How many ducks do you think live here? Probably not as many as you might imagine given that we are standing in Ebu.
Ebu is a town in Haifeng County. It lies in eastern Guangdong province in China. We are just 6 kilometers from the South China Sea coast. China National Highway 324 serves Ebu.
Originally, Ebu was called “Eshan”. Some say the town’s area had a small hill. Its shape resembled a duck. People then called it “Eshan”.
Later, as the population from central China migrated south, the area around Eshan developed. By the Ming Dynasty, trade flourished. Eshan faced the South Gate Sea and had natural waterway advantages. Wharves were constructed here. Fishing and cargo boats gathered attracting merchants. Thus, it became known as “Ebu”. “Bu” means wharf or dock. So the name Ebu stuck. It means Duck Wharf.
The Qing Dynasty scholar Ouyang Houjun described Ebu as “a central waterway surrounded by mountains”. This highlights Ebu’s unique geography and rich history.
Today, Ebu is part of the Shenzhen Special Cooperation Zone. It is managed by Shenzhen. Ebu is a key area for advanced manufacturing. In 2025, a fishery-solar power project was initiated in Xinyuan Village in Ebu.
This project combines aquaculture with solar power generation. Solar panels are installed over fish ponds. This allows for clean energy production and fish farming. The project contributes about 7.5 million kWh of clean energy annually. It also generates about 3.4 million yuan in annual electricity revenue.
The villagers also benefit from land rental income. New employment opportunities have been created. Ebu is both an emerging industrial hub and a cultural treasure. Once a small wharf town it is now a vibrant new city. So don’t bother looking for the ducks of Ebu. Explore the city’s transformation.