湛江赞

张继春

2025年春节，孙女荷宁重回湛江，最深刻的感触是“湛江不大，创造神话”。众多亲友不禁感叹，出自五年级学生之口的这8个字，无疑是粤西明珠的最佳广告语。在阿晖、唐总、王处等湛江好友和国际友人的热情鼓励支持下，谨以此拙诗表达同感。

湛江不大，美好如画，

璀璨明珠，粤西高挂。

夏有海风，习习抚面，

冬有暖阳，微微挥洒；

城中有海，海中有城，

红树林茂，海滩金沙；

湖光岩畔，人间仙景，

雷州硇洲，古城灯塔；

热带瓜果，鲍鱼龙虾，

山珍海味，美不胜夸。

养老胜地，休闲乐园，

游客生情，速成画家。

湛江不大，创造神话，

人杰地灵，天宝物华。

解放海南，功勋卓著，

守护南疆，踔厉奋发。

鹤地水库，青年运河，

南三联岛，历史佳话。

高铁飞驰，港口繁荣，

海湾大桥，钢厂石化。

海洋经济，崭新篇章，

企业振兴，惠及万家。

湛江巨变，改天换地，

滨海新城，彰显风华。

湛江未来，充满期待，

魅力四射，厚积薄发。

前有英豪，代代辈出，

今有杰才，名扬天下。

文峰红禅，国之新秀，

后代楷模，精神灯塔。

拥军重教，底蕴深厚，

全面提升，高质开发。

创新沃土，提质增效，

科技赋能，效应叠加。

蓝图绘就，前景可期，

湛江明天，光耀华夏！

附件：湛江简介

湛江位于中国大陆最南端，为广东省地级市，是中国大陆通往东南亚、非洲、欧洲和大洋洲的重要港口城市。1899年起被法国“租借”，时称“广州湾”，是当时中国唯一可自由通商的港口。第二次世界大战中，是中国和世界反法西斯同盟的重要海上通道。抗战胜利后，更名为“湛江”。解放海南战役中，湛江尤其是徐闻、雷州及硇洲岛等，发挥了极其重要的作用。

湛江市陆地面积1.33万平方公里，海域面积2.1万平方公里，大陆海岸线总长1195公里。辖5个市辖区（赤坎、霞山、坡头、麻章、经开区），3个县级市（雷州、廉江、吴川），2个县（遂溪、徐闻）。地处热带和亚热带过渡区域，终年受海洋气候的调节，冬无严寒，夏无酷暑，素有粤西地区璀璨明珠之称。其得天独厚的自然条件和丰富的历史文化底蕴，如湖光岩玛珥湖的独特景观；金沙湾与东海岛长滩的浪漫；雷州古城历史文化传承展现；赤坎老街时光流转中的风情画卷；徐闻古港海上丝绸之路的起点、“菠萝的海”的七彩田园及南极村独特风光；南三大桥、鹭洲大桥、跨海大桥与湛江奥体中心等现代建筑的魅力展现；还有鹤地水库、青年运河、南三岛联岛工程等传奇故事，凸显湛江自然、人文及精神之美，吸引着无数游客的目光。

湛江市三面临海，海洋资源丰富。拥有广东省乃至全国保存最完好的红树林、珊瑚礁和海底草场三大海洋生态系统。是粤港澳稳定的菜篮子、果盘子，也是中国重要的热带水果与南菜生产供应基地，还拥有“湛江生蚝”“湛江金鲳鱼”“湛江对虾”“湛江菠萝”“廉江红橙”“遂溪火龙果”“乾塘莲藕”等特色优势农业品牌。作为海洋大市，湛江以“中国海鲜美食之都”著称。

湛江市第二产业以制造业为主，除绿色钢铁、绿色石化、智能汽车三大战略性支柱产业外，绿色能源、先进装备制造、海洋生物医药、新一代电子信息等四大战略性新兴产业，以及农海产品加工、智能家电、绿色造纸、羽绒纺织四大传统优势产业扎实推进。 [

湛江经济技术开发区是国家级经开区，位于市区核心区的赤坎区和霞山区之间，包括东海岛、硇洲岛，是湛江对外开放的窗口和现代化大工业主战场。中国宝武、中国石化、中海油、巴斯夫、兴业银行等国内外知名企业在此发展，成为广东新的经济增长极和提振粤西经济发展的龙头。

