Abstract: The CAI Shiwen family is one of the important families in the history of the thirteen trade lines in Guangzhou in the Qing Dynasty. They participated in Guangzhou's foreign trade as early as the early 1730s, their Hong experienced three changes of I-ho Hong, Feng-yüan Hong, and Wan-ho Hong. The family business changed from weak to strong. The outstanding figure CAI Shiwen even served as the first merchant of the Guangzhou Foreign Trade Office in the 53rd year of Qianlong (1788), and became the business leader of Guangzhou's foreign trade at that time. The CAI Shiwen family was active in the history of foreign trade in Guangzhou in the Qing Dynasty for more than 60 years. A detailed study of the family background and business experience of the family's three generations of merchants can deepen the understanding of the early history of the Thirteen Hongs in Guangzhou.