(1)The history
Gaoming has a long history. Gaoming County was first established
in the 11th year of the Emperor Mingchenhua(i.e. 1475),
merged with Heshan County as Gaohe County in 1985 and restored
the administrative system of county in 1981. It was approved
by the State Council to upgrade as a city in1994.
(2) Geographical location.
Gaoming city is located in the middle part of Guangdong
province, north-western part of the Zhujiang River Delta
and at the lower reaches of the Zhujiang River, bordering
Gaoyao city in the north, Xinxing city in the west, neighboring
Heishan city to the south and facing Nanhai city across
Xijiang River to the east. Hecheng District, the political,
economical and cultural center of the city, is only 46 kilometers
from Foshan city and 68 kilometers from Guangzhou city by
land, and is about 98 sea miles from Hong Kong and 74 sea
miles from Macau. The city is one of the economically opening
cities and counties listed by the State Council.
(3). Area and population.
Gaoming City covers an area of 960 square kilometers and
owns a population of more than 270,000. It dominates 3 districts
and 7 towns. It is one of the important hometowns in Guangdong
province, with more than 100,000 compatriots from overseas,
Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
(4). Weather and natural resources.
Gaoming belongs to the subtropical monsoon climate with
abundant sunlight, sufficient rainfalls and is mild all
the year round. It enjoys a yearly average temperature of
21.60C, average sunlight of 1797 hours and average rainfall
of 1681 millimeters.
Gaoming City is aboundant in natural resources. The proven
minerals include coal, chalk, granite, eremite, kaolin,
gold, silver, copper, zinc, manganese, aluminum, tungsten
and cobalt. The chalk mine in the north western part of
Mingcheng town is one of the most largest chalk mines in
the province, with a deposit of over 150 million tons. The
gold and silver mine in Fuwan town is a super scale mine
with a deposit of more than 30 tons of gold and 5000 tons
of silver.
(5). Scenery and tourism.
Located by the Xijiang River, Gaoming city is elegant in
environment and unique in its buildings. It is known as
" the Pearl of Xijing River" thanks to its clear
waters, green hills and fertile land. There are two magnificent
ancient buildings namely Linggui Tower and Menchang Tower.
The ruin of Tang Dynasty's dragon kiln near the Linggui
Tower is the most perfectly preserved ruins of the alike.
The "Eight Resorts of Gaomimg" consisted by 'the
sun rise of Lingui Tower', 'the overlook of Wenchang Tower',
'the forest billow of Yunyong', 'the clouds of Zaomu Peak',
'the verdure water of Xikeng Reservoir', 'the long rainbow
over the waves', 'the eminent pen of Peng Peak' and 'the
noble spirit of Shagang Hill' are well known to the far.
We have built up some modern and unique-styled hotels like
Mingyuan Hotel and Royal Silver Ocean Hotel. The Silver
Ocean Gulf Club under construction will provide visitors
comfortable services of all around.
(6). Industry and Agriculture.
When Gaoming was first resumed county administrative system
in 1981, the total output value of industry and agriculture
was only 42.49 million RMB. As the open door and reform
policy going deeper, the city's industry has been developing
rapidly, forming up the industrial system of plastics, textile,
building materials, chemistry and light products. In 2000,
the total industrial output of the city leaped to 13.8 billion
RMB, 19.2% more than the former year.
Gaoming city owns vast fertile land and abundant agricultural
resources and is reputed as 'the hometown of fish and rice'.
It is one of the main production areas of rice in Guangdong
province with cultivated land of over 326 thousand mus.
There are about 780 thousand mus of upland, 96.8% of which
is covered by virescence and 44.2% covered by forest. About
100 thousand mus of little hills below 250 in gradient are
waiting for exploring. Most part of the land of the city
is among the alluvial plain of the Zhujiang River Delta
dotted with lots of small rivers and streams and is fit
for rice planting, fishing and birds and livestock raising.
The traditionally reputed native products include watermelon
and kudzu from Heshui town, lotus root from Xian town and
preserved fruit from Yangmei town. The gross agricultural
output is 1.51 billion RMB, 9.9% more than the previous
year.
(7). Foreign economic relations and trade.
Before the year 1985, the primary mode of foreign trade
of the city is offering goods to other domestic foreign
trade companies. Since 1986, we have successively set up
10 import and export companies. They are 'Food Stuffs Import
& Export Company', 'Native Products Import & Export
Company', 'Medical and Health Products Import & Export
Company', 'Arts & Crafts Import & Export Company',
'Textiles Import & Export Company', 'Livestock By-products
Import & Export Company', 'Mineral, Chemical and Machinery
Import & Export Company', 'Foreign Economic Development
Company' and 'Foreign Trade Enterprises Group Co., Ltd.'.
The total value of export is 330 million US$ in the year
2000, 25.8% more than the previous year. Gaoming has become
a gold land for foreign investment. Some 338 foreign invested
enterprises have been set up by the end of 2000, with contractual
foreign investment of over 1.074 billion US$ while actual
utility of foreign capital up to 556 million US$.
(8). Transportation.
Gaoming City is convenient in water and land transportation
with ways extended in all directions. The Guang-Gao Highway
runs through the city from the east to the west and the
Jiang-Zao Highway connects the north and the south. Highway
networks dots all around the city, connecting the city center
to all other towns and villages. Cargo and passengers ships
can voyage along the Xijiang River to Guangzhou city, Jiangmen
city, Zaoqing City, Wuzhou city and Hong Kong. The opening
of the first grade highways from Gaoming Bridge to Duichuan
which is one segment of Guang-Gao Highway made Gaoming city
a transportation hinge between developed areas and the by-developed
areas. After the Long-Gao first grade highway put into use,
the distance between Gaoming and Guangzhou City was greatly
shortened. It takes only one hour from Gaoming to Guangzhou
City and only 30 minutes to Foshan City.
(9). Telecommunication.
Post and telecommunication develops rapidly these years.
We have set up comprehensive telecommunication buildings
in all districts and towns. The total capacity of programme-controlled
telephones has reached 52.4 thousand and message channels
for mobile telephone up to 271. In every corner of the city,
people can make direct phone calls to all over the world.
Wireless pagers covering all area of Zhujiang River Delta
have been widely used. In order to meet the need of economic
development, the capacity of programme-controlled telephones
well increase 30 thousand more. We are now striding forward
to realize the target of 'Telephone City'.
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Investment environment
