Canton Attractions
Canton lies in a fertile plain in the center of the south Chinese province of Guangdong, in the delta of the Zhujiang.
Canton is not only an economic, but also a cultural center. The Sun-Yat-sen University (Zhongshan Daxue) has an importance extending well beyond the immediate area of Canton, while in the city's opera houses the Chinese opera tradition continues to be nurtured.
Cantonese cooking, in which seafood plays a crucial part, is also famous.
An important Cantonese legend tells the story of how five gods came down to earth on goats and gave the inhabitants five ears of corn in order to protect them from famine.
The city of Canton, which was originally called Fanyu, has a history dating back over 2000 years. In 214 BC Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi nominated it capital of the administrative area of Nanhai (Southern Sea) in recognition of its growing importance as a river and sea port. In AD 226 it was renamed Guangzhou. From the time of the Tang dynasty (618-907) onwards Canton developed into a center of foreign trade and as a result a large Islamic community grew up here. Under the Song dynasty (960-1279) the city enjoyed a golden period. In 1517 the Portuguese landed here, followed by the Spanish, Dutch, British and French. Over the years the harbor became larger and larger and in 1684 the East India Company moved its headquarters here in order to be able to have better control of its trade in the opium which it was bringing over from India. In 1839 the Imperial High Commissioner Lin Zexu had 1185 tons of opium destroyed in Humen, a small village near Canton, and in so doing triggered off the opium wars between Britain and China. In 1841 the city offered stubborn resistance to the attacking English troops, with the peasants of Sanyuanli (today a suburb of Canton) particularly distinguishing themselves. In the Treaty of Nanking (1842) the city was forced to open its doors to foreign trade and in 1858 the island of Shamian became a foreign concessionary area. This contact with foreigners was destined to imbue the Cantonese from very early on with nationalistic sentiments, a readiness for reform and revolutionary ideas. At the beginning of the 20th C Sun Yat-sen started numerous uprisings against the Qing government.
In 1918 the city began to be modernized, with wide streets being laid out, countless shacks torn down, canals filled in and the city walls taken down.
The year 1924 saw the founding of the Whampoa military academy where Zhou Enlai studied. In the period following, Zhou, Guo Moruo and Mao Zedong taught at the local institute of the peasants' movement. After the rupture in relations between the Communists and the Guomindang, more than 5000 of the former lost their lives at the hands of Guomindang troops during a workers' revolt in 1927. In 1949 Canton fell to the Communist regime.
In the 1950s Canton became an important center for industry (steel, chemicals, textiles and foodstuffs) and foreign trade, a development which was helped by its proximity to Hong Kong. Since 1957 the famous Canton Fair has taken place twice a year.
Canton is not only an economic, but also a cultural center. The Sun-Yat-sen University (Zhongshan Daxue) has an importance extending well beyond the immediate area of Canton, while in the city's opera houses the Chinese opera tradition continues to be nurtured.
Cantonese cooking, in which seafood plays a crucial part, is also famous.
An important Cantonese legend tells the story of how five gods came down to earth on goats and gave the inhabitants five ears of corn in order to protect them from famine.
The city of Canton, which was originally called Fanyu, has a history dating back over 2000 years. In 214 BC Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi nominated it capital of the administrative area of Nanhai (Southern Sea) in recognition of its growing importance as a river and sea port. In AD 226 it was renamed Guangzhou. From the time of the Tang dynasty (618-907) onwards Canton developed into a center of foreign trade and as a result a large Islamic community grew up here. Under the Song dynasty (960-1279) the city enjoyed a golden period. In 1517 the Portuguese landed here, followed by the Spanish, Dutch, British and French. Over the years the harbor became larger and larger and in 1684 the East India Company moved its headquarters here in order to be able to have better control of its trade in the opium which it was bringing over from India. In 1839 the Imperial High Commissioner Lin Zexu had 1185 tons of opium destroyed in Humen, a small village near Canton, and in so doing triggered off the opium wars between Britain and China. In 1841 the city offered stubborn resistance to the attacking English troops, with the peasants of Sanyuanli (today a suburb of Canton) particularly distinguishing themselves. In the Treaty of Nanking (1842) the city was forced to open its doors to foreign trade and in 1858 the island of Shamian became a foreign concessionary area. This contact with foreigners was destined to imbue the Cantonese from very early on with nationalistic sentiments, a readiness for reform and revolutionary ideas. At the beginning of the 20th C Sun Yat-sen started numerous uprisings against the Qing government.
In 1918 the city began to be modernized, with wide streets being laid out, countless shacks torn down, canals filled in and the city walls taken down.
