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Stepping over the threshold, the century-long vicissitudes of Guangdong Customs House gradually unfold. Rich historical relics, precious pictures, vivid sculptures, and realistic scene restorations jointly weave a series of historical paintings, making people feel as if they were there. Here, Guangzhou, as an important node on the Maritime Silk Road, its prosperity and contributions are vividly presented. Moreover, experiencing that old traction elevator is a journey through time and space, allowing people to perceive the past prosperity and changes of Guangzhou through whispers of history. The following is a detailed elaboration on the origin of Guangdong Customs House:

I. Background of Establishment

• Lifting of the Maritime Prohibitions: During the early Qing Dynasty, the government implemented strict maritime prohibitions to restrict overseas trade. However, with the recovery of the domestic economy and the growing demand for foreign trade, the Qing government began to consider lifting the maritime prohibitions to promote economic development and increase fiscal revenue.
• Demand for Foreign Trade: In the 24th year of the Kangxi reign (1685), the Qing government announced the “clearance of maritime unrest,” officially opening up trade with the sea and establishing four customs houses in Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu to meet the increasing demand for foreign trade.

II. Establishment Process

• Official Establishment: In the 24th year of the Kangxi reign (1685), the Canton Customs was officially established in Guangzhou, becoming one of the four major customs houses in China at that time. The establishment of the Canton Customs marked the official opening of foreign trade by the Qing government and the establishment of customs houses to manage and regulate foreign trade activities.

III. Historical Status and Influence

• Large Business Volume: Since its establishment, the Canton Customs has consistently ranked first among the four customs houses in terms of business volume. The prosperous foreign trade activities within its jurisdiction brought significant fiscal revenue to the Qing government.
• Improvement of Management System: With the development of foreign trade, the Canton Customs gradually improved its management system and tariff system. The “Canton Customs Tariff,” as the first customs tariff in China’s history, had a profound impact on the formulation of subsequent customs tariffs.
• Historical Changes: The establishment and development of the Canton Customs condensed the economic, social, and foreign trade developments and changes of the Guangzhou port, and recorded the arduous entrepreneurial struggle and exploration of the customs. In the history of China’s customs development, the Canton Customs played an important role.

Guangzhou’s Yongqingfang is a tourist attraction imbued with rich historical heritage and modern flair, located in the heart of Xiguan Enning Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou. With a total land area of 113,700 square meters, Yongqingfang offers a unique blend of old and new.

Location and Historical Background

• Location: Yongqingfang sits in the historical and cultural preservation zone of Enning Road, Xiguan, Liwan District, Guangzhou. It is connected to the famous Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street to the east, borders Duobao Road to the north, and adjoins Enning Road on both its west and south sides.
• History: Tracing back to the Ming Dynasty, Yongqingfang was once a gathering place for wealthy merchants in Guangzhou. As time passed, it fell into disrepair but has since been revitalized through extensive protection and renovation efforts by the Guangzhou Municipal Government. Today, it stands as a testament to the city’s rich history and a vibrant hub of culture, art, and fashion.

Distinctive Features

1. Architectural Charm:

• • Yongqingfang boasts a wealth of ancient buildings dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, featuring a distinct Lingnan (Southern Guangdong) style with a harmonious blend of Chinese and Western elements. Brick houses, sliding doors (Tanglong doors), lattice windows (Manchu windows), and cobblestone paths are all carefully preserved and restored.
  • The area is also renowned for its well-preserved arcade buildings (Qilou), forming one of Guangzhou’s most intact arcade building clusters. These structures not only possess historical significance but also showcase the unique urban landscape of Guangzhou.

2. Cultural Elements:

• • Yongqingfang encapsulates various cultural elements of Xiguan customs, arcade buildings, Lingnan opera, and more, making it a prime destination for experiencing the essence of Lingnan culture.
  • Within the precincts, visitors can find cultural attractions such as the Cantonese Opera Art Museum and the Exhibition Hall of “Three Carvings, One Color, and One Embroidery,” offering immersive cultural experiences.

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3. Creative Industries:

• • Beyond preserving traditional Cantonese lifestyle, Yongqingfang has embraced creative industries, transforming into a melting pot of new and old cultures. Underneath the quaint facades, one can discover trendy art exhibitions, personalized fashion boutiques, and more.
  • Regular cultural events like youth innovation markets and intangible cultural heritage demonstrations further enrich visitors’ experiences.

Travel Experience

Strolling through Yongqingfang, visitors are treated to a rich tapestry of historical culture and Lingnan charm. They can wander along cobblestone paths, admire the ancient architecture, and admire exquisite art pieces. Tasting authentic Cantonese snacks like Shawan Oil Dumplings and Pantang Water Chestnut Cake adds to the authentic local flavor. Moreover, cultural experiences like watching Cantonese opera performances and participating in intangible cultural heritage workshops deepen one’s understanding of Lingnan culture.

