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.

Line for journalists

Star Lake

Star Lake , composed of Seven Star Crags and Dinghu Mountain, is one of the first "National Top Tourist Attraction" and "National Top 10 Model Tourist Attractions" winners. Its fascination combines the beauty of the hills of Yangsuo with the water of West Lake, two top tourist attractions noted for charming hills and water respectively. Featuring steep crag, clear water, multiform rock, fantastic cave and ancient temple, Star Lake is regarded as the "Best Natural Wonder in Lingnan". Dinghu Mountain, with sky-reaching and sunlight-shadowing ancient trees, extruding peaks, blossoming flowers and singing birds, is not only a "National Natural Reserve" but also is an ecological positioning research station of UNESCO's "Man and the Biosphere Species Databases".

Tel: (0758) 2266439 Fax: (0758) 2225040 Website: www.zq.net.cn

Longmu (Dragon Mother) Temple in Deqing County

Located in Yucheng Town, Deqing County, the Dragon Mother Temple, was built in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) with wood, brick and stone material. Specially designed to be resistant to water, fire, thunder and moth, it is an exemplary building of the ancient architecture in South China.

Address: Yucheng Town, Deqing County, Zhaoqing, Guangdong

Tel: (0758) 7619855 Fax: (0758) 7619877 Website: www.zq.net.cn

Zhaoqing Duan Inkslab

Zhaoqing Duan Inkslab, first made at the beginning of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), tops Chinese "Four Most Famous Inkslab". It is well noted for its firmness, smoothness, exquisiteness and delicacy. Normally made in the area around Lanke Mountain and Beiling Mountain, the best Duan Inkslab can be found in Laokeng, Kenzaiyan and Mazikeng. Usually in dark purple, liver and azure blue color, it has one or various kinds of flower pattern.

For further inquiries, please call: Wang Jianhua, Vice President, Association of Zhaoqing Duan Inkslab

Tel: (0758) 2835156 Fax: (0758) 2125500 Website: www.zq.net.cn

Mobile: 1360298873

Linkfair Group Limited

Linkfair Group Limited is an export-oriented private company specialized in the

design, production and marketing of stainless cookware along with its own R&D. With over 500 global distributors, 95 percent of its products are exported to over 100 countries and regions worldwide, leading Guangdong for the past two years in a row regarding stainless cookware export.

Address: Linkfair Industrial Park, Guangxing Road, Xinxing County, Guangdong

Tel: (0766) 2920500 Fax: (0766) 2956699 Website: www.linkfair.com.cn

Yunfu International Stone Materials Center

Yunfu International Stone Materials Center is located in the intersection of many important highways, covering an area of 400,000 square meters with a total investment of 300 million yuan. Totaling 2,000 stores, it is divided into 10 areas consisting of product showroom, stone slab, manufacturing equipment and accessory, export sale, exemplary area for environmental protection, international exhibition, etc., a combination of various functions including trading, exhibition, logistics, financial service, ecommerce, testing and scientific research.

Address: Yuncheng District, Yunfu, Guangdong

Tel: (0766) 82263333

Fax: (0766) 8226322

Website: www.yunfuinterstone.com

Guoen (State Grace) Temple and Sixth Patriarch Master Monk Huineng

Located in Dragon Hill Hot Spring Resort of Xinxing County, the State Grace Temple, a provincial level resort, is the former residence where Master Monk Huineng (638-713), the Sixth Patriarch of Zen and founder of Zen's Southern Sect, passed away. The temple was first built in 683, the first year of Hongdao Period of Emperor Gao of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), as Baoen (Grace Repaying) Temple. In the third year of Shenlong Period of Emperor Zhong of the Tang Dynasty, Empress Wu Zetian (624-705) issued a royal order to rename it as State Grace Temple to award Sixth Patriarch Huineng's achievement in Buddhism promotion. As one of the three most important temples in Zen's Southern Sect, its history can be traced back to more than 1,300years ago. The Sixth Patriarch Master Monk Huineng was born in Xialu Village, Xinzhou County (the present Xinxing County) in the Tang Dynasty. After his succession from the Fifth Patriarch in private, Huineng lived a reclusive life in Sihui and Huaiji for 15 years, aimed to escape from rival infliction. Huineng had lived in his hometown till he was 24 years old. In 683, Huineng sent his disciples to build State Grace Temple. It was in 712 when Huineng passed away in his own home in Xinzhou County at the age of 76. His home town Jicheng Town in Xinxing County was renamed after him as Liuzu (Sixth Patriarch) Town in 2004.

