Reminders of Guangdong's past are in abundance--the skulls of Maba Man found in Qujiang County dating back 100,000 years; the Nanyue Museum built over the tomb of a Han Dynasty king, which houses a fabulous exhibition representing the wealth of an artistic civilization over 2,000 years ago; and the opulent Chen Family Temple highlighting the devotion of families to their merchant ancestors a hundred years ago. History has given Guangdong its share of strife and turmoil with the opium wars, occupation, and rebellion; and it has provided a home base for the makers of modern history--Sun Yat-sen, Mao Zedong, and Zhou Enlai all, for a while, lived and taught here in buildings which now survive to tell their stories.

For natural scenery, Zhaoqing offers the Seven Star Crags with its flowers and pointed limestone hills, and Renhua County offers Danxia Mountains whose deep red cliffs are so unusual that the " Danxia Topography" is world-renowned. For relaxation, choose any of the holiday resorts in Zhongshan, Conghua or Guangzhou. The long coastline of the province provides many excellent beaches. Those at Taishan, Yangjiang, and Maoming are particularly inviting.

Foreign visitors are drawn to the lives and customs of the Cantonese, and they can get a clearer picture of them by visiting Guangdong. Wandering through the back alleys reveals a scene homely residential living, a relaxed and open family life, small businesses and an array of eateries. Or visitors can go to Liannan and Ruyuan to widen their understanding of Cantonese culture or visit the villages inhabited by the Yao ethnic nationality. Guangdong, a microcosm of the whole country, boasts virtually everything that China has to offer: its historic and cultural heritage, its modern splendors and its energetic motion towards the future. A tour of Guangdong is surely a tour of China's past, present and future, and it is sure to be the experience of a lifetime.