行商园林里的涉外活动

广州十三行是清政府指定专营对外贸易的半官半商组织。行商们借助垄断地位获得巨额财富,营建了许多大型私家园林。行商园林里发生了许多涉外活动:政府对外交涉;定期供外商人员散心游赏;平时接待应酬外国要员及其家属;西方先进器物在此试用或展示等等。行商园林成了中西文化、科技和国务商务交流、碰撞的前沿地,在中国园林史上具有某种划时代的特质。

The Foreign-related Activities Took Placed in the Hong Merchant's Garden

The Canton Thirteen Hongs is the Qing government-designated franchise semi-official semi-commercial trade organization deal with western businessmen. The Hong merchants earned huge wealth with monopoly position. They constructed many large private gardens. There were many foreign activities took place in these gardens： assumed the functions of government＇s foreign representations; had been the places for foreign businessmen regular outdoor strolls; usually entertained foreign dignitaries and their families; displayed or tested advanced Western artifacts, and so on. The Hong merchant＇s gardens are the frontier for Chinese culture and west culture, science and technology, business communication and collision. The gardens are landmark provided with historical characteristics.