From April 10th to 14th, I was guiding a big tour group from Malaysia. They intended to attend the Print China 2007 in Guangdong Modern International Exhibition Center (GDE) in HoujieTown, DongguanCity. In their spare time, on April 13, I guided them to visit OpiumWarMuseum in Humen. Humen is a town very near to Houjie. They are neighbors. The trip took half a day.

Humen is famous for its rich history. The discovery of the Beiqiu Site located in Chuntou provides strong evidence that primitive civilization existed here since the Stone Age. Humen became a center of salt works in the Song Dynasty, and a military pass in the Ming and Qing Dynasties with Shajiao Fort Weiyuan Fort being built. In 1839, Lin Zexu, the great national hero, bravely fought against British invaders and destroyed opium in Humen with his soldiers and people. It marked the beginning of China's modern history.

In recent years, the town of Humen has being benefiting from strong economic development and boasting many businesses famous for great shopping and fashion. There are numerous Fairs and Salons for all types of commodities throughout the year within the vicinity such as the Humen International Fashion Exhibition, the China Import and Export Commodities Fair, the International Furniture Fair, and many more.

Major relics under state protection like the Opium-destroying Pools, forts in Humen and the original home of Jiang Guang have attracted numerous visitors from home and abroad. The Opium Sea Warfare museum, as a state educational base, has become a new scenic spot with the view of the HumenBridge in its vicinity.

The OpiumWarMuseum is a museum for most of history collections. For Malaysia, many people knew the history of Opium War, because their ancestor is Chinese. The OpiumWarMuseum is also called the Lin Zexu Memorial in Humen, It is the National Educational Model Base of Patriotism. Under its administration are "the site of the pits where Lin Zexu had opium destroyed and the site of Humen Fortress", which are important historical relic units under state protection. The temporary exhibitions are frequently on display, besides the basic exhibition "An Ehibition on the History of Lin Zexu，s Crusade against Opium and the Opium War". In recent years, the museum has received 50-odd state and party Leaders, they have the same feeling that hoping the youth all go there to have an essential patriotic lesson.

In 1982, the State Council announced that Lin Zexu burning opium pool and Humen Fort site were the main national cultural protection. It covers the area of over 50 million square meters.

In the museum we also saw the collections and research of the Opium War Heritage Museum, such as wood stake and boards of burning opium pool, opium smoking set, Lin Zexu，s manuscripts and other cultural relic, cannon, gunpowder tanks, broadsword, long spears and so on, which are weapons used to fight and captures from the British, more than 3000 pieces (sets). Shoes, porcelain, like teacup,saucer, bowl, clothes in Qing dynasty and much vivid and visual statuary which makes you feel to be personally on the scene.

After more than one hour visiting, we go out of the museum. Outside, there are lots of students standing in a line waiting to enter the museum. After some strolling, we left. It was a pity that I didn，t take a camera with me, much meaningful sights couldn，t be shared with you. I hope you will have chance to go there to have a visit and please remember to bring a camera with you.

Author: Lisa Su     Date: April 18, 2007  

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