Remember the name Kat Tsai Shan Au. It is more than just a geographical point. It is steeped in the rich history of this region.
Kat Tsai Shan Au is closely linked to the story of Shenzhen. Shenzhen began as a small market town. It only had about 30,000 people. This was along the Kowloon-Canton Railway. Then in 1979, Shenzhen was transformed into a city. In 1980, it gained even more importance. It was designated as China’s first Special Economic Zone or SEZ.
Shenzhen’s history stretches back much further than that though. Evidence shows habitation since the Neolithic Age. That is approximately 6,700 years ago. Early development occurred during the Xia and Shang dynasties. Shenzhen was a base for the Nanyue tribe. They were a subset of the Baiyue tribe. They relied heavily on fishing and very little on cultivation.
In 214 BC, Emperor Qinshihuang of the Qin Dynasty united China. He merged Nanhai, Guilin, and Xiangjun. This area included modern-day Guangdong and Guangxi. To boost development, he relocated 500,000 people. They came from the central China plains to the south. This spread the central plain culture into southern China.
During the Song Dynasty, Shenzhen grew as a trade hub. It became important for maritime trade. Salt and spices were key goods. The pearl industry grew during the Yuan Dynasty. In the Ming Dynasty, Dongguan and Dapeng military bases were set up here. By 1565, the Nantou Naval Base was established. It was on the Nanshan Peninsula south of Shenzhen. It became an important military administration. It oversaw a large area of land and water. It was known as the outpost of Humen. It was also a protective screen for the provincial capital.
In 1573, Xin’an County was established. This is modern day Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Nantou was the county seat. It was a commercial center for salt, tea, spices, and rice.
As Imperial China declined, Xin’an County became Bao’an County. During the War of Resistance against Japan, Nantou was occupied. Japanese troops were stationed there. The county government moved to Dongguan County in 1938 temporarily. In 1953, the Bao’an county seat moved eastward. It went to the Shenzhen Township. The Guangzhou-Kowloon Railway ran through Shenzhen. Industry and commerce began to prosper. Resident communities grew.
In March 1979, Bao’an County was renamed Shenzhen City. The city was under the administration of Huiyang Prefecture. By November, the city was promoted. It became a prefecture directly governed by the province.
Shenzhen was designated as the first Special Economic Zone in May 1980. In March 1981, Shenzhen gained sub-provincial city status. This put it on par with Guangzhou. In November 1988, Shenzhen was given greater rights. It could administer at the same level as a provincial city.
In July 1992, Shenzhen gained the right to draft local laws. Kat Tsai Shan Au has been a silent witness. It watched Shenzhen transform from a small town to a global economic powerhouse.