Stage One: Initial Settlement and Growth
Siu Hoi Wan is located in the southern part of Canton, and has been populated by Cantonese-speaking Han people known as the Hakka since this time. Initially settled in 206 BC during the Qin Dynasty, the area has been occupied since (Van Dyke). The Hakka found Siu Hoi Wan, or “little bay,” to be largely protected from the worst of the typhoons that annually strike the southern regions of China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Because of the historical infighting that existed between the different city-states, the people of Siu Hoi Wan found the area to be particularly helpful in the protection against warlords and invading armies, as the settlement is tucked behind a forest, with higher ground used for protection against potential invading armies (Benevolo). Galantey suggests that many new towns in antiquity established watchtowers to protect the borders from incursion. From this area, the residents were able to conduct traditional fishing activities and gather pearls, one of the traditional forms of trade in the region (Van Dyke). During the initial settlement of the area, the Hakka people lived in relative isolation and experienced no significant conflict, due to the fact that other more prosperous port cities like Guangzhou and Hong Kong are at relatively close proximity to the site (Jones). In antiquity, through the start of the Opium Wars, the river was used primarily as a trade route to connect Siu Hoi Wan with the Silk Road in the northern parts of China (Van Dyke). Initial settlement and growth occurred slowly over hundreds of years, and the area was very isolated for a significant period of time until the mid to late 1800s.Stage Two: British Colonization and Industrialization
During the second stage of growth, the British colonized the region as a result of their investment in the Opium Wars, and this area became a staging location for incursion into many other parts of Guangdong (then “Canton”) (Lovell; Jim and Liu). The occupation begain in 1911 (Lovell). This also gave the British and other imperial powers access to the South China Sea, and the relatively protected inlet that was discovered when Siu Hoi Wan was founded was an excellent place from which to conduct naval operations. The relative proximity to Taiwan also motivated British colonization. During this time, fortifications of the city were increased, a base built on the island, and the forest utilized for from naval attacks. In addition, during this time, the original settlement was expanded to encompass most of the western and eastern banks of the river, and along the river, freshwater port infrastructure was built. This new infrastructure was built largely for the military use of the settlement, but along with military infrastructure, town infrastructure was built to support the increased numbers of people living and working in the area. Farming and livestock production was moved outside the town to the northwest, where there was more space for production. In addition, the growing population meant that more farming had to be done, and the elimination of some of the forest to the northeast of the initial settlement allowed for more space. Pearl production continued for the settlement during this time, uninterrupted by war. Industrialization during this time was minor due to the lack of space, but some industrialization began in the form of lumber production for wartime activities (Lovell).
Stage Three: Cultural Revolution
During the Cultural Revolution, Southern China was a hotbed of support for the Kuomintang (KMT), particularly the KMT leaders. The Cultural Revolution began in the 1940s, in the years immediately following World War II. There are many major military bases located in the southern parts of China, and particularly in Guangdong (Van Dyke). During this time, the forest to the northeast of the town center was cut back to make way for a military airport and landing strip. Further military fortifications were built along the river to the north of the initial settlement in the hopes of protecting the settlement against attack from the northern parts of the country. Industrial production was increased during this time, as both Mao’s army and the KMT required significant output in the form of military equipment and support from places like Siu Hoi Wan, which has the infrastructure for industrialization in place following British colonization during the Opium War. The infrastructure needed to support the Cultural Revolution fighting was already established because of the British involvement during the Opium War. During this time, the traditional industry of pearl diving largely disappeared because of the investment in industrialization and the increased pollution causing problems with the oyster population.
Works Cited
Benevolo, Leonardo, The History of the City, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass., 1980.
Galantey, Ervin, New towns: Antiquity to the Present, George Braziller, New York, 1975.
Jim, C. Y., and H. T. Liu. "Patterns and dynamics of urban forests in relation to land use and development history in Guangzhou, China. "The Geographical Journal 167.4 (2001): 358-375.
Jones, Emrys. Towns and cities. Vol. 13. Oxford University Press, 1966.
Lovell, Julia. The opium war. Picador Australia, 2011.
Van Dyke, Paul A. The Canton trade: life and enterprise on the China coast, 1700-1845. Vol. 1. Hong Kong University Press, 2005.
