What is the historical position of Taicang?
The Yuan Dynasty was the golden age in Taicang history. The rise of Liujiagang in Yuan Dynasty and the opening of water transportation made Taicang's politics, economy and urban construction develop rapidly. In less than a hundred years, Liujiagang quickly became the "No.1 wharf in the world" connecting the six countries, and then Taicang was built, which once became the seat of the government of Kunshan, Suzhou, and became a prosperous "capital".
Southeast Juzhou in Ming Dynasty
On the basis of the prosperity of Yuan Dynasty, Taicang made achievements and development in many aspects in Ming Dynasty, and became famous in the world. After the grain transportation and trade in Yuan Dynasty, Taicang's economy and urban construction have reached a considerable scale. Emperor Yongle used the advantages and port conditions of Liujia Port as the starting port and berthing port of Zheng He's seven voyages to the Western Seas, which further promoted the construction and development of Taicang, and made this port city present a new prosperous scene and become famous at home and abroad. In order to strengthen the defense of Taicang, Taicang Wei was established in the first year of Wu (1367), and garrisons were added in the twelfth year of Hongwu (1379). Hongzhi ten years (1498), Taicang Jianzhou, transferred to Suzhou Prefecture, led Chongming County. The State Council is located in the seat of the present municipal government.
. Zheng He sailed to the West for seven times and anchored at Liujiagang, Taicang, which lasted for 28 years from the third year of Yongle (A.D. 1405) to the eighth year of Xuande (A.D. 1433). Every time he went out, he led one or two hundred seagoing ships and a huge fleet of 20,000 to 30,000 people, starting from Liujiagang and passing through Quanzhou, and successively reaching Zhancheng, Siam, Java, Kirgiz, Guri, Hulu Hume and Africa (in present-day Tanzania), with footprints in "more than 30 countries". Zheng He's seven voyages to the West showed the great spirit of China people to conquer the ocean. Through the voyage, large-scale overseas trade was carried out, which enhanced the friendly relations between China and foreign countries and promoted the development of world civilization. Taicang, as the port of Zheng He's voyage to the West, became the base for fleet storage and replenishment, ship repair and personnel training. It is a place to greet court officials, accept tributes from various countries, hold grand sacrificial activities and reward soldiers with feasts. "Nine hundred times, tributes, roads go their separate ways, ark ships come to berth for the second time" can be said to be in full swing, and Taicang Liujia Port has thus become a famous international trade port at home and abroad.
Zhili government in Qing dynasty
Taicang in Qing Dynasty enjoyed the reputation of "Golden Taicang" with developed economy, prosperous population and rich products. With the economic development in the south of the Yangtze River, the increase of registered permanent residence and the prosperity of Taicang, in order to share the responsibilities of Suzhou and Songjiang, Taicang was upgraded to Zhili in the third year of Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty (1725), and the town of Yangxian was also analyzed. Taicang Prefecture and Xiangzhen County are under the jurisdiction of the same city, and Yangxian County of Taicang Prefecture has jurisdiction over 60,323 households. Zhili Prefecture led the four counties of Zhenyang, Chongming, Jiading and Baoshan, which were placed under Jiangsu Province and were part of Jiangsu, Song, Changzhou and Taiwan Roads. This system continued until the Qing Dynasty. (The Rise and Fall of Qing Taicang)
The appearance of Taicang City in Qing Dynasty continued to develop on the basis of Ming Dynasty. By the middle of the Qing Dynasty, roads were criss-crossed, lanes were densely covered, stone bridges were numerous, vehicles and boats were parallel, and shops were more prosperous than houses and businesses. There are rows of palaces and gardens. Tiexi Avenue in the south Yantian, Pawnshop Street in the south of Haimen No.1 Bridge, Qianjie business circle in front of Chenmenjing, backstreet residential area in the north of Zhihetang, and the streets and lanes in front of the state department have all been formally formed, and its clean and prosperous urban appearance deserves to be called a giant city country where Zhili Prefecture is located. Unfortunately, in the tug-of-war between the Qing army and the Taiping army, the city was greatly damaged until the Republic of China.
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Small cities in the Republic of China (Shanghai opened its port and Taicang began to decline)
look into the future
Taicang port has begun to get the attention of the state, and the prototype of a 100-million-ton port has appeared. The elegant demeanour of Zhili will reappear in front of people all over the world. However, it is obviously impossible to reproduce the majestic peak of Zhili Prefecture on the seashore!
Taicang ~ because the port is prosperous, but also because the port is declining!