Future Prospects

As the government strengthens its commitment to preserving traditional culture and citizens’ cultural confidence grows, Yongqingfang is poised for further development. Existing cultural heritage is being meticulously maintained, while its contemporary value is being explored, positioning this ancient alleyway as a vital driver of regional tourism. Moving forward, Yongqingfang will continue to shine as a cultural tourism icon of Guangzhou and even China.

Nestled in the embrace of Lingnan, lies a natural treasure that captivates the hearts of travelers – Shaoguan’s Danxia Mountain, a masterpiece carved by nature over millions of years, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a dreamland sought after by countless wanderers. Embark on an impulsive adventure and let us stroll through this vibrant tapestry of Danxia’s breathtaking scenery.

🌟 Danxia Wonders, Stirring Souls
Renowned for its unique topography, Danxia Mountain is a magical realm crafted from red sandstone. Peaks stand tall like forests, their hues resembling vivid crimson, shimmering like dawn’s glow. It seems as if Mother Nature’s most passionate brushstrokes have outlined a series of majestic landscapes. Each step taken amidst this panorama turns into a scene, every scene a poem, leaving one in awe of nature’s divine craftsmanship.

🌄 Sunrise Amid Cloud Sea, A Heavenly Realm
As dawn breaks, the first rays of sunlight pierce through the clouds, bathing the peaks of Danxia Mountain in a golden aura. Standing atop the viewing platform, one gazes upon the interplay between rolling clouds and towering mountains, a moment where time stands still, and the soul finds unprecedented tranquility and purification.

🌌 Zen Temples, Tracing History
Beyond its captivating natural beauty, Danxia Mountain also embodies profound cultural depths. The chimes of ancient temples echo gently through the valleys, adding a touch of mystery and solemnity to this enchanted land. A visit to Jinshiyan Temple immerses one in the serenity and tranquility of a thousand-year-old monastery, allowing the soul to ascend amidst the curling incense smoke.

🏞️ Trekking Adventures, Embracing Nature
Danxia Mountain is not just a spectacle for the eyes; it’s a haven for hiking enthusiasts. Traverse winding mountain trails amidst peculiar rocks and peaks, where every breath is filled with fresh air, and every halt reveals new wonders. Whether challenging the steep inclines of Yangyuan Rock and Changlao Peak or strolling leisurely along the banks of the Jinjiang River, one deeply experiences the harmony of being one with nature.

🌈 Conclusion
Danxia Mountain, a place where once visited, one never wishes to leave. Here, you can shed the hustle and bustle of the city,explore the grandeur of nature and savor the profoundness of culture. Give yourself the chance to embark on an impulsive journey to Danxia, and let your soul soar freely over this magical terrain.

picture copy by xiaohongshu

Nestled on the fringes of bustling cities, lies a serene and enchanting haven—Baishuizhai Waterfall, a living tapestry of rolling mountains and flowing waters that whispers tales of nature’s exquisite craftsmanship and timeless tranquility.

🌟 Step into Fairyland, Embrace an Earthly Paradise

As you enter Baishuizhai, it’s as if you’ve traversed a portal, instantly distancing yourself from the hustle and bustle. Treading along the winding mountain paths, each step resonates with the rhythm of nature, while your breaths are filled with the freshness of air and the fragrance of earth. Lifting your gaze, the White Fairy Waterfall cascades down the cliff, akin to a silvery river pouring from the heavens, its grandeur inspiring awe.

🌊 Marvel at the Falls, Embark on a Journey That Touches the Soul

The White Fairy Waterfall, with its staggering 428.5-meter drop, is hailed as “the waterfall with the greatest height difference in Mainland China,” the very soul of Baishuizhai and a treasure bestowed upon this land by nature. Standing on the viewing platform, the cool mist envelops you, and the roaring water sounds like celestial music, cleansing the dust from your heart and immersing you in a world of forgetfulness and bliss.

🌳 Embrace the Green, Indulge in an Ecological Feast

Beyond the falls’ grandeur, Baishuizhai boasts vast virgin forests and abundant ecological resources. Strolling along the forest trails, you’ll be surrounded by lush greenery, birdsong, and the fragrance of flowers, as if you’ve stepped into a giant natural oxygen bar. Here, you can observe rare plants up close, listen to the birds’ joyous melodies, and feel the harmony of nature’s coexistence.

👣 Challenge Yourself, Ascend the Tiannan First Steps

If you seek adventure and self-challenge, embark on the “Tiannan First Steps,” a 6.6-kilometer hiking trail adorned with multiple viewing platforms and waterfall touchpoints. Each step reveals new wonders, and when you reach the summit, overlooking the entire Baishuizhai scenic area, the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction will be indescribable.

