Zhaoqing

Lying in the midwest of Guangdong Province, Zhaoqing City is one of the birthplaces of aboriginal culture south of the Five Ridges in remote ancient. Archeological findings prove that human beings moved about Zhaoqing as early as about 140,000 years ago. About 100,000 years ago, the place was in the transition to the Neolithic Age. About 5,000 years ago, the ancestors of Zhaoqing had been engaged in farming, livestock breezing, weaving and pottery making. Bronze wares unearthed in tombs of the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC) and the Warring States Period (475-221BC) in Zhaoqing keeps the trace of Shang (17th - 11th century BC) and Zhou (11th century - 771BC) cultures of the Central Plains and the Chu and Yue cultures at the Yangtze River Valley, as well as the distinct features of the culture south of the Five Ridges.

Zhaoqing is a national historical and cultural city, and the converging place of the cultures of the Central Plains and south of the Five Ridges. It boasts more than 300 historic sites of scientific research value, including the Mei Nunnery, the Chongxi Tower, the Song Dynasty City Wall, the Yuejiang Pavilion, the Lijiao Pavilion, the Wenming Tower, the Huangyan Cave, and the Taixin Bridge, etc. Textual research shows that Zhaoqing is also the birthplace of the Guangdong dialect.

The Star Lake Scenic Area is one of the key national scenic spots proclaimed by the State Council in the first batch. Recently, it was ranked as one of the first batch of the ten major national civilized scenic area models. The Seven-Star Lake is characterized by enchanting landscape of lakes and mountains, with seven rock peaks standing imposingly in the lake of 6.5 square meters, and is reputed as the No.1 Wonder South of the Five Ridges and the Earthly Fairy Land. In recent years, the causeway of eight kilometers long and the seven rock peaks in the Star Lake Scenic Area were decorated with colorful neon lights, creating a Night Star Lake. Dinghu Mountain tops the four famous mountains in Guangdong, and is reputed as a Green Gem on the North Tropic, and Life Natural Museum.