Zhaoqing: Blossoming flowers on the Tropic of Cancer

Author: Xu Jiaguo
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Zhaoqing City administers two districts (Duanzhou and Dinghu), two county-level cities (Gaoyou and Sihui), four counties (Guangning, Deqing, Fengkai, and Huaiji), and the Dawang Comprehensive Economic Development Zone. With an area of 15,000 square kilometers and a total population of 3.68 million, the urban population of Zhaoqing City is 380,000. Zhaoqing is located in the central-western part of Guangdong Province and the western part of the Pearl River Delta, situated in the middle and lower reaches of the Xijiang River. It lies between 22°45′ and 24°24′ north latitude and 111°20′ and 112°52′ east longitude. Facing the Pearl River Delta and backing the Greater Southwest, Zhaoqing serves as the intersection point between Western Guangdong and the Pearl River Delta, as well as an important transportation hub for Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau to access Guangxi, Yunnan, and other regions. The urban area is over 90 kilometers from Guangzhou, over 200 kilometers from Shenzhen, 180 kilometers from Macau, and 140 nautical miles from Hong Kong by water. Trains and fast ferries can reach Hong Kong in four hours.
Zhaoqing is located south of the Tropic of Cancer and belongs to the subtropical monsoon humid climate zone. It enjoys abundant rainfall, ample sunshine, and a mild climate with an average annual temperature of 22.10°C, resulting in no snow in winter or extreme heat in summer. The city is rich in natural resources. To date, over 50 types of mineral resources have been identified, including gold, granite, marble, and limestone. Among them, gold production accounts for over 80% of the province's total, with the Hetai gold mine producing over 10,000 taels of gold annually, earning it the reputation of "North has Yantai, South has Hetai."
Zhaoqing is a national historical and cultural city, the birthplace of Lingnan culture, and a meeting point of Central Plains and Lingnan cultures, boasting a splendid history and culture. There are over 300 cultural relics and historical sites of scientific research value, such as Meidian, Yuancheng Dragon Mother Ancestral Temple, Chongxi Pagoda, Song Dynasty City Wall, Yuejiang Pavilion, Liemo Pavilion, Wenming Pagoda, Huangyandong Cave, Taixin Bridge, Gaoyou School Palace, Deqing School Palace, Wenta, and the Seven Star Rocks Cliff Carving Group. It is also believed that Zhaoqing is the birthplace of Cantonese!
Xinghu Scenic Area is one of the first national key scenic areas announced by the State Council. Recently, it was also selected as one of the first ten national model demonstration sites for civilized scenic areas. The lakeside and mountainscape of Seven Star Rocks are breathtaking. Seven peaks rise from a 6.5-square-kilometer lake, surrounded by mountains and water, pavilions, towers, and terraces, with rippling waves and rock shadows blending harmoniously. The natural scenery is exceptional, forming a unique landscape basin, earning it the titles of "Lingnan's Wonder" and "Heavenly Scenic Spot." In recent years, neon lights have been added to the 8-kilometer embankment and the seven peaks, creating a "Night Xinghu."
Dinghu Mountain, the first of Guangdong's four famous mountains, is known as the "green emerald on the Tropic of Cancer" and a "living natural museum." UNESCO has established a "Man and the Biosphere" research station here. It is a renowned sacred site that combines tourism, summer vacationing, research, and religion. Additionally, the scenic spots of Longshan in Fengkai County, Yuancheng Dragon Mother Ancestral Temple in Deqing County, Zhenshan in Sihui, and Yanrock in Huaiji are all famous. With the opening of the tourism ring route composed of Seven Star Rocks, Dinghu Mountain, Yuancheng Dragon Mother Ancestral Temple, Longshan, and Zhenshan, the number of domestic and international tourists visiting Zhaoqing has surged, with approximately 4 million visitors annually.
Zhaoqing is renowned for its high-yield agricultural products such as rice, premium fruits, and edible mushrooms, contributing to export earnings. The city also produces deep-processed pine resin products like pine resin, cinnamon, camphor oil, and camphor, as well as a variety of bamboo and wood products. Local specialty products include steamed fruits, lotus root, Jianhua (a type of vegetable), Zhaoshi, and ZiBei Tiankui. There are also traditional handicrafts and the Duan inkstone, the first of China's four famous inkstones.