The launch ceremony of a new book, Documents of History of the Thirteen Hongs of Canton (three volumes in total) was held at Guangzhou on March 15, 2022. As a key project supported by the Chinese National Social Science Foundation, the book is classified as one of the major achievements of the Guangzhou Maritime Silk Road Institute.
Created during the Age of Discovery, the Thirteen Hongs of Canton is indispensable for the foreign trade system in the middle of the Qing Dynasty. Emerging with international maritime trade in the 16th century and contributing to the expansion of maritime trade in the 18th century, the Thirteen Hongs coincided with an important period of the Maritime Silk Road.
Documents of History of the Thirteen Hongs of Canton, a book covering fairly complete history of the Thirteen Hongs and a book of dynastic history about the Maritime Silk Road, presents historical evolution of the Thirteen Hongs of Canton from the sea prohibition to the reinstatement of trade with foreign countries, from the Canton Trade System to the Opium War, from Tributary Trade System to the global market trade, by sorting out the story in 300 years during which China adapted itself to the rest of the world.
Source: Yangcheng Evening News