Address: Liuzu Town, Xinxing County, Yunfu, Guangdong

Website: www.guoensi.com

A Happy Tour

Zhaoqing: Ancient City Wall, Panlong (Coiling Dragon) Gorge in Deqing, Deqing School Temple, Bird's Nest Rock in Huaiji, Mini Guilin in Fengkai, Zhen Mountain in Sihui, Bamboo Sea in Guangning

Yunfu: Buddha Hiding Pit in Xinxing, Dragon Hill Hot Spring, Coiling Cave, Sanyuan Pagoda in Luoding, Dawan Town Ancient Folk Residence in Yunan

News Focus

Zhaoqing: A Famous Historical and Cultural City

With its time-honored history of over 2,100 years, Zhaoqing is not only the cradle of the Lingnan Culture but also one of the earliest places in China where Zhongyuan (Central China) Culture first met with local Lingnan Culture and the occidental civilization met with the traditional Chinese civilization. As a melting pot of diverse cultures, it is home to many famous historical figures. There are over 360 important cultural relics in the municipality including "Top National Protection Cultural Relics" such as the Ancient City Wall of the Song Dynasty (960-129), Rock Carving in Seven Star Crags, Dragon Mother Temple in Yuecheng Town, Deqing School Temple, etc.

Zhaoqing has been the political, economic, cultural and military center in the Xijiang River area over the years. Its history can be dated back to 111 BC, the 6th year of Yuanding Period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220), when Gaoyao County was instituted. In 112 BC, Emperor Wu set up a "Salt Office" to supervise salt production in Zhaoqing, one of the 36 offices of this kind nationwide.

In 589, the 9th year of Emperor Kai of the Sui Dynasty (581-618), Duanzhou Prefecture was established governing 9 counties. In 1118, the 1st year of Chonghe Period of Emperor Hui of 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. In 1646, Lord Gui of the dethroned Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) took the official residence of Duanzhou Prefecture as his royal palace and enthroned himself as Emperor Yongle, where he organized military resistance against the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Throughout the Ming andQing Dynasty, the official residence of Governor for Guangdong and Guangxi was situated in Zhaoqing from 1564 to 1746.

Yunfu’s Agricultural Industrialization

There are 57 agricultural bases in Yunfu city, covering an area of over 7 million Mu (1/15 of a hectare). Based on the overall planning of regional layout and specialized production,23 quality agricultural product bases are to be set up aiming to foster a regional leading industry and turn the natural resources advantage of Yunfu into competitive and economic advantage. The production of chicken, hog, cinnamon, seedless wampee, orange and flower as well as the processing of preserved fruit, preserved vegetable and bamboo are among the leading industries. Xinxing County has become a "National Exemplary Area for Sustainable and High Efficient Agriculture", the largest base in the province regarding preserved fruit processing and sales, and the largest chicken breeding base

nationwide. Luoding City has turned itself into the most important provincial production base for cinnamon and bamboo.

Guangdong Wen's Food Company: Specialized in livestock breeding including chicken, hog, duck and milk cow, Guangdong Wen's Food Company is a large-scale enterprise also operating in food processing and biopharmaceutical industry. It is the largest chicken production and supply base in the province, "Leading Agricultural Enterprise in Guangdong Province" and "National Leading Enterprise Regarding Agricultural Industrialization". The company owns over 70 subsidiaries spreading over 14 provinces. It sold 450 million chicken and1.36 million hogs in 2006 in collaboration with over 30,000 farmer households, achieving 7.6 billion yuan of sales and 710 million yuan profits for farmers.

Yunfu Granulated Sugar Tasting Tangerine: The Granulated Sugar Tasting Tangerine produced in Yunfu is renowned for its thin peel, cardinal red color and high percentage of sugar. Nansheng Town, Yunan County, is a famous planting base for granulated sugar tasting tangerine and has been awarded as "Town of Orange in Guangdong Province".

