Shantou Xiaogarden, located in the old urban area of Shantou, serves as the commercial and cultural hub of the city. It is the core landmark and cultural symbol of the old town of Shantou. In the narrow sense, Xiaogarden refers to the Zhongshan Memorial Pavilion situated at the heart of the Xiaogarden area. In the broader sense, it encompasses the surrounding blocks of the Zhongshan Memorial Pavilion, including Anping Road, Shengping Road, Guoping Road, and others, collectively known as the Xiaogarden Historical and Cultural District.
The architecture and layout of the buildings and streets in the Xiaogarden area are largely modeled after the Parisian district style, radiating in a fan shape; coupled with the old neighborhoods on both sides known as “Siyong Yishengping,” the old “Yanchengtou” in the east, the Red Pavilion to the north, and the “Shantou Port” to the south, it forms a bustling commercial and residential area with architectural characteristics of the 1930s.
Within the district, the department store building stands at seven stories high, originally founded in 1932 by overseas Chinese as the “Nansheng Company,” and was the second tallest building in Shantou before liberation. It is one of the iconic buildings of old Shantou and a symbol of Xiaogarden. The Xiaogarden is open all year round, accessible 24 hours a day.