🍽️ Savor Delicacies, Indulge Your Taste Buds

No journey is complete without the company of good food. In Baishuizhai, indulge in authentic farm-to-table cuisine and local snacks. Dishes like the ancient-style Shuizhai Roast Chicken and Bamboo Rice, with their unique cooking methods and delicious flavors, will satisfy both your eyes and palate during this visual feast.

📸 Capture the Moments, Preserve Eternal Memories

Lastly, don’t forget to capture these precious instants with your camera. Whether it’s the falls’ magnificence, the forest’s serenity, or the joy of reaching the summit, they will all become invaluable memories from your journey.

Come, let us embark on a spontaneous adventure to Baishuizhai Waterfall, exploring the wonders and beauty hidden within nature’s embrace!

CONGHUA Hot Springs, also known as LIUXI River Hot Springs, is located in CONGHUA Hot Springs Town, northeast of GUANGZHOU, about 75 kilometers away from GUANGZHOU, and is a well-known scenic spot and healing resort. It is not only rich in natural scenery, but also has many quality hot spring resorts and cuisines, making it an excellent choice for leisure vacations and healing and resting. Here is a detailed travel guide of CONGHUA Hot Spring to help you fully experience this beautiful country.

I. Major Attractions

1. South Calm Cultivation Town of CONGHUA

Hidden among bamboo forests and fruit trees, the South Calm Cultivation Town is supported by Fenghuang Mountain and embraced by Fenghuang River, with a forest coverage rate of 97%. It combines mountains, springs, forests, streams and rocks into a natural ecological landscape, which is a good place to relax. Walking along the Fengxi Trail, listening to the sound of tinkling spring water and feeling the cool air is very pleasant. Landscape nodes such as Phoenix Spreading Wings, Twin Bridges Hui and Cultural Square in the town incorporate elements of Nanping culture, and meet the diverse needs of visitors with leisure facilities such as ancient pavilions and coffee houses.

2. Shimen National Forest Park

Shimen National Forest Park is the most popular photo spot in Guangdong, known as “GUANGZHOU Xiangshan”. The park has 96.76% forest coverage, and December is the best time to see the red leaves of Shimen, which cover more than 3,000 acres, mainly maple trees, mountain sebifer trees and maple trees, which sway in the wind under the sunlight, making it picturesque and beautiful. In addition, the park also has natural landscapes such as the highest peak in GUANGZHOU, Paradise Peak, which is a paradise for hiking enthusiasts.

3. Hot Spring Waterfall

Located on the rocky cliff of Toujia Mountain, the Hot Spring Waterfall is divided into five levels, which are majestic and known as Baizhang Waterfall, Flying Rainbow Waterfall and Fragrant Powder Waterfall. The waterfall is filled with water mist, and when the sunlight shines, it forms a colorful rainbow, which is breathtaking. Around the waterfall, there are also Cuicui Pavilion, Spring Pavilion, Qingyin Pavilion and other humanistic landscapes, suitable for tourists to stop to watch and rest.

Second, the hot spring resort recommended

1. Guangdong Hot Spring Hotel

Guangdong Hot Spring Hotel is a Chinese garden style hot spring resort, by the mountain and water, pleasant environment. It has received party and state leaders such as Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi and Zhou Enlai, as well as foreign heads of state. The hotel has 500 beds, with baking soda hot spring water supplied directly to the guest rooms 24 hours a day, equipped with open-air hot spring, health garden, art gallery, tennis, table tennis, indoor hot spring swimming pool and other health, entertainment and recreation facilities.

2. Bishuiwan Hot Spring Resort

Bishuiwan Hot Spring Resort is a luxury resort located on the bank of LIUXI River in CONGHUA LIUXI Hot Spring Tourist Resort. The resort is equipped with large open-air hot springs, swimming pools, soccer fields and other facilities where visitors can enjoy the hot springs and leisure time. The resort’s service staff is warm and attentive, making it a good place to relax.

3. St. Tory Spa Manor

St. Tory Spa Manor is unique in the Greek Aegean Sea, with more than 50 hot spring pools of different sizes and a large outdoor swimming pool with an area of more than 1,000 square meters. The hot spring water in the Manor is rich in more than twenty kinds of minerals and trace elements that are beneficial to the human body, with health care and health effects. The unique architectural style of the mansion brings exotic tastes for visitors to enjoy.

