Nowadays, when many people talk about the Thirteen Lines in Guangzhou, most of them will think of the famous clothing distribution business circle in Guangzhou. But there are great differences between the thirteen lines of the Qing Dynasty and this thirteen line. In fact, long ago, especially in the Qing Dynasty, Guangzhou was an important commercial place and seaport in ancient China.

1686, Guangzhou customs switch In the second year, the local government recruited powerful businesses as professional foreign trade companies. At first, thirteen companies were identified, hence the name, but in fact, the number of foreign firms at that time far exceeded this number. However, after the anniversary of 13, both parties agreed that the foreign trade firms in Guangzhou would use this name as their common name.

In fact, Shisanhang is also a semi-official and semi-commercial foreign trade monopoly organization. After the development of the people, it is actually a medium for official transactions with foreign firms. At that time, these thirteen lines in Guangzhou, together with Shanxi merchants and Huizhou merchants in China, were called the three major business gangs in Qing Dynasty.

In fact, this situation is understandable, because Guangdong was the only trading port in the Qing Dynasty at that time, so it became the only legal Sino-Western trade monopoly organization at that time. At that time, merchant ships entering and leaving Guangzhou port had to go through Guangzhou's 13 line to do business. For example, foreign merchant ships bring some distinctive western goods, but they can't go ashore to buy and sell them directly. They have to go through Guangzhou Thirteen Lines, and the same China businessmen have to go through Guangzhou Thirteen Lines to export their tea, silk and porcelain.

Therefore, they are not only important media, but also the weather vane of commodity market. Bank 13 is the representative of China government to foreign businessmen and foreign businessmen to local governments, so its establishment is very important.

Although the Qing dynasty closed its doors to the outside world, it did not completely cut off foreign trade because of the thirteen lines. Through the thirteen lines, the government has also realized the function of restricting merchants through the government and restricting foreign businessmen through merchants. Therefore, it has multiple identities and abilities such as officials and businessmen, private businessmen, diplomats and tax collectors.