著名历史人物有：陈文玉（570-683），海康人，雷州首任刺史；杨思勖（659-740），廉江人，唐玄宗时期宦官，右监门卫将军；纪应炎（1217-？）遂溪人，南宋进士，南海县令，诗人；欧光宸（？-1653），吴川人，抗清义士；窦振彪（1785-1850），硇洲岛人，福建水师总兵，鸦片战争中的抗英英雄；林召棠（1786-1873）吴川人，粤西地区史上唯一状元，曾任国史馆纂修官，因不满官场污浊，辞职还乡，多年主讲于肇庆端溪书院；陈兰彬（1816-1895），吴川人，首任中国驻美公使；陈嘉伦（1850-1905）、陈家耀（1865-1903），赤坎人，抗法英雄；李晋熙（1849-1910），海康（雷州）人，清朝进士，农工商部主事。

当代杰出人物：许爱周（1881-1966），生于坡头，后定居香港，船运巨商，爱港爱国，为家乡文化教育事业做出过贡献；李汉魂（1894-1987），生于吴川，坚持抗日，曾任广东省政府主席，李宗仁时期任上将军参长、内政部长，后移居美国，但仍保留中国国籍，爱国爱乡；刘华秋（1939-2022），吴川人，中央外事办原主任；辛世文（1942-？），生于湛江，现为香港中文大学生物学教授，中国工程院院士、国际欧亚科学院院士，是全球首位成功复制植物基因的科学家。杰出中青年代表有：人工智能科学家DeepSeek创始人梁文峰；中央电视台知名主持人撒本宁；奥运跳水冠军劳丽诗、何冲、全红禅；中国第一维和女警沈丽虹等。

Ode to Zhanjiang

--by Zhang Jichun

During the Spring Festival of 2025, my granddaughter, He Ning, visited Zhanjiang for the second time. She commented emotionally: “Zhanjiang, though not big, creates miracles.”Friends and relatives strongly feel that it is without doubt the best advertisement for Zhanjiang. The following poem is to further express my shared feelings, respect and expectations for this shining pearl of Western Guangdong.

Zhanjiang, though not big,

A picturesque delight,

A shining pearl in Guangdong’s west, so bright.

Here the city meets the sea

And the sea embraces towns,

With large mangrove forests around;

Birds fly up and down with enchanting songs.

Beautiful views of Huguangyan Marr Lake,

Historic and Cultural sites

In Chikan, Leizhou and Naozhou Island

 Where visitors are full of interests and delights.

Summer breezes, gently caressing,

Winter sun, softly blessing.

Tropical fruits, abalone and prawns...

Satisfy the most picky tongues.

The best holiday resorts

And home for the retired!

With this opinion

Everyone agrees having tried.

Indulged in this fantastic land 

Tourists become artists

And sing heartily without a band.

Zhanjiang, though not big,

Creates miracles and many a popular brand.

In the Campaign to liberate Hainan,

Its contributions were grand.

Now guarding the South China Sea,

It extends a strong hand.

Early giant projects of Hedi Reservoir,

 Qingnian Canal and merging Nansan Isles,

Created historic files.

Big investments now on immense infrastructures

Initiate new hopes for the future.

 Establishment of big enterprises quickly growing,

Modern transport steadily developing,

Business centres and residential areas

All are thriving...

New-concept marine economy

 Is opening up many a new frontier.

Against challenges ahead

People strive forward without fear.

For the charm of this coastal city

One cannot help but cheer!

Zhanjiang, though not big in size,

Is a land of pleasant surprise.

It’s past, legacies told,

Its future, grand prospects unfold.

While green economy getting popular,

Basic and higher education

Is on top agenda.

Famous historic figures are the region’s beacon.

New talents now come out in succession.

Liang Wenfeng, Quan Hongchan...

They are youth’s lighting guide,

Zhanjiang’s pride.

In line with long term strategy

Going side by side

Is regional and national security.

This land of innovation

Is full of hope and inspiration.

With new blueprints and steady development,

Zhanjiang, this radiant star,

Will shine over Guangdong

And surely beyond China.

