Nestled in the village of Paobu in Jiangmen, southern China's Guangdong province, a 102-year-old overseas Chinese mansion now brews more than coffee.
At Qiaolu 1922 (翘庐1922民宿咖啡), a heritage hostel and café, the signature "fermented bean curd latte" draws curious sips from visitors. The drink, blending strong "Guanghe (广合, a local brand)" fermented bean curd, often called "Chinese cheese," with espresso, surprises first-timers but keeps them coming back for more. For owner Li Minxi, a Chinese-American returnee, it's a symbol of how tradition and innovation can coexist.
Built in 1922 by Zhu Jinqiao, an ethnic Chinese architect who emigrated to Myanmar, Qiaolu originally served as a family residence reflecting a unique fusion of French windows, Spanish floor tiles, and Burmese timber. Its elegant, medal-shaped layout was reportedly designed to honor Chen Yixi, a legendary railway pioneer in the region. But for decades, the mansion lay abandoned, its roof leaking and wooden beams decaying, until local entrepreneur Lin Zhicheng took on its restoration in 2023.
Following a "repair the old as old" principle, Lin's team preserved original features—from delicate floral-pattern tiles to 64 large windows that flood the space with light. Today, the building houses a café, a guesthouse with seven uniquely named rooms, and a courtyard where guests gather at dusk.
For the Zhu family, scattered across the world from Myanmar to the U.S., Qiaolu's rebirth has been emotionally significant. At the reopening ceremony, more than 50 descendants returned, some touching the restored wooden pillars in tears. "If the house had collapsed, our emotional anchor to this place would have disappeared," said Lin.
The space also hosts cultural activities, from photo exhibitions to traditional music nights. Local villagers have joined as staff, and the café sources ingredients from nearby producers, creating what Lin calls a "symbiotic" model where tourism benefits the community.
Plan Your Visit
• Address: Paobu Village, Taicheng Street, Taishan City, Jiangmen (江门市台山市台城街道泡步村)
• Reservations: 18029444186 (for hostel or café events)
• Don't Miss: Fermented bean curd latte, the rooftop view of the bamboo forest, and the "starlight room" where the Zhu family once took refuge during wars
Author | Feng Huiting
Photo | Nanfang Plus
Editor | Huang Qini, James Campion, Shen He
