Zhaoqing is one of the birthplaces of ancient Lingnan local culture. Archaeological findings show that there were human activities in Zhaoqing about 6.5438+0.4 million years ago. About 1 10,000 years ago, it has begun to transition to the Neolithic age; About 5000 years ago, Zhaoqing ancestors had hoeing, animal husbandry, textile and advanced pottery-making technology. Bronzes unearthed in tombs from the late Spring and Autumn Period to the Warring States Period in China are influenced by the Shang and Zhou cultures in the Central Plains and the Chu and Yue cultures in the Yangtze River valley, and also have distinctive Lingnan cultural characteristics.

Zhaoqing is a famous county in Lingnan with a long history. As early as the period of Nanyue State, Anyang, the king of Luoyue, had established its capital in Fengxi (now within the territory of Fengkai) in the north. Zhao Tuo defeated Queen Anyang, and established Cangwu State in Fengxi area as a vassal of Nanyue State. After the Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty pacified South Vietnam, Gaoyao County was established in Gaoyao, Zhaoqing, Gaoming, Sanshui West and Yunfu East, which was subordinate to Cangwu County. The name of the county town comes from Gaoyao Gorge in China, which is named after the steep mountain and waist-high water. In the ninth year of Emperor Kai of Sui Dynasty (AD 589), Duanzhou was established to govern nine counties including Gaoyao and Duan Xi. In the third year of Daye (AD 607), the county was abandoned and Duanzhou was changed to Xin 'an County. During the Wude period of Tang Dynasty, the first year of Tianbao (AD 742) was renamed Gaoyao County, and the first year of Gan Yuan (AD 758) was renamed Duanzhou. Until the third year of Fuyuan in the Northern Song Dynasty (l 10 1), Song Huizong Evonne was the king of Duanzhou before he ascended the throne, and Duanzhou was his "hiding place", so he set up Xingqing Army Festival in Duanzhou. In the third year of Zheng He (ll 13), Duanzhou was changed to Xingqing House; In the first year of Zhonghe (1 1 18), the imperial book Zhaoqing House was given to him personally, and it was renamed Zhaoqing from then on.

Zhaoqing is a national historical and cultural city, the intersection of Central Plains culture and Lingnan culture, and has a splendid history and culture. There are more than 300 cultural relics and historic sites with scientific research value, such as Mei 'an, Yuecheng Long Mu Temple, Chongxi Pagoda, Song City Wall, Yuejiang Tower, Lijie Pagoda, Civilization Pagoda, Huangyan Cave, Taixinqiao, Gaoyao Gong Xue, Deqing Gong Xue, Wenta, Qixingyan Cliff Stone Carving Group, and Zhou Qijian's former residence. According to research, Zhaoqing is also the birthplace of Cantonese! Xinghu Scenic Area is one of the first national key scenic spots announced by the State Council. Recently, it was rated as one of the first ten demonstration sites of civilized scenic spots in China. Seven-star rock lake and mountains are beautiful. Seven rock peaks are arranged in rows, standing at 6. 5 square kilometers of lake. The whole scenic spot is surrounded by water, pavilions, sparkling stone shadows and excellent natural scenery, forming a wonderful landscape bonsai, enjoying the reputation of "the first wonder in Lingnan" and "fairyland on earth". In recent years, all kinds of neon lights have been newly decorated on the 8 km embankment and seven rock peaks in Qixingyan Scenic Area, creating a "night star lake". Dinghushan is the first of the four famous mountains in Guangdong, and is known as "Emerald on the Tropic of Cancer" and "Living Museum of Nature".

Zhaoqing is the birthplace of Lingnan local culture, the birthplace of Han Guangfu regional culture and vernacular (Guangfu dialect), and the core area of the cross-evolution of the two cultures. It is also one of the earliest areas where Central Plains culture and Lingnan culture, Western civilization and China traditional civilization meet. It used to be the political, economic and cultural center of Xijiang River Basin, and was called "Lingnan Famous County" in history. In the sixth year of Emperor Ding Yuan (1 165438 BC), he set up a "cross-toe secretariat" in Zhaoqing, which lasted for 375 years. From the 43rd year of Jiajing in Ming Dynasty (1564) to the 11th year of Qianlong in Qing Dynasty (1747), Zhaoqing was the residence of the Governor's Office of Guangdong and Guangxi 183. 1583 In September, the Italian missionary Matteo Ricci, who was known as the "first person to communicate Chinese and Western cultures", came to Zhaoqing with chimes, sundials, world maps and other achievements representing the European Renaissance. In 1585, he built the first Catholic church "Xianhua Temple" in the history of China, and drew and published the first China world map "Mountains, Land and Seas"

Since ancient times, Zhaoqing has nurtured a large number of outstanding figures, such as Chen Qin and Chen Yuan, famous scholars of ancient Chinese classics in Han Dynasty, and Mo Xuanqing, the first scholar of Guangdong and Guangxi in Tang Dynasty. Li Yong, a writer and calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty, Rong Rui, a Japanese monk, Huineng of Buddhism, Bao Zheng, a famous minister in the Northern Song Dynasty, Luo Mingjian, an Italian missionary, Sun Yat-sen, a revolutionary pioneer, Ye Ting, a famous northern expedition, and many other historical figures left their remains in Zhaoqing.