Shunde District

According to archaeological discoveries, human settlements appeared during the Spring and Autumn period. In the third year of Jinghai era (1452 AD), after the Ming dynasty suppressed the rebellion led by Huang Xiao Yang (黃蕭養), Shunde county was formally established. Before that, this area was part of Nam Hoi county (Nanhai Xian) and Sun Hui county (Xinhui Xian).

Shunde was a county-level city until 8 December 2002, when it became a district of Foshan prefecture-level city.[2] Shunde has direct jurisdiction over four subdistricts and six towns:

Unique as a district of any prefecture-level city in China, Shunde has been granted a degree of prefecture-level administrative autonomy over certain matters, notably economic development, independent of Foshan city, and has been answerable directly to the Guangdong Provincial government since 2009.[2]

Situated in the fertile Pearl River Delta, its economy was once dominated by agriculture, fisheries and silk farming. Since the implementation of policies related to reform and openness began in 1978, the people of this area were given full control over their geographical position and culture. This has allowed Shunde to gradually develop into a modern industrial boomtown, especially the manufacturing of furniture and electric appliances.[4] Some mainland Chinese product brands like Kelon or Midea are made in Shunde. Recently a new technology industrial park has also been opened in this area, featuring car manufacturers such as Toyota. Galanz, an appliance maker, has its headquarters in Shunde District.[5]

Shunde was approved as a pilot city for the comprehensive reform of Guangdong in 1993,[2] and also for taking the lead in accomplishing modernization in 1999. From 2000 to 2003, Shunde was ranked first among China's top 100 counties for Basic Economic Competitiveness for four consecutive years (released by National Bureau of Statistics of China). In 2005, Shunde's GDP was 2,170 billion yuan.[6]

Today, this area has become one of the most affluent counties in Guangdong and mainland China (according to official information from the Chinese government and the United Nations). The GDP reached 127.5 billion yuan in 2007, an annual increase of 18%, and GDP per capita reached 107,991 yuan (ca. US$14,200).

Tourist attractions include the Qinghui Garden, which features fish ponds surrounded by osmanthus, bamboo and mulberry bushes,[7] as well as the Bruce Lee Memorial Museum located in Jun'an. Shunfengshan Park was opened to the public in 2004 and has a memorial archway which is 88 metres (289 ft) wide and 38 metres (125 ft) high. Baolin Temple is accessible through the park.[8]

Travelling from Shunde is easy with many different options. There are ferries and buses that go directly to Hong Kong, including an option to Hong Kong International Airport. Bus tickets can be purchased at the New World Centre Hotel. Macau is easily accessible by train, taking less than an hour. Guangzhou is accessible by train, taxi or bus.[9]

China’s southern city of Shunde joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as the city of gastronomy on Monday. Another 27 cities from 19 countries were also added to the list.

Shunde has long been widely regarded as the basis for exquisite Cantonese cuisine and the cradle of Cantonese cuisine chefs. While the cuisine of Guangzhou has been historically very minimalist in terms of flavorings, food from Shunde is known for its liberal use of ingredients such as sun dried tangerine peel and dates, resulting in simple but powerful flavors.

Launched in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The network aims to foster international cooperation between cities committed to investing in creativity as a driver for sustainable urban development, social inclusion and enhanced cultural influence in the world.

By joining the network, cities commit to collaborate and develop partnerships with a view to promoting creativity and cultural industries, to share best practices, to strengthen participation in cultural life and to integrate culture in economic and social development plans.

The network covers seven thematic areas: craft and folk arts, design, film, gastronomy, Literature, media arts and music. It aims to promote international cooperation and encourage the sharing of experiences and resources to promote local development through culture and creativity.

With these new designations, the number of UNESCO Creative Cities Network members now totals 69.

Shunde is one of the cradles of Cantonese cuisine, situated at the core of the Pearl River Delta, with Guangzhou to the north and Hong Kong to the south. Its outstanding natural environment, lively cultural scene, prosperous economy and renowned culinary arts academies provide particularly favorable conditions for the development of a gastronomic culture and industry.

The chefs in the city pay special attention to retaining the ingredients’ flavors and cook with attractive colors, fragrances and tastes that can be described as "light, fresh, crispy, tender, smooth and genuine". Shunde cuisine is famous for its delicacies characterized by their nutritional value and preparation. The combination of inventive cooking methods, creative ways of presentation and outstanding flavors, make the city’s cuisine truly exceptional.

Shunde’s longstanding and well-developed gastronomy as well as more recent processes of industrialization have brought forth ambitions for future developments. The city is determined to further its image as an innovative city of gastronomy and creativity.

An unusual feature of Shunde cuisine is its desserts, such as double skin milk, made with dairy products - otherwise rare in Chinese cuisine - an indirect legacy of European missionaries and merchants active in the area since the 16th Century.

As of 2017 there are 18 cities in the world which have been awarded the UNESCO "City of Gastronomy", of which Shunde is one of two in mainland China (the other being Chengdu).

Martial artist Bruce Lee's ancestral roots are traced to Gwan'on (Jun'an) in Seundak (Shunde). A street in the village is named after the actor, and his ancestral home is open to the public.

Others include:

• The former Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Australia, John So.
• Real estate developer Lee Shau Kee, and, as of May 2013, the 24th richest person in the world.[10]
• Real estate developer Yang Guoqiang
• Famous actor Law Kar Ying
• Eileen Yin-Fei Lo, Chinese-American cookbook writer

One possible translation of the demonym for Shunde(Shuntak) might be Shuntakese

• Shunde, China Furniture Wholesale Market
• Hisense Kelon

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shunde.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Shunde.

• Government of Shunde
• Destination guide
• Information about Shunde