Shiling
Encyclopedia
Shiling is a town on the outskirts of Guangzhou
, China. Its name means "Lion Ridge", so called because of the local mountain ridge that is shaped like a lion . Shiling Town has long consisted of small farms abutting the mountains from which it gets its name. In the 1970s the government began centrally planned industrialization of Shiling as a leatherworking town. It is now the largest center for the leatherworking industry in China. In addition, its forested mountains and ancient temple make it a tourist destination. Recently, Shiling has seen suburban real-estate redevelopment of some of its land in Western style, with widely space houses, as opposed to the traditional Chinese closely clustered farming communities.
, a suburban district of Guangzhou. The G107 (Guang-Qing Highway), traveling northeast out of Guangzhou, is the major road passing through Shiling. Shiling is 34 km from downtown Guangzhou. The Beijing-Guangzhou railway also passes through Shiling.
some time during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor
(1736—1795) .
The leader of the Taiping Rebellion
, Hong Xiuquan
, while staying in Shiling (c. 1845 - 1847) developed his revolutionary theory and wrote many of his famous works at the Yuan Floral Hall (袁氏花厅), the ruins of which are still visible .
Shiling was reorganized into a commune (公社) in 1953, into a region (区) in 1983, and most recently into a town (镇) in 1986. Shiling has 25 village (neighborhood) committees.
Shiling produces low and medium quality leather goods for Chinese and international markets. The local business leaders are actively developing their capacity to make and market high-end leather goods.
Shiling is the largest center for leather goods production and sales in China. The leather industry employs around 120,000 people.
A leather training institute is being developed to train farmers in the leather trade and to improve the quality of leatherworking sciences .
The China (Shiling) Leather Products Fair has been held annually in Shiling since 2000.
The Shiling leather industry was worth 4.7 billion yuan
in 2002 and 9 billion in 2009.
is located in the mountains in the north of Shiling. The Pangu temple was built in 1809, burned, rebuilt in 1901 , neglected for many years, renovated (1984–86) and reopened . The temple is promoted as a tourist attraction and pilgrimage site. The temple is noted for its Black Lion Dance
, waterfall, and clean spring water from Longkou spring, which is believed to have healing properties . A festival is held on the birthday of Pangu, the 12th day of the 10th month of the Chinese lunar calendar
.
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, China. Its name means "Lion Ridge", so called because of the local mountain ridge that is shaped like a lion . Shiling Town has long consisted of small farms abutting the mountains from which it gets its name. In the 1970s the government began centrally planned industrialization of Shiling as a leatherworking town. It is now the largest center for the leatherworking industry in China. In addition, its forested mountains and ancient temple make it a tourist destination. Recently, Shiling has seen suburban real-estate redevelopment of some of its land in Western style, with widely space houses, as opposed to the traditional Chinese closely clustered farming communities.
Location
Shiling Town (狮岭镇)is located in Huadu DistrictHuadu District
Huadu District is a district in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. It is located in the far northern suburbs of Guangzhou.Xinhua Town is the seat of local government, and of the district CCP committee....
, a suburban district of Guangzhou. The G107 (Guang-Qing Highway), traveling northeast out of Guangzhou, is the major road passing through Shiling. Shiling is 34 km from downtown Guangzhou. The Beijing-Guangzhou railway also passes through Shiling.
History
Shiling was founded as a hamlet (圩) in the Qing dynastyQing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
some time during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor
Qianlong Emperor
The Qianlong Emperor was the sixth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty, and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. The fourth son of the Yongzheng Emperor, he reigned officially from 11 October 1735 to 8 February 1796...
(1736—1795) .
The leader of the Taiping Rebellion
Taiping Rebellion
The Taiping Rebellion was a widespread civil war in southern China from 1850 to 1864, led by heterodox Christian convert Hong Xiuquan, who, having received visions, maintained that he was the younger brother of Jesus Christ, against the ruling Manchu-led Qing Dynasty...
, Hong Xiuquan
Hong Xiuquan
Hong Xiuquan , born Hong Renkun, style name Huoxiu , was a Hakka Chinese who led the Taiping Rebellion against the Qing Dynasty, establishing the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom over varying portions of southern China, with himself as the "Heavenly King" and self-proclaimed brother of Jesus Christ.-Early...
, while staying in Shiling (c. 1845 - 1847) developed his revolutionary theory and wrote many of his famous works at the Yuan Floral Hall (袁氏花厅), the ruins of which are still visible .
Shiling was reorganized into a commune (公社) in 1953, into a region (区) in 1983, and most recently into a town (镇) in 1986. Shiling has 25 village (neighborhood) committees.
Population
In 2002, Shiling had a population of about 180,000 residents and about 100,000 migrant workers.Farming
Shiling was originally and remains an agricultural community. Primary produce are rice, fruits, vegetables, flowers, nursery stock and the breeding of poultry and fish.Leather Industry
Beginning in the 1970s the central government promoted industrial development of Shiling focused on the leatherworking industry, which is carried out in factories and by piecework in homes, something the farming community could integrate into their lifestyle.Shiling produces low and medium quality leather goods for Chinese and international markets. The local business leaders are actively developing their capacity to make and market high-end leather goods.
Shiling is the largest center for leather goods production and sales in China. The leather industry employs around 120,000 people.
A leather training institute is being developed to train farmers in the leather trade and to improve the quality of leatherworking sciences .
The China (Shiling) Leather Products Fair has been held annually in Shiling since 2000.
The Shiling leather industry was worth 4.7 billion yuan
Renminbi
The Renminbi is the official currency of the People's Republic of China . Renminbi is legal tender in mainland China, but not in Hong Kong or Macau. It is issued by the People's Bank of China, the monetary authority of the PRC...
in 2002 and 9 billion in 2009.
Suburban Real Estate Development
Recently, "Western-style" suburban developments have been built in Shiling . The developments are close to the scenic mountains with easy transportation to Guangzhou. The real estate developments in Shiling have been advertised as a "golden corridor" (黄金走廊) and "tomorrow's satellite city" (明日卫星城) .Tourism
Tourism to Shiling is being promoted with attractions such as mountain resorts, local folk culture, the Pangu cultural festival, and the revolutionary historical site Yuan Floral Hall among others.Ancient Pangu Temple
A rare temple dedicated to PanguPangu
Pangu was the first living being and the creator of all in Chinese mythology.- The Pangu legend:...
is located in the mountains in the north of Shiling. The Pangu temple was built in 1809, burned, rebuilt in 1901 , neglected for many years, renovated (1984–86) and reopened . The temple is promoted as a tourist attraction and pilgrimage site. The temple is noted for its Black Lion Dance
Lion dance
Lion dance is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture, in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume. The lion dance is often mistakenly referred to as dragon dance. An easy way to tell the difference is that a lion is operated by two people, while a dragon needs many people...
, waterfall, and clean spring water from Longkou spring, which is believed to have healing properties . A festival is held on the birthday of Pangu, the 12th day of the 10th month of the Chinese lunar calendar
Chinese calendar
The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, incorporating elements of a lunar calendar with those of a solar calendar. It is not exclusive to China, but followed by many other Asian cultures as well...
.