The Five Counties of Guangdong (五邑, Wǔyì)—Xinhui (新会), Taishan (台山), Kaiping (开平), Enping (恩平), and Heshan (鹤山)—hold a distinctive place in Chinese history and global migration. For many overseas Chinese, especially those whose ancestors left southern China during the 19th and 20th centuries, understanding the Five Counties Guangdong history offers a meaningful pathway to reconnect with family heritage and cultural identity.

Located in the Pearl River Delta region of Guangdong Province, the Five Counties today form part of Jiangmen (江门), a city known for its unique dialects, architecture, and legacy as a key origin point of Chinese emigration. This article explores how the Five Counties took shape historically, how they developed culturally, and how their influence has extended far beyond China’s borders.

The Foundations of the Five Counties: Nanyue Roots and Imperial Rule

Before the region was integrated into the Chinese empire, it was inhabited by the Nanyue (南越) people—indigenous groups native to what was historically called Lingnan, or the “south of the mountains.” These communities lived outside the reach of early Chinese states, maintaining their own languages and customs.

This changed in 221 BCE, when Qin Shihuang (秦始皇) unified China under the Qin dynasty and extended imperial control into the far south. The empire introduced a formal administrative system, dividing the territory into commanderies (郡) and counties (县). Present-day Xinhui, Taishan, and Heshan fell under Nanhai Commandery (南海郡), while Kaiping and Enping belonged to Guilin Commandery (桂林郡).

As imperial rule deepened over the centuries, especially during the Han (汉), Sui (隋), and Tang (唐) dynasties, counties began to take clearer shape. By the early 7th century, Enping (恩平) was formally named during the Tang dynasty, having previously been known by names like Sipin (思平) and Hai’an (海安). Xinhui (新会) was originally called Pingyi (平夷)—meaning “pacifying the indigenous”—but was renamed in the 5th century to reflect new administrative priorities. The area also became part of Gangzhou (冈州), a regional governing center whose name would later take on cultural significance.

How the Five Counties of Guangdong Took Shape Over Time

The transition from regional frontier to culturally unified area took centuries. In 1499, under the Ming dynasty (明朝), the southwestern part of Xinhui was carved out to create a new county called Xinning (新宁), a move intended to improve local governance in what was then a remote, mountainous, and occasionally unstable area. In 1914, the name was changed to Taishan (台山) to avoid duplication with other regions.

Kaiping (开平), once a borderland shared by Enping, Xinhui, and Xinxing, gained its own administrative status during the late Ming period. A military outpost named Kaiping Tun (开平屯) was established there to maintain order and cultivate land. The post’s name later became the county name.

Heshan (鹤山) remained under other jurisdictions for much of its early history. Nevertheless, it shared cultural and linguistic characteristics with its neighbors. By the late imperial period, it was increasingly seen as part of the same regional community.

Jiangmen and the Rise of a Regional Center

In addition to county-level administration, Jiangmen (江门) began to emerge as a commercial and cultural hub. Situated at the meeting point of the Xi River (西江) and its tributaries, it became a key port for inland and maritime trade. During the late Qing dynasty, Jiangmen was opened as a treaty port under foreign pressure and developed rapidly as a center of commerce.

In 1983, the Chinese government officially elevated Jiangmen to a prefecture-level city (地级市), bringing the Five Counties under one administrative unit. This formalized the longstanding cultural and economic ties that already linked Xinhui, Taishan, Kaiping, Enping, and Heshan.

Overseas Migration and the Spread of Five Counties Identity

Beginning in the early 19th century, the region became one of the largest sources of Chinese emigration. Driven by war, poverty, and labor demands overseas, thousands of residents from the Five Counties left for Southeast Asia, North America, Australia, and Latin America.

In these distant places, people from the same county often banded together for mutual support. They formed huiguan (会馆)—native-place associations that provided housing, financial aid, and social connection. In this context, the identity of the Four Counties (四邑, Sìyì)—referring to Xinhui, Taishan, Kaiping, and Enping—became common. Some of the earliest associations, such as the Ningyang Huiguan (宁阳会馆) founded by Taishanese migrants in Singapore in 1822, served as community centers abroad.

Over time, Heshan became more fully integrated into this collective identity. By the mid-20th century, the Five Counties (五邑) concept had become the accepted term for this cultural-geographic unit, both in China and overseas. The founding of Wuyi University (五邑大学) in 1985—with strong support from overseas Chinese communities—cemented this identity. Campus buildings named after each of the five counties highlight the enduring connection between hometown pride and global heritage.

Language, Architecture, and the Legacy of the Wuyi Region

Language is one of the strongest cultural markers linking the Five Counties. While many in Guangdong speak Cantonese, the local dialects in the Wuyi region—especially Taishanese (台山话)—are notably distinct in tone, pronunciation, and vocabulary. In fact, Taishanese was once the most commonly spoken Chinese dialect in North American Chinatowns, due to the large number of early migrants from that area.

Another hallmark of the region is its architecture, particularly the iconic diaolou (碉楼)—multi-story fortified towers found mainly in Kaiping. These structures, built by returning overseas Chinese in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, fuse Chinese and Western styles. Featuring balconies, arches, and domes alongside traditional layouts, they reflect the region’s long-standing openness to global influence while preserving local identity.

Cultural Integration and the Enduring Impact of Five Counties Guangdong History

The Five Counties Guangdong history is a story of integration, migration, and adaptation. The region’s earliest layers were shaped by the Nanyue peoples, whose presence is still felt in local place names and folklore. From the Han dynasty (汉朝) onward, waves of northern Han Chinese migrants brought Confucian values, written language, and clan-based social structures. During the Qing dynasty (清朝), Hakka (客家) migrants and Yao (瑶族) people added to the cultural tapestry.

The most recent layer—overseas migration—introduced yet another dimension. Overseas Chinese sent back remittances, funded schools, and built homes that fused East and West. They also maintained connections through associations, language, and shared memory, ensuring that the culture of the Five Counties continued to evolve abroad as well as at home.

Conclusion

For descendants of migrants from Xinhui, Taishan, Kaiping, Enping, or Heshan, the story of the Five Counties Guangdong history offers both a cultural anchor and a bridge to the past. It helps explain not only the unique language or family traditions passed down over generations, but also the strength of overseas communities built on solidarity and shared origin.

As the Five Counties continue to modernize and change, their historical legacy remains alive in the hearts of people around the world. The region’s history is not just part of Guangdong or even China—it is part of a global Chinese story still being written today.