On the morning of October 12, 2017, the unveiling ceremony of Zhanglin Ancient Port Field Studio of Sun Yat-sen University Historical Anthropology Research Center and Chaoshan overseas remittance materials donation ceremony were held solemnly in Chenghai Ancient Pier.

Photo: Site of event

Vice Governor Mr. Xu Ruisheng, Deputy Secretary-general of the provincial government Mr. Zhao Kun, Mayor of Shantou City Mr. Zheng Jiange, Deputy Director of the Provincial Environmental Protection Department Mr. Huang Wenmu, Deputy Director of the Provincial Housing and Urban Construction Department Mr. Guo Zhuangshi, Deputy Director of the Provincial Sports Bureau Ms. Lin Ying, Provincial Archives Bureau Deputy Director Mr. Chen Jingya, Director of Zhongshan University History Department Mr. Xie Shi, Vice Mayor of Shantou City Mr. Chen Wu Nan, CPPCC Vice Chairman of Chaozhou and Municipal Government Party Member Mr. Zhu Weimin, Shantou Municipal Government Secretary-General Mr. Chen Liefeng and Secretary of Chenghai District Mr. Chen Yongming attended the event. 

The front three from right to left: Vice Governor Mr.Xu Ruisheng, Mayor of Shantou Mr. Zheng Jiange, CPPCC Vice Chairman of Chaozhou City and Municipal Party Committee Member Zhu Weimin 

Photo: Deputy Secretary-General of Provincial Government Mr. Zhao Kun (left), Deputy Director of Provincial Housing and Urban Construction Department Mr. Guo Zhuangshi (right)

Nauguration Ceremony of Zhanglin Ancient Port Field Studio of Sun Yat-sen University Historical Anthropology Research Center 

Photo: Vice Governor Mr. Xu Ruisheng (Second from left), Mayor of Zheng Jiange (First from left), Secretary Mr. Liu Yongming (First from right) and Director Mr. Xie Shi (Second from right)) unveiled for Zhanglin Ancient Port Studio.

Photo: Director Mr. Xie Shi (First from right) made a speech

In 2016, under the initiative and personal promotion of Vice Governor Mr. Xu Ruisheng, Guangdong Province carried out the protection and use of South China historical trail. Zhanglin ancient port is one of the eight demonstration sections of South China historical trail in 2017, also one of the four estuary memorials of South China historical trail.

The activation action of Zhangling ancient port has attracted a lot of attention from the leadership and experts. Since 1990, Party Secretary of Sun Yat-sen University Mr. Chen Chunsheng has carried out in-depth field investigation in Zhanglin ancient port, making a series of outstanding academic achievements and publishing nearly 20 articles with a total of 40 million words about Zhang Lin in important academic journals at home and abroad. 

Photo: Historical Anthropology Research Center of Sun Yat-sen University - Zhanglin Ancient Port Field Studio  

Unveiling ceremony of Zhanglin Ancient Port Field Studio of Sun Yat-sen University is held here, which is the second public museum with theme of South China historical trail following the opening of the exhibition hall of South China historical trail of Yingyuan Road, Guangzhou City, where in the future will also show more exhibits related to historical trail. The studio will be set up in Linyuan Park, Xinxing Street. The studio will become the base of studying the history and culture of Zhanglin Ancient Port, which has a great significance for the promotion of research on Chaoshan culture.

The Director Mr. Xie Shi said, under the care and guidance of the Governor Mr.Xu, the Mayor Mr. Zheng and provincial leaders at all levels and with the support of all social circles and folks of Zhanglin, Zhanglin Ancient Port Field Studio of Sun Yat-sen University Historical Anthropology Research Center was established. It will become a highland of academic research and cultural spread, generating a positive significance for the conservation and activation of Zhanglin’s historical and cultural heritage.  