The year 1924 saw the founding of the Whampoa military academy where Zhou Enlai studied. In the period following, Zhou, Guo Moruo and Mao Zedong taught at the local institute of the peasants' movement. After the rupture in relations between the Communists and the Guomindang, more than 5000 of the former lost their lives at the hands of Guomindang troops during a workers' revolt in 1927. In 1949 Canton fell to the Communist regime.
In the 1950s Canton became an important center for industry (steel, chemicals, textiles and foodstuffs) and foreign trade, a development which was helped by its proximity to Hong Kong. Since 1957 the famous Canton Fair has taken place twice a year.
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
The 58m/190ft high Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Yide Lu Street is the largest Christian church in China. The French architect Guillemin built it between 1863 and 1888 in Neo-Gothic style.
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Mosque in Memory of the Wise Man
This important mosque is one of the oldest in the country, thought to have been built in 627.
Qingping Market
At the market, consisting of two intersecting, partially covered streets extending along Qingping Lu, there are all kinds of food on sale (fruit, vegetables, fish, snakes, turtles and poultry), animals of every type (dogs, cats, monkeys, etc.), herbs, earthenware and porcelain.
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Temple of Light and Children's Love
The Temple of Light and Children's Love was once the royal residence but was converted to a temple during the time of the Western Jin dynasty. It is one of the oldest structures in Canton.
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Temple of the Six Banyan Trees
The Temple of the Six Banyan Trees was built in the 6th C to house a relic of the Buddha.
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Tomb of the 72 Martyrs on the Hill of the Yellow Flowers
This site commemorates those who died during the uprising against the Qing government in 1911.
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Yuexiu Gongyuan Park
In addition to lovely gardens and green space, Yuexiu Gongyuan Park also contains a sports facility, the Building Overlooking the Sea palace, and the Sun-Yat-sen Memorial Hall.
Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family
Between 1890 and 1894 the great ancestral temple of the Chen family was built in Zhongshan Lu. It is famous for its wood carvings and sculptures, of which particular mention should be made of the figures on the roof ridges which adopt themes from mythology and classical literature.
Today the temple houses the Folklore Museum, in which arts and crafts from Canton and Guangdong are displayed.
Today the temple houses the Folklore Museum, in which arts and crafts from Canton and Guangdong are displayed.
College of the Peasants' Movement
The College of the Peasants' Movement is to be found to the west of the Memorial for the Martyrs of the Canton Uprising. It was founded jointly by the Communist Party and the Guomindang in July 1924 in a former Confucian temple.
This college, in which the cadre of the Communist Party are educated, was from 1926 under the direction of Mao Zedong and its teachers included Zhou Enlai. Mao's office, a large hall, library, refectory and students' dormitory can all be visited.
This college, in which the cadre of the Communist Party are educated, was from 1926 under the direction of Mao Zedong and its teachers included Zhou Enlai. Mao's office, a large hall, library, refectory and students' dormitory can all be visited.
Cultural Park
The 8ha/20 acre Culture Park in the south of the city offers a wide range of entertainment, including exhibition halls, an open-air stage, an opera and concert hall.
Memorial Park to the Martyrs of the Canton Uprising
About 4km/2.5mi east of the city center, on Zhongshan Lu, a 26ha/64 acre cemetery was laid out in 1957 for the victims of the Canton uprising which was led by the Communist party in 1927. The 5700 people shot by the Guomindang government are now buried in a tumulus. In addition the memorial park also contains a pavilion (1957) dedicated to Sino-Soviet friendship and one (1964) to Sino-Korean friendship. These are intended as a reminder that Russians and Koreans also lost their lives in the uprising.
In the western section of the park stands the Museum of the Revolutionary History of Guangdong.
In the western section of the park stands the Museum of the Revolutionary History of Guangdong.
Canton Surroundings
Conghua Thermal Springs
The Conghua Wenquan thermal springs are to be found in the spa resort of the same name, 80km/50mi northeast of Canton. The spa comprises a dozen calcium, magnesium and natrium springs, as well as several thermal baths, extending over an area of some 10sq.km/4 sq.mi. The water temperatures range from 50°-70°C (122°-158°F). The resort also has a large number of sanatoria, hotels and boarding houses.
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Mountains of the White Clouds
The Mountains of the White Clouds are home to peaks reaching up to 382 m.
Birthplace of Sun Yat-sen
The house in which Sun-Yat-sen was born in 1866 is situated in the village of Cuiheng (Zhongshan district), about 100km/62mi south of Canton. It still has the original furniture. In a neighboring building there is a museum commemorating the founder of the first Chinese republic.
