A Tale of Three Cities: The Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area and Export of Silk Products in the Ming and Qing Dynasties

Foreign ships race forth, both official and merchant.

At Cross Gate they open to two oceans.

Five-skein, eight-skein Canton silks,

Silver piles up in the Thirteen Hongs.

— Qu Dajun

China is the birthplace of silk, and for much of the world, its first impression of China came through this luxurious fabric. With the opening of the eastern and western sea routes during the Ming and Qing dynasties, silk became one of the most important export commodities transported through the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Bay Area to destinations across the globe. Nearly half of the world’s silver production flowed continuously into China as payment. On the international stage of foreign exchange, silk once shone brilliantly before experiencing its share of trials and tribulations.

Bay-area economies emerge and flourish by the water; openness is their natural attribute. They rely deeply on global trade systems, and in turn leave a profound imprint upon them. Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao share common roots, language, and cultural ties. Together, these three cities formed an essential bridge linking the maritime Silk Road across time, and became a vital hub advancing the globalization of trade.