Archeological records show that the area around Dongguan has been occupied for over 5000 years. But, up until 226, Dongguan was not a part of the Chinese nation. That development was the result of the expansionist Qin Dynasty regime's forced migration of hundreds of thousands southwards to populate their new province of Guang (Guangdong today). During the Eastern Jin Dyansty (317-420), Dongguan was known as the county of Baoan. Later, Dongguan got the name we know today from the Tang (618-907). During the War of Resistance against Japan, Dongguan had been a base for the resistance forces in the East River Basin area, where thousands of Dongguan people fought bravely for and devoted their lives to the nationбпs independence and prosperity. Thanks to its long history and glorious revolutionary tradition, Dongguan has become a well-known historic and cultural city in south Guangdong.
Dongguan, with a modest subtropical monsoon climate, enjoys long warm summers without the cold weather of winter, abundant sunshine, plentiful rains, low temperature differences between seasons, and other conditions indicative of monsoon regions. The period from April to June is the Pre-Flood Season with most precipitation originating from inland weather currents. The period from July to September is the Latter-Flood Season with most precipitation originating from typhoon activity.
Dongguan is an important centre for the economy of China because of its booming industries. The advantageous geographic location has helped Dongguan become an important channel for the flow of information and goods in South China and one of the most dynamic economic centers in Guangdong Province. Serving as an international base for the manufacturing industry with over 10 000 manufacturing enterprises of all sorts, it has a comprehensive industrial system making a wide range of products, with computer parts manufacturing as its backbone. One of the most important sectors is IT, Dongguan is a leading city in producing computers and component parts.
Although there is no airport in Dongguan City, there are many airports available in its surrounding cities, such as Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Shenzhen Airport, Zhuhai airport, Foshan Airport and New Hongkong Airport. In Dongguan, there are many booking offices and more than 40 operation outlets of civil aviation, conveniently dealing with passenger and freight transportation business of all flight courses. Dongguan serves as one of the regional railway hub in Guangdong, where Guangzhou-Kowloon Railway, Guangzhou-Meizhou-Shantou Railway and Beijing-Kowloon converge, forming a railway network that channels Guandong’s south and north. Dongguan railway port is one of the first-class ports in China. The bus network of Dongguan City is so fully-developed that it covers the whole city. You can easily reach anywhere in the urban area by bus and go from the urban area to the surrounding towns by city bus.
The education system is well organized, from pre school to higher education, and the attendance rate is very high. From preschool education, basic education, vocational education, higher education to lifelong adult education, a comparative integrated and harmonious educational system has been basically set up. Senior high school education has been popularized since the year 1995.
The best place to get a clear understanding of the Opium wars from a Chinese perspective, the Opium War Museum records not only the history of the events, but commemorates Lin Zexu, the Ming-era official who fanned the flames of the conflict by disposing of nearly 1,200 metric tons (2,619,372 pounds) of British opium at Humen Beach in 1839. Enraged by Lin's defiance and the huge economic losses resulting from the destruction of their product, the Brits brought their superior weaponry and naval tactics to bear on Canton, thus firing the first shots of the Opium Wars. Set in the Humen Fortress, the museum is distributed into three general sections; the museum, the Shajiao Emplacement and the Weyuan Emplacement. The museum details, through a variety of technologies and media, the unfolding of the war. Some of Li Zexu's couplets and slogans, as well as opium smoking sets, cannons, spears, long swords and 3,000 other objects are also displayed. Also of interest are the bronze statue of Lin Zexu and the site of the two pits where Lin Zexu had Great Britain's precious opium destroyed.
Dongguan has many ancient cultural sites dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as the Keyuan Garden, one of the four most famous gardens in Guangdong Province, Jin'aozhou Pagoda and Yuan Chonghuan's former home of Ming dynasty, Huangqi Ancient Temple in Song Dynasty.
Built in 1850 by deposed military officer Zhang Jingxiu, Keyuan Garden, one of Guangdong's historic "four famous gardens", makes for a great place to spend. Сovering an area of 2 200 hectares, It is rectangular-shaped with dozens of aged traditional buildings located around in the garden. The garden features a tower, eleven pavilions, six terraces, five ponds, three bridges, nineteen halls and fifteen rooms, all of which are in grey bricks and most of which are named “Ke”. The tallest building is Ke Tower, as tall as 15.6 meters. The attic of Ke Tower is called Stone Inviting Pavilion, where, looking out of the window, you can get a bird’s eye view of the scenery of Guancheng District.
Dongguan, as with all the other Chinese cities, hosts big parties and festivals to celebrate all of China's major holidays, including Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, Lover's Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Lantern Festival and Tomb Sweeping Day, but also has a few other festivals of its own. The aforementioned “Body Sale” festival harks back to the days of slavery. In those times, rich landowners would come down to what was basically a Labor Fair, where all of the unemployed workers and slaves for sale would congregate in hopes of finding some gainful, if not very poorly paid, employment. Other interesting festivals and events include the Qintong Boat Festival, the Lychee Festival and the Humen International Fashion Fair. The eponymous Qintong Boat Festival happens in Qintong, involves boats, Dragon dances and takes place in early April.
The firm colossal and grand Ying'en Gate Tower, which once had a circling wall of 4,300 meters long connecting Daojia Mountain, Nancheng District, Bomeng Mountain, the East gate and North gate to protect Dongguan City, was built in the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty. Currently, the still-standing Ying'en Gate Tower with its red walls, green tiles, upturned eaves and bucket arches is very grand. Its preserved foundation built in the Ming Dynasty is enormously precious. The Ying'en Gate Tower has always been the symbol of the ancient city of Dongguan and an important representative of this famous historical and cultural city, while the Culture Square is the presentation of the new century, new atmosphere and new Dongguan. This relic, matching with modern cultural facilities, has some historical and appreciative values.