4. Henleston Spa Hotel

Located at the entrance of CONGHUA Hot Spring Tourist Resort, Henleston Hot Spring Hotel is a hot spring health hotel. The hotel is equipped with special lobby bar, health spa pool, garden swimming pool, recreational spa, catering, conference and movie facilities to meet the needs of different tourists. Some of the rooms are equipped with private hot spring soaking pools, making the concept of comfortable living more profound.

C. Culinary Recommendations

1. Hot Spring Raw Egg

Hot Spring Raw Egg is one of the specialties of CONGHUA Hot Spring. Boiled in just the right amount of hot spring water, the egg is smooth, tender and melts in your mouth. It is delicious when served with black truffle mushrooms and vegetable salad.

2. Hot Spring Chicken

Pepper Hot Spring Chicken is made from Lai Yuen’s free-range chickens with firm and tender meat. After being cooked in hot spring water at 67.5°, the skin of the chicken is tender and crispy, and the meat is tender and full of flavor, making it unforgettable.

Guangzhou is the third most popular city among foreigners in China. The reasons for this are varied and profound, which are mainly reflected in the following aspects:

1. Unique geographical advantages

Proximity to Hong Kong: Guangzhou as the closest big city to Hong Kong, the two in the language, culture, economy and other aspects of the high degree of compatibility, looking back at history, the rise of Hong Kong as the financial center of Asia, when the mainland has not yet opened up, Guangzhou and Hong Kong and Macao to cooperate, drive foreign trade, because of the development of cooperation on the formation of the “Hong Kong and Macao Province,” the title, Hong Kong and Macao is Hong Kong, Hong Kong and Macao are Hong Kong and Macao. Many people refer to Guangzhou as the “provincial city”, where the word “province” refers to Guangzhou rather than Guangdong province. This geographical proximity allows foreigners living in Guangzhou to quickly adapt to the environment and feel similar to that of Hong Kong.

2. Language Advantages

International influence of Cantonese: Cantonese is widely spoken not only in Guangdong and Hong Kong, but also in Southeast Asia and North America. This linguistic commonality has attracted a large number of Cantonese-speaking expatriates to Guangzhou, as well as promoting cultural exchange and integration.

Inclusiveness of the linguistic environment: As an international metropolis, Guangzhou provides a good environment for people with different language backgrounds to communicate, as foreign languages such as English are widely spoken in addition to Cantonese. Many overseas Chinese communities use Cantonese as their common language.On the streets of Guangzhou, you can also find foreigners negotiating with vendors in Cantonese. As soon as a foreigner speaks Cantonese, he or she immediately enters the Guangzhou City Life Channel.

3. Advantages of trade, transport and logistics

Deep history of foreign trade: Guangzhou has been an important port for China’s foreign trade since ancient times. Modern Guangzhou is the window and forefront of China’s foreign trade, with a perfect business system and logistics network. As one of the starting points of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, Guangzhou as early as in the Tang Dynasty, in the area of today’s Gwangtar Road set up a community for foreigners (mainly Arabs and Persians) to live in the overseas – “Fanfang”, the river sails, merchant ships not far from thousands of miles across the sea and come; beads, silk and other products. The wholesale market was bustling with merchants and emissaries from all over the world, piling up mountains of pearls, silk, ceramics, tea and spices.

Influence of the Canton Fair: As the largest comprehensive international trade event in China, the Canton Fair not only attracts merchants and buyers from all over the world, but also enhances Guangzhou’s reputation and influence in the international arena.

4. Rich cultural heritage

Historical and cultural city: Guangzhou is a national historical and cultural city with a rich historical and cultural heritage and a profound cultural heritage. This cultural accumulation not only adds a unique charm to Guangzhou, but also provides a window for expatriates to understand and experience Chinese culture.

Open and tolerant cultural atmosphere: Guangzhou has been a place where Chinese and foreign cultures have mixed since ancient times, forming a unique Guangfu culture. This open and tolerant cultural atmosphere has enabled Guangzhou to attract foreigners from different cultural backgrounds to settle and develop.

5. Culinary advantages

The reputation of “Guangzhou Food”: Guangzhou is famous for its unique flavors and rich variety of food, which attracts countless diners to come and taste. This gastronomic advantage not only brings economic benefits to Guangzhou, but also enhances its international popularity and attractiveness.

Prosperous development of the catering industry: Guangzhou’s catering industry has been developing strongly, with a growing number of newly registered businesses, providing a wealth of dining options for expatriates. At the same time, the prosperity of the catering industry has also led to the overall development of the accommodation and catering industry.

To sum up, Guangzhou has become the third city in China that foreigners are keen on because of its unique geographic advantages, language advantages, advantages in commerce, transportation and logistics, rich cultural heritage as well as culinary advantages and other factors. These factors are intertwined and mutually reinforcing, and together they constitute Guangzhou’s unique urban charm and attractiveness.