General Introduction
Zhaoqing City
【General Introduction】
Situated in the midwest of Guangdong and middle reach of Xijiang River, Zhaoqing has an excellent geographic location. Covering an area of 15,000 square kilometers with 4.04 million permanent residents in 2006, Zhaoqing administers 8 counties (district and county-level city) and the provincial-level Zhaoqing Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone.
【History】
Zhaoqing's history can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220) when Gaoyao County was instituted. In the Sui Dynasty (581-618), Duanzhou Prefecture was established governing a total of 9 counties. In the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Emperor Hui issued an imperial order in person that Duanzhou be renamed as Zhaoqing as he used to be ennobled as Duan Lord before his enthronement. The name of Zhaoqing has remained in use ever since. Amid the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasties (1644-1911), the official residence of the Governor for Guangdong and Guangxi was situated in Zhaoqing for 182 years. The Italian missionary Matteo Ricci had been in Zhaoqing to promote western culture during the Ming Dynasty for 6 years where he also studied Mandarin along with Chinese culture and history. Apart from presiding over the building of Xianhua Temple beside Chongxi Pagoda, Ricci not only compiled a Portuguese-Chinese dictionary along with his Italian partner Michele Ruggieri, but also drew up the first world map in the Chinese language during his Zhaoqing stay. Ricci was regarded as the "Forerunner for Chinese and Occidental Cultural Exchange".
【Economy】
Electronic component, electronic information equipment manufacturing, micro bioengineering, chemical, food, beverage, auto part, textile and garment, forest chemical and building material are pillar industries in Zhaoqing. Multinationals such as Japan's Honda, South Korea's SK and LP Auto Group from U.S. have made investments in Zhaoqing. Committed to industrialization and urbanization in rural area and agricultural industrialization, Zhaoqing has witnessed stable development in its rural area and rural economy.
【Transportation】
No more than100 kilometers from Guangzhou and 142 miles from Hong Kong, Zhaoqing is a pivotal place connecting the more developed coastal area with southwest China. The Xijiang River, only second to the Yangtze River nationwide in terms of water flow, runs through the whole municipality, making itself a "Golden Waterway" by reaching as far as the port in Shenzhen and Guangzhou eastward, Wuzhou City of Guangxi City westward, and Zhuhai and Macau southward respectively.
【Local Specialty】
Duan Inkslab, Zhaoqing Sticky Rice Dumpling, Guangning Green Jade, Huaiji Bird's Nest, Granulated Sugar Tasting Tangerine, Deqing Mandarin Orange.
Yunfu City
Yunfu’s Agricultural Industrialization
57 diversified agricultural bases in Yunfu
【General Introduction】
Yunfu is located in the midwest of Guangdong, adjacent to Zhaoqing, Yangjiang and Maoming and bordering Guangxi westward and Xijiang River northward. Covering an area of 7,779 square kilometers with a 2.655 million population, it administers 1 district, 3 counties and Luoding City.
【History】
Yunfu Prefecture was first established in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Renamed as Dong'an County in the Ming (1368-1644) Dynasty, it was redesignated as Yunfu County in 1914. The present prefecture-level Yunfu Municipality was founded in 1994.
【Economy】
Rich in natural resources, Yunfu's pyrite storage leads the world by its globally highest purity. Committed to upgrading traditional industries with advanced technology and developing new industries, Yunfu has 7 pillar industries including stone material, stainless steel manufacturing, cement, electronics, sulphur chemical, textile and diversified agriculture.
【Transportation】
With 324 National Highway running through the whole municipality, cement-paved roads are accessible to each single township and village. Guangzhou-Wuzhou Expressway linking Guangdong and Guangxi is also connected to Yunfu which will further be united with Yulin and Wuzhou in Guangxi as well as the expressway network in southwest China. Sanshui-Maoming Railway also passes the whole municipality, which will be eventually linked to Luoyang-Zhanjiang Railway in 2008. The Xijiang River has 100 kilometers of waterway, enabling direct cargo freight to Hong Kong.
【Local Specialty】
Luoding Steamed Meat, Luoding Cinnamon, Yunan Seedless Wampee, Yunan Date, Xinxing Chicken, Xinxing Banana, Yunan Mandarin Orange, Yunan Granulated Sugar Tasting Tangerine, etc.