A few days ago, the Director Mr. Xie Shi went to the Guangdong Provincial Museum to visit the "North and South Amalgamation - South China Historical Trail Exhibition". The exhibition album contains the masterpiece of the Governor Mr. Xu Ruisheng - "Return to the Historical Trail – Reuse of Linear Historical Heritage Space". After reading, Mr. Xie Shi got a very big inspiration. It is undeniable that in the past period of time, the historical district protection and cultural style conservation of Zhanglin were far behind the academic research, which was not consistent with its important historical status. While today, the cultural undertakings of South China Historical Trail have bring about the vitality for the conservation of Zhanglin Ancient Port. In this situation, the field studio has been set up here, bringing more possibilities of reflections and practice for the conservation and activation of the historical and cultural heritage of Zhanglin.　Ｄonation ceremony of Chaoshan overseas remittance materials The Deputy Secretary-General Mr. Zhao Kun handed over the overseas remittance, interviews, script and stills of Overseas Remittance in Hardships, music/recording/original tapes of An Overseas Remittance, and design ideas of Shantou Xidi Park and Taishan Haikoubu Square newly collected from the activity of looking for overseas descendants to Zhanglin Ancient Port Field Studio. In these handed over materials, several manuscripts are very precious, which have been personally created by the Vice Governor Mr. Xu Ruisheng.

The Mayor of Shantou City Mr. Zheng Jiange and Deputy Director of Provincial Housing Urban and Rural Construction Department Guo Zhuangshi handed over the precious overseas remittance materials to the Deputy Director of Provincial Archives Mr. Chen Jingya.

Photo: Deputy Secretary-General Mr. Zhao Kun (right) handed over the related materials to the Director Mr. Xie Shi (left)

Figure: Mayor Mr. Zheng Jiange (second from right), Deputy Director Mr. Guo Zhuangshi (first from right) handed over the precious overseas remittance materials to Deputy Director Mr. Chen Jingya (first from left )  

Photo: Deputy Director Mr. Chen Jingya (left) presented the Collection Certificate to Deputy Director Mr. Guo Zhuangshi  (right)

Photo: Vice Governor Mr. Xu Ruisheng (first from right) was telling about the creation process and significance of the gift

After the unveiling ceremony and the donation ceremony, a wonderful literary and artistic performance was also held at the scene, such as the fragment the drama Overseas Remittance in the Hardships and the song of An Overseas Remittance. The drama Overseas Remittance in the Hardships was created by the Artistic Director Mr. Zhao Shuguang and others of Shantou City Art Group; The couple Song Yile and Fang Shaoshan, the famous Chaoshan dialet singers sang a touching song An Overseas Remittance.

Photo: Drama Overseas Remittance in the Hardships

Photo: The couple Song Yile and Fangshaoshan sang An Overseas Remittance

Photo: Watching artistic performance at the scene, Vice Governor Mr. Xu Ruisheng was deeply moved (full of tears)

After the literary and artistic performances, Vice Governor Mr. Xu Ruisheng and his party also visited the local houses, Zhang Lin Ancient Port Field Studio, Fengbo Temple, and Eight Streets and Six Communities and so on. During the visit, Vice Governor Mr. Xu Ruisheng made specific instructions on the protection and utilization of the remnants of the local sites.

Photo: Vice Governor Mr. Xu Ruisheng and his party visited the local houses

Photo: Vice Governor Mr. Xu Ruisheng and his party visited Zhanglin Ancient Port Field Studio

Photo: Vice Governor Mr. Xu Ruisheng and his party visited Fengbo Temple

Photo: Vice Governor Mr. Xu Ruisheng and his party visited Eight Streets and Six Communities

During the visiting period, Vice Governor Mr. Xu Ruisheng made a concluding statement on the events:

First of all, the heartfelt appreciation shall be given to Mr. Chunsheng, the Party Secretary of Sun Yat-sen Chen University. He organized the students for in-depth field research in Zhanglin Ancient port, to explore the geographical history process from Zhanglin Ancient Port to Shantou City for more than 20 years and made a gratifying progress.

Second, provincial government bureaus and people from all social cycles shall be highly praised for their efforts and contributions made in the activation of Zhangling Ancient Port, which laid the foundation for the beautiful tomorrow of Zhanglin Ancient Port.

Finally, we sincerely invite the overseas of Chaoshan membership and Hakka membership to come back home and visit Zhangling Ancient Port, to experience the changes of the home and give advices for home construction.

At the same time, we hope that all the villagers abroad can come back Zhang Lin Ancient Port to try the typical food of the hometown.

Being driven by the protection and utilization of South China Historical Trail, and under the attention and support of all social cycles, Zhang Lin Ancient Port will be full of vitality, and become a dazzling pearl on the South China Historical Trail and an example of the activation of South China Historical Trail through the sewage interception, dredging, diversion of rivers, the re-planning and design of the ancient port to restore its historical features, and a series of measures such as  the events South China Historical Trail Orientation Contest and South China Historical Trail Cultural Tour held on November 18, 2017 at the ancient port.