Historical Development

From: yantian.gov.cn | Updated:2023-04-13

The current Yantian is the same as most parts of the former Bao’an County, which use to be the territory of Baiyue (or Hundred Yue) during the Xia Dynasty (2100 B.C.-1600 B.C.), Shang Dynasty (1600 B.C.-1046 B.C.) and Zhou Dynasty (1046 B.C.-256 B.C.). Baiyue refers to un-Sinicized peoples who inhabited South China and northern Vietnam between the first millennium BC and the first millennium AD. 

In 214 B.C., Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified China and set up three prefectures namely, Nanhai, Guilin and Xiangjun in Lingnan area. At that time, Yantian belonged to Panyu County under Nanhai Prefecture. In 331, or the sixth year during the reign of Emperor Xianhe of Eastern Jin Dynasty, the imperial court abolished Nanhai Prefecture and set up Dongguan Prefecture, which had jurisdiction over six counties including Bao’an, Xingning and Haifeng. Dongguan Prefecture encompasses the current Pearl River Delta, Huizhou and Chaozhou. The then Bao’an County had jurisdiction over the current Dongguan, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
The government of Dongguan Prefecture was located in Nantou of Bao’an County. Part of the current Yantian belonged to Bao’an County. Sanzhoutian of Yantian, Pingshan, Henggang and Longgang belonged to Huiyang County at that time.
In 590, or the tenth year during the reign of Emperor Kaihuang of the Sui Dynasty, the imperial court abolished Dongguan County and Bao’an County was subjected to the administration of Nanhai Prefecture with the county government located in Nantou.
In 757, or the second year during the reign of Zhide of the Tang Dynasty, Bao’an County was renamed Dongguan County.
In 1573, or the first year during the reign of Wanli of the Ming Dynasty, Dongguan County was abolished and Xin’an County (the original Bao’an County) was set up. The county government was still located in Nantou.
In 1666, or the fifth year during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, Xin’an was included into Dongguan County. In 1669, or the eighth year during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, Xin’an County was again set up and there were three villages and seven Dujianzhi (village district). Yantian belonged to the seventh district of Guichengxiang Village.
In 1914, the third year of the Republic of China (1912-1949), the administration division of the country was reorganized. Because the name of “Xin’an County” was the same as the Xin’an County in Henan Province, so the former one was renamed “Bao’an County.” Between 1924 and 1932, or from the 13th to the 21th year of the Republic of China, the district and village system was implemented. Inside the Yantian area, there were two villages including Shatoujiao and Yantian. In 1933, or the 22nd year of the Republic of China, there was only one village named Donghe Village, which is the first time that Yantian got to unify the whole area.
In October 1949, after the foundation of the People’s Republic of China, Shatoujiao, Yantian and Meisha were subjected to the jurisdiction of Huiyang County. In April 1950, Yantian belonged to Bao’an County again, becoming a village under the jurisdiction of its third district. Later it became a district. In October 1958, China established the people’s commune, which had governmental, political, and economic functions. And Yantian area was under the jurisdiction of Nantianmen Commune. In November of the same year, Longgang, Henggang, Pingshan and Dapeng were divided from Huiyang County to Bao’an County. In 1959, Bao’an County was named Sanzhoutian Commune, subject to Pingshan, part of Yantian area. Later, inside Yantian area, sometimes a township or a commune was set up, sometimes they were combined into one commune.
In January 1979, Bao’an County was renamed Shenzhen City and Yantian area belonged to Luohu District. In June 1980, Shatoujiao Directorial Area was set up. In august of the same year, Shenzhen Special Economic Zone was established. All the Yantian area except Sanzhoutian were included into the special zone. In October 1981, Bao’an County was recovered and had jurisdiction over the area of the original Bao’an County outside the special zone. In January 1982, Luohu District was established to administer all the special zone and Yantian was also under its jurisdiction.
In September 1982, Shatoujiao, as a county-level town was separated from Luohu District. In June 1983, Shenzhen Special Economic Zone set up four district offices including Luohu, Shangbu, Nantou and Shatoujiao. In May 1984, Shatoujiao district office was changed to Shatoujiao directorial area, still as a branch organ of the municipal government. In January 1990, five directorial area including Luohu, Futian (originally Shangbu), Nantou, Shekou and Shatoujiao were revoked and three municipal districts including Luohu, Futian and Nanshan were established. Shatoujiao and Luohu directorial areas together formed the district government of Luohu.
On November 7, 1997, approved by the State Council, Shatoujiao town together with Meisha and Yantian were separated from Luohu District, and formed Yantian District, becoming one of the six municipal administrative districts. On February 16, 1998, the Yantian District Committee of the CPC and the Yantian District Government were established. On March 30 of the same year, the unveiling ceremony of Yantian District was held.



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