ancient times. Its particular cultural feature called Xiguan culture has had a very important status in the cultural communication between China and the West.