The first Chinese port of trade to Europeans was Guangzhou, also known as Canton. It became a significant center for trade in the 16th century, particularly during the Ming and Qing dynasties, when European merchants, including the Portuguese and British, established trading relations. Guangzhou served as the primary gateway for Western goods entering China and for Chinese exports to Europe. The city's favorable location and established trade networks facilitated this early interaction.
In the mid-1760s, the Chinese sought to limit European trade and involvement primarily through the Canton System, which restricted foreign trade to the port of Canton (Guangzhou) and mandated that all foreign merchants conduct business through licensed Chinese merchants known as hong. This system aimed to control the flow of goods and minimize foreign influence while maintaining a favorable balance of trade. Additionally, the Chinese imposed strict regulations on the types of goods that could be traded and maintained a policy of limited interaction with foreign powers, reflecting their desire to preserve cultural and political autonomy.
Most Europeans would take passenger liners to a port in the mediterranean where they would transfer to another ship (passenger liner or other) going through the suez cannal likely headed for India. From there they would take another smaller ship to china. Some would take the Trans-siberian railway to reach the north of China.
Rome is some distance from the sea - Ostia was the sea-port and harbour for the city.
During the thirteenth century, Venice, Mogadishu, and various cantons emerged as significant trading hubs due to their strategic geographic locations along crucial maritime and overland trade routes. Venice benefited from its position in the Adriatic Sea, facilitating trade between Europe and the East, while Mogadishu became a vital port for the trade of gold, ivory, and other goods in the Indian Ocean. Additionally, the political and economic structures of these regions, including merchant guilds and city-states, fostered commerce and cultural exchange, contributing to their rise as prominent centers of trade and influence.
Portugal
Guangzhou.
Guangzhou.
Qing
Portuguese explorers were the first Europeans to begin trade in Nigeria, and called the port Lagos after the Portuguese town of Lagos, in Algarve.
The Ming government was not impressed by the Portuguese. The Chinese thought the Europeans were barbarians or uncivilized people. The Chinese refused to trade with the Portuguese, but by 1600, they had allowed Portugal to set up a trading post at the port of Macao.
Guangzhou.
The Ming government was not impressed by the Portuguese. The Chinese thought the Europeans were barbarians or uncivilized people. The Chinese refused to trade with the Portuguese, but by 1600, they had allowed Portugal to set up a trading post at the port of Macao.
The Ming government was not impressed by the Portuguese. The Chinese thought the Europeans were barbarians or uncivilized people. The Chinese refused to trade with the Portuguese, but by 1600, they had allowed Portugal to set up a trading post at the port of Macao.
The main Chinese port was called the Port of Shanghai. It is one of the largest and busiest ports in the world, serving as a major gateway for trade in China.
The main Chinese port was called Guangzhou. Guangzhou is the capital and largest city of Guangdong province in South China.
Canton
Shanghai