Yunan Seedless Wampee: Wampee is a rare fruit in Guangdong. Wampee from Yunan County is generally believed to have the best quality, which has been awarded as "Top Brand of China International Agriculture Fair". Yunan County has also been honored as "China's Town of Seedless Wampee", "Green Food", among other recognitions.

For further inquiries, please contact:

Ye Jianbo Chief of Tourism Resource and Market Development Section, Yunfu Municipal Tourism Bureau

Tel: (0766) 8839082

Mobile: 13609636580

Zhaoqing Tourist Industry

Zhaoqing is committed to the reform of tourism management system and the introduction of large travel agencies to participate in tourism resource development and tourism product promotion over the past years. Meanwhile, it has spared no efforts to promote the Star Lake scenic spot and create unique inter-county tourism in order to form a long belt for tourism and become a hot tourist destination in the province.

Zhaoqing hosted over 10 million tourists in 2006 for the first time and became the third tourist destination of Guangdong Province, only after Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The municipality is accelerating the shift from a big city of tourism resource to a strong city of tourism economy aimed to build itself into an important destination for tourism, leisure, holiday and conference as well as a garden city for tourism.

For further inquiries, please contact:

Liu Junqing Chief of Publicity Section, Zhaoqing Municipal Tourism Development Bureau

Tel: (0758) 2231081

Mobile: 13824638811

Info Service

Traffic Inquiry

Long-distance Bus

China Travel Service, Zhaoqing Tel: (0758) 2268090

Zhaoqing Star Lake International Travel Service Tel: (0758) 2220145

Train Ticket Tel: (0758) 95105105

China Travel Service, Yunfu Tel: (0766) 8822160

Air Ticket Tel: (0766) 8822222 8828816

Train Ticket Tel: (0766) 8822338 8866863

Recommended Taxi Companies

Zhaoqing Jinhui Taxi Company Tel: (0758) 2800400

Zhaoqing Baiyun Taxi Company Tel: (0758) 2700400

Zhaoqing Car Rental Service Co., Ltd. Tel: (0758) 2836177

Yunfu Yunlong Taxi Company Tel: (0766) 8866555

Yunfu Yufeng Taxi Company Tel: (0766) 8827222

Recommended Hotels

Royal Lagoon Hotel　　 Four Star Tel: (0758) 2238238

Star Lake Hotel　 Four Star Tel: (0758) 2211000

Overseas Chinese Hotel　 Three Star Tel: (0758) 2232222

Yunfu Guest House Tel: (0766) 8988698

Yunfu Regency Hotel Tel: (0766) 8986328

Xiang Shun Hotel, Xinxing County Tel: (0766) 2691618

Zhu Yuan Hotel, Luoding City Tel: (0766) 3782688

Yong Guang Hotel, Yunan County Tel: (0766) 7328333

Recommended Travel Agencies

China Travel Service, Zhaoqing

Address: 90, Tianning Road North, Zhaoqing, Guangdong

Tel: (0758) 2268090

Zhaoqing Star Lake International Travel Service

Address: 82, Tianning Road North, Zhaoqing, Guangdong

Tel: (0758) 2220145

Yunfu Municipal Tourism Bureau

Address: 78, Yuhuang Road, Yunfu, Guangdong

Tel: (0766) 8816580

China Travel Service, Yunfu

Address: 70 Jianshe Road South, Yunfu, Guangdong

Tel: (0766) 8822160

Frequently Used Telephone Numbers

Police & Traffic Accident Tel: 110

Fire Tel: 119

Traffic Accident Tel: 122

China Mobile Customer Hotline Tel: 10086

China Unicom Customer Hotline Tel: 10010

China Telecom Customer Hotline Tel: 10000

Climate

Abundant in sunshine and rainfall, both located in mild subtropical zone with annual average temperature at 21.6 degrees centigrade, annual average rainfall of 1,518 mm and annual total sunshine of 1,708 hours.

Need assistance in news coverage, contact following departments:

Information office, Zhaoqing Municipal Government

Tel: (0758) 2282811

Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Zhaoqing Municipal

Government Tel: (0758) 2237010

Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Zhaoqing Municipal

Government Tel: (0766) 8988231

Returned Overseas Chinese Association of Yunfu

Tel: (0766) 8988234

International Publicity Office of the CPC Yunfu Committee

Tel: (0766) 8988568