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A little preparation. A much better adventure.Independent travel advice · Made for China
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A taste of Guangzhou

Lian Xiang Lou

莲香楼

A Liwan teahouse founded in 1889 by Chen Weiqing, the origin of the lotus-seed paste filling behind Cantonese mooncakes. It is a heritage name and a good place to order lotus seed paste buns. The famous Dishifu Road building was reported closed in November 2023, so check which branch is currently open.

Price not confirmedLiwan, formerly 67 Dishifu Road; a Haizhu district branch is reported. Current branch not confirmed.
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Lian Xiang Lou (莲香楼), Guangzhou
Photo: 古海岸遗址 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Why come here

A place worth making time for

Heritage teahouse from 1889 known for lotus-seed paste pastries. No award confirmed.

The house favourites

What to order

Point at the Chinese. Staff will understand it even where the menu has no English at all.

  • Lotus seed paste bun (莲蓉包)
  • Lotus seed paste mooncake (莲蓉月饼)
  • Sweetheart cake (老婆饼)
  • Steamed dim sum such as shrimp dumplings (虾饺)

What it actually tastes like

Sweet pastries here are sweet and dense, and may use lard and salted egg yolk. The mooncake is very rich.

Allergens in this kitchen

gluten/wheatsesameeggshellfish

This is the kitchen, not one dish. Woks, fryers, blanching water and utensils are shared in almost every Chinese restaurant, so for a serious allergy treat the whole premises as the unit rather than ordering around it.

Get to know the menu

Local specialities to try here

Shrimp dumplings (har gow) 虾饺Sweet, clean prawn with a springy snap; the skin is slippery and faintly chewy.