Guangdong

Guangdong is on the South China coast across from Hainan province. Half of the province as subtropical weather. Guangdong is the provincial home of many Chinese immigrants. The province is rich in fruits, vegetables and livestock. The capital city, Guangzhou(Canton), was the seat of Prefecture of Nanhai in 214 B.C. and the largest and most prosperous trading city in South China. The Guangzhou Trade Fair, China's main foreign trade institution, is held every year.

Guangzhou is 125 km NW of Hong Kong on the Pearl River. In 1983, a 2100-year-old imperial tomb was discovered containing more than 1000 burial objects, among which were a chariot, gold and silver vessels, musical instruments, and human sacrifices. The site is now the Museum of the Western Han Dynasty Mausoleum of the Nanyue King.

The Chen Family Temple, built in the 1890s, has nine halls and six courtyards. Its windows, doorframes and pavilions are lavishly decorated with intricate carvings and sculptures. There is also the Mausoleum of the Seventy Two Martyrs at Yellow Flower Hill, built to commemorate an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the Qing in 1911, led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen. The Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall was built in 1931. There is Guangxiao Temple, the largest temple in China, and the oldest of Guangzhou. In Yuexiu Park, you can find the sculpture of 6 goats, symbol of Guangzhou. The South China Botanical Garden is one of the world's largest. It has over 2000 species of tropical and subtropical plants. The Orchid Garden is a delight for orchid lovers with almost 10,000 plants.

Shaoguan in northern Guangdong was settled 120,000 years ago. Skull fossils have been found in Maba District. Other artifacts from 8000 and 5000 years ago have also been discovered in the caves nearby. Red Cloud Hill, 54 km NW of the city, has peaks shaped like horses, elephants and monk's hats.

About 110 km west of Guangzhou is Zhaoqing, famous for its scenery and Duan ink stones. The Seven Star Crags have caves with grotesque limestone formations and an underground stream for boat riding. The Dinghu Lake is a lake formed on a volcano mouth. At the foot of the volcano is a natural forest reserve.