pearl river

“Official and merchant ships venture out; and the city open is door to the outside world. Guangzhou produces and exports fine-quality silk and satin; and the money earned has piled up in the 13 foreign trading houses.”

-------- From Guangzhou Zhuzhi Poem by Qu Dajun, a Qing Dynasty poet.

The beautiful river of Zhujiang, is a cradle of Chinese civilization. Originating from the Yungui Plateau, the pearl River winds down into the South China Sea, Running 2,100 kilometers long, it has 51 branches, spans eight provineds and autonomous regions, and nurtures the people of 23 ethic groups. At the place where the river meets the sea is Guangzhou, a flourishing, commercial city.

As early as the Zhou and Qin Dynasties(C.1100-206 B.C.), Guangzhou took a dynamic park in foreign economic exchange, During the Han and Tang Dynasties, Guangzhou was where the famous Silk Road of the Sea originated, During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Guangzhou was China’ only harbor handing imports and exports. The Nanhai Temple near Huangpu Harbor , the Shisanhang(13 foreign  trading house) on the bank of White Goose Pond, and the merchant  ships loaded  with domestic and foreign commodities arriving and departing from the Pearl  River are a testament to Guangzhou Harbor’s golory.

Boating on the Pearl River, visitors can appreciate the gleaming neon lights while they enjoy the light folk music in the air, In addition to this, the colorful gardens and fields of blooming sunflowers on both banks can make one fall jin love with the river as well as the city.