The Exhibition Hall of Former Custom in Mengzi City, Honghe

The Mengzi Customs Old Site (蒙自海关旧址) is located at the southeast corner of Nanhu (南湖), Mengzi City (蒙自市), Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture (红河哈尼族彝族自治州), Yunnan Province (云南省). Covering an area of approximately 2,925 square meters, it is a historic site dating from the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China period.

The complex is designed with a rigorous layout, radiating from the Customs Tax Office at the center. It combines individual buildings with an integrated whole, blending European-style structures with red tiles and yellow walls and traditional Chinese-style architecture featuring carved beams, painted rafters, and flying eaves. Existing protected structures include the Mengzi Customs Tax Office, French Consulate (法国领事府), French Garden (法国花园), French Prison (法国监狱), and the Golossi Trading Company (哥胪士洋行), most of which are in French architectural style. The site reflects both the development of modern Yunnan and the exchange of Chinese and Western cultures.

In May 2006, the site was listed by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China as a Key National Cultural Heritage Site (sixth batch).

Historical Background

• 1887 (Guangxu 13th year, Qing Dynasty): First French Consul Mi Leshi (弥乐石) arrived in Mengzi, purchased about five acres east of the city gate, and oversaw construction of the French Consulate (法国驻蒙领事府).
• 1888 (Guangxu 14th year): Completion of the consulate and construction of the French prison.
• 1889 (Guangxu 15th year): Mengzi Customs and Tax Office officially established.
• 1906 (Guangxu 32nd year): Golossi Trading Company (哥胪士洋行) founded by Greek businessman Golossi.
• 1932: The French Consulate moved to Kunming.
• 1938–1939: The site served as classrooms for the Law and Humanities College of Southwest United University.
• 1940: Japanese occupation of Vietnam interrupted the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, and customs operations shifted to wartime excise taxes. The Golossi Trading Company closed; the buildings were later used by the Central Bank Mengzi Branch and local health offices.
• 1950–1954: The site was under the administration of the People’s Liberation Army and later the Kunming Customs Office, marking the end of 65 years of customs operations.
• 2017: The Mengzi Cultural Center moved into the French Consulate building.

Architectural Layout

The Mengzi Customs Old Site (蒙自海关旧址) covers approximately 2,925 square meters. The complex is centered on the Customs Tax Office and radiates outward, combining individual buildings with an integrated layout. European-style buildings with red tiles and yellow walls coexist with Chinese-style structures featuring carved beams and flying eaves, reflecting the blending of cultures.

Main Buildings

• Customs Tax Office (海关税务司署): Located on Huanhu South Road (环湖南路), this palace-style wooden building features a single-eaved hip roof and a gallery-style layout, covering 323.4 square meters.
• French Consulate (法国领事府): Also on Huanhu South Road, it includes 10 main rooms and 6 side rooms with single-eaved gable roofs, decorative painted eaves, and symmetrical wings, covering over 500 square meters.
• French Prison (法国监狱): Located in Dong Village (东村), the site preserves two single-story brick-wood buildings with red tiles and yellow walls.
• French Garden (法国花园): Situated on Customs Road (海关路) by the water, it includes a two-story French-style square building covering 215.04 square meters.
• Golossi Trading Company (哥胪士洋行): Located on Huanhu North Road (环湖北路), it preserves a two-story French-style corner building covering 1,800 square meters on a 5,333.9-square-meter site.

Significance

The Mengzi Customs Old Site (蒙自海关旧址) witnessed the complex modern development of Yunnan and represents a significant exchange between Chinese and Western architectural and cultural practices.

Protection and Recognition

• 2006: Listed as a Key National Cultural Heritage Site (sixth batch) by the State Council of China.
• 2018: Included in the third batch of China’s 20th-Century Architectural Heritage.

Visitor Information

• Location: Southeast corner of Nanhu (南湖), Mengzi City (蒙自市), Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture (红河哈尼族彝族自治州), Yunnan Province (云南省).
• Era: Qing Dynasty to Republic of China period
• Protection Level: Key National Cultural Heritage Site (sixth batch)