Guiyan

**Guiyan** (瑰岩; *guīyán*) is a city located in Xingjiang District, Xingsu Prefecture. As of 2018, it has an estimated population of 2 million.

## Etymology

Guiyan literally means "rose field". This name was given due to the ornamental rose gardens that were tended in the city, often visited by the Emperor and his family. Although the original gardens have now been lost to time, there is a smaller reconstruction in the southern ward of the city, known as the Rose Park.

## History

### Early history

Guiyan was originally established as a mining town in the 8th century, seated below the iron-rich Xingshan range. It was controlled by the Jin clan, who had recently gained control over most of the plains region. Due to its favourable position in the prefecture and its production of steel, bricks and tools, the settlement grew very rapidly over a short period of time.

Though its original name was Nanmen, the town's title was changed to Huangxunian after Emperor Luanshan took up residence there in 1454. After the building of the iconic rose gardens, the city and its surrounding region became known as Guiyan.

### 20th century

In 1911, Guiyan became the first city in Xingsu Prefecture to surpass 500,000 residents.

In 1934, Guiyan became a centre for industry, with hundreds of factories being set up around the northern ward of the city. For a period of almost 35 years, the city became known for its production of iron and steel, and its economy boomed somewhat. An impressive population growth quickly followed. Unfortunately the factories were forced to close in 1963 due to health risks.

In 1965, interesting archeological remains were discovered on the outskirts of Guiyan's eastern ward. The remains consisted of a long-buried wheelhouse from the early Nen Period, along with some tools and extremely well-preserved human remains. This showed that the region had been occupied far longer than originally estimated, though the establishment of Guiyan itself most likely came later.

In 1972, Guiyan became the first city in Kanton to elect a female mayor.

In 1980, the Rose Park was opened to the public as a 'natural attraction'. Since then, the gardens have grown in popularity, and are now considered to be a symbol of the city as a whole.

### 21st century

In 2001, Guiyan's subway system was installed. The system encircles the entire city, and is known as the Guiyan Sub-rail.

In October 2011, Guiyan's southern and south-western wards suffered from a 6.5 earthquake tremour which caused major damage to buildings and infrastructure.

## Geography

Guiyan lies directly beneath the northern tail end of the Yangdu Mountains, and is connected to the neighbouring cities of Hongkai and Jinjun by rail and bus services.

In winter, Guiyan often experiences light snowfall but hard frosts. During the spring and summer, it is not uncommon for flooding to occur due to heavy rainfall.

## Economy

Guiyan has a small tourism industry due to its sightseeing opportunities, and most of the population is employed in the tertiary industry. Notable industries include retail and office work. In the early 20th century, Guiyan was a primary manufacturer of steel; recently some new factories have sprung up on the outskirts of the city.