Liwan is the actual mansion of the Chan banking family, a living artifact that offers a first-hand glimpse into the Siguan culture of affluent old Canton. Sit at the table where the original occupants once had tea, or check out the historic black-and-white pictures, where you’ll see images of everything from famous opera stars to women with bound feet to renderings of the old city. The house preserves an entire mode of existence from a bygone era.