Dongguan, the former frontier of the Southern Song Dynasty's anti-Jin Dynasty, is known as "the first state in Lingnan";Today, this land is gradually ignored by the world, just like the silent Guantang River, flowing quietly on the edge of the Pearl River Delta. The silence is not silent, the story of the river surging, like the waves of modern struggle, shines with brilliant light. Let's gently lift the veil of reality and explore this prosperous city that has risen under the reform and opening up - Dongguan.
I am a native of Dongguan and have lived here since I was a child. I have a deep affection for the city, as well as mixed emotions. I have witnessed the development and changes of the city, and I have also felt the regrets and shortcomings of the city. I think this is also the voice of many Dongguan people.
Dongguan has a long history, as early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there are traces of human activities. The name of Dongguan is said to be because there was a mountain here in ancient times that resembled Guancao, so it was called Guanshan, which later evolved into Guanzhou, and then was later referred to as Guan. Dongguan is strategically located in the central part of Guangdong Province, the center of the Pearl River Delta, bordering Shenzhen in the south, Guangzhou in the north, Huizhou in the east, and Foshan in the west, and is an important node connecting the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Dongguan is rich in natural resources, with the reputation of "one river and two banks, flowers in all seasons", and has many landscapes, such as Guantang River, Phoenix Mountain, Songshan Lake, Humen Bridge, etc. Dongguan has a profound cultural heritage, with the title of "the state of culture, the hometown of folk customs", and has given birth to many historical celebrities, such as Yue Fei, Lin Zexu, Chen Li, Chen Duxiu, Li Ka-shing, etc., and also retains many traditional customs, such as lion dance, dragon boat, Guan-style furniture, Dongguan-style moon cakes, etc.
Dongguan has developed rapidly and is a pioneer and benchmark of reform and opening up. In 1978, when inspecting Shenzhen, he once said that "time is money, efficiency is life", which has also become the motto of Dongguan people. Dongguan people dare to innovate, dare to struggle, dare to sacrifice, with their own sweat and wisdom, to build a poor and backward agricultural county into a rich and prosperous industrial city. Dongguan people are industrious and brave, industrious and rich, brave to pursue their dreams, with their own hands and feet, to build an obscure town into a world-famous metropolis. Dongguan people are open and inclusive, open and cooperative, inclusive and diverse, and use their own minds and visions to turn a closed and conservative place into an international and modern place. Dongguan has a strong economy and is an important base for Chinese manufacturing, with many world-class industrial clusters, such as electronic information, home appliances, clothing, shoes and hats, toys, furniture, etc. Dongguan has an excellent social environment and is one of the safest cities in China, with many high-quality public services such as education, medical care, transportation, culture, sports, etc.
Dongguan also has many regrets, and is a victim and victim of reform and opening up. In the process of Dongguan's development, it has also paid a lot of costs, such as environmental pollution, resource consumption, social problems, etc. Dongguan's development model is also facing great challenges, such as low-end industries, low added value, and low technology content. There are also great uncertainties in Dongguan's development prospects, such as market competition, policy changes, and population flows. Dongguan's development orientation also lacks great characteristics, such as city image, cultural connotation, innovation ability, etc. Dongguan's development opportunities also require great efforts, such as transformation and upgrading, innovation-driven, regional coordination, etc.
Dongguan is a city with a glorious past, but also a city with a bright future. Dongguan is a city worthy of respect, and it is also a city worth looking forward to. Dongguan is a city to be proud of, but also a city to regret. I love Dongguan, I was born for Dongguan, and I also fight for Dongguan. I hope that Dongguan can continue to carry forward its fine traditions, overcome its own difficulties and problems, meet its own opportunities and challenges, and create its own brilliance and miracles. I also hope that Dongguan can get more attention and support, so that more people can understand and know the city, let more people like and appreciate the city, and let more people participate and contribute to the city. Dongguan, one of the most regrettable cities in China, is also one of the most anticipated cities in China.