Beautiful, fun, and delicious. 5. When was Shantou opened as a port?

We followed the island's path and arrived at a seemingly European-style villa. This is the "Former Site of the Chao Customs Tax Office." Not far from this house is another one. Both houses are villas with yellow exterior walls and front porches. "Chao Customs" is the predecessor of Shantou Customs, established by the Qing government on Mayu Island in Shantou Port in 1860, marking the official opening of Shantou as a port. Chao Customs was initially located on Mayu Island, but due to incidents like tax silver robberies, it was moved to Shantou City in 1865 and then to the Customs Clock Tower in 1921—now at the westernmost end of Binhai Avenue—the "Shantou Customs History Museum." These two villas on Mayu Island were the "Summer Villa of the Tax Commissioner" and the "Summer Residence for Staff with Families." In front of the "Summer Villa" is a white sculpture of a seahorse. The seahorse is a symbol of marine life, and I think it symbolizes guardianship and peace. As the "Shantou History of Opening to the Outside World Exhibition Hall," the exhibition inside is worth a look. The Chaoshan area faces the sea to the southeast, with a coastline of 278 km. Shantou's geographical location and resources are advantageous. Around the time it opened as a port in 1860, it was already the leading port for domestic and foreign trade in eastern Guangdong and the Han River basin. From 1852 to 1858, it became a major hub for the "Coolie Trade," with ships from countries like the US and the UK coming here to transport coolies. It is said that from 1848 to 1855, 7,710 coolies were transported from China to Havana, of which 2,508 embarked from Shantou. Shantou is located at the mouth of a tributary of the Han River. It was a fishing port in the Song Dynasty. In the Ming Dynasty, many merchant ships docked here. During the Yongzheng and Qianlong reigns of the Qing Dynasty, foreign trade flourished, making it one of the important commercial ports at the time. I saw some old photos in the exhibition, and one map even showed a fort! Exported goods once included paper, shipped to Southeast Asia, Siam (Thailand), Taiwan, and other places for use by Chaoshan emigrants there. Ceramics and fruits were also exported to Singapore and Hong Kong. In the late Qing Dynasty, Shantou opened a shipping route to Hong Kong, and Hong Kong's entrepôt trade boomed. Many foreign goods entered the Chaoshan area, which also promoted the commercialization of agricultural and handicraft products in the region. During the Republic of China period, foreign firms entered Shantou, engaging in shipping, warehousing, insurance, and other businesses. During this period, many overseas Chinese from Chaoshan emigrated, aiming to make a living, send remittances to support their families, buy land and build houses, and bring honor to their ancestors. Later in our travels, we saw old houses built by overseas Chinese in the old streets and alleys, the "Qiaopi Memorial Site" in Xidi Park, and local ancestral halls. These are all unique historical and cultural aspects of the Chaoshan area. In the exhibition hall, I saw a "Jiazi Shell Carving" hanging screen that was exported from here. Jiazi is a coastal town in Shanwei. Shell carving is a traditional folk craft that dates back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, mainly used for decoration. Playing on Mayu Island and seeing the exhibition helped me understand the city. Shantou gradually developed from a small fishing village into an important coastal trading port and commercial center. In the 1980s, during the reform and opening-up period, Shantou became a special economic zone with a historical foundation. Making good use of its geographical advantages is crucial. Shantou has history, and therefore, it has tourist attractions today. It's bustling, and it's worth knowing why Shantou is bustling. (To be continued)