Attachment:  An Introduction to Zhanjiang

An Introduction to Zhanjiang

Zhanjiang is located at the southern tip of mainland China and is a prefecture-level city in Guangdong Province. It is an important port city connecting China with Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania. In 1899, it was occupied by France and was then known as “Guangzhou Bay.” It was the only port in China at that time where free trade was allowed. During World War II, it served as a crucial maritime route for China and the international anti-fascist alliance. It got the present name on the victory against Japanese invasion.  During the campaign to liberate Hainan, Zhanjiang, especially Xuwen, Leizhou and Naozhou Island, played an extremely important role.

Zhanjiang City covers a land area of 13,300 km² and a sea area of 21,000 km², with a total mainland coastline of 1,195 km. It administers five municipal districts (Chikan, Xiashan, Potou, Mazhang and the Economic Development Zone), three county-level cities (Leizhou, Lianjiang, and Wuchuan), and two counties (Suixi and Xuwen). Located in the transitional zone between the tropics and subtropics, it enjoys a maritime climate year-round, with mild winters and cool summers, earning the reputation as the "Pearl of Western Guangdong". With unique natural conditions and rich historical and cultural heritages, it attracts countless visitors.

Zhanjiang City is surrounded by the sea on three sides, with abundant marine resources. It boasts the most well-preserved mangrove forests, coral reefs, and seagrass beds in Guangdong Province and even the entire country. It serves as a stable "vegetable basket" and "fruit plate" for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as well as an important production and supply base for branded tropical fruits and southern vegetables in China.

Zhanjiang's main industry is dominated by manufacturing. In addition to strategic pillar industries of steel, petrochemicals and intelligent automobiles, emerging industries of green energy, advanced equipment manufacturing, marine bio-medicine and new generation electronic information, traditional advantageous industries of agricultural and marine product processing, intelligent home appliances, green paper-making and down textiles, are being solidly advanced. The Zhanjiang Economic and Technological Development Zone is a national-level economic and technological development zone, located between the city’s core areas of Chikan District and Xiashan District, including Donghai Island and Naozhou Island. It serves as Zhanjiang's window to the outside world. Renowned domestic and international enterprises such as China Baowu, Sinopec, CNOOC, BASF and Industrial Bank have settled here, making it a new economic growth pole in Guangdong and a leader in boosting the economic development of western Guangdong.

Famous historical figures include: Chen Wenyu (570-683), a native of Haikang, the first governor of Leizhou. Yang Sixu (659-740), born in Lianjiang, a prominent general in the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty. Ji Yingyan (1217-?), a native of Suixi, a palace-graduate in the Southern Song Dynasty, magistrate of Nanhai County, and poet. Ou Guangchen (?-1653), born in Wuchuan, a righteous anti-Qing Dynasty fighter. Dou Zhenbiao (1785-1850), a native of Naozhou Island in Wuchuan, Admiral of the Fujian Navy, and anti-British hero. Lin Zhaotang (1786-1873), a native of Wuchuan, the only top scholar in the imperial examination in the history of the western Guangdong region. He resigned from the Imperial Academy due to dissatisfection with the corruption in the officialdom and later became a great contributor to education in Zhaoqing district. Chen Lanbin (1816-1895), born in Wuchuan, the first Chinese Minister to the United States. Chen Jialun (1850-1905) and Chen Jiayao (1865-1903), natives of Chikan, heroes against French invasion. Li Jinxi (1849-1910), born in Haikang (Leizhou), a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations of the Qing Dynasty and Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce.

Contemporary well-known figours include: Hui Oi Chow (1881-1966), born in Potou, former top ship-owner and property developer in Kong Kong and a generous contributor to the region and his native town. Li Hanhun (1894-1987), born in Wu Chuan and a top troop commander against the Japanese invaders. He held briefly the post of Chief Staff officer and Minister for Native Affairs under Li Zongren’s government and moved to the US in 1949. He returned to China for a visit in 1982 and his ashes is buried in Shaoguan’s Nanhua Temple. Liu Huaqiu (1939-2022), born in Wuchuan, former Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission. Samuel Sun (1942-?), born in Zhanjiang, now Professor of Biology at CUHK, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a member of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences and the first scientist in the world to have cloned a plant gene.

Outstanding young and middle-aged representatives include: Liang Wenfeng, DeepSeek founder and artificial intelligence scientist；Sa Benning, well-known CCTV host; Lao Lishi, He Chong and Quan Hongchan, Olympic diving champions; Shen Lihong, China's first female UN peacekeeping police officer.