On August 28, a commemorative event was held at the Pazhou Ferry Terminal in Guangzhou to mark the 240th anniversary of the maiden voyage of the Empress of China, the first US ship to conduct trade with China.
(Photo: Pazhou Ferry Terminal)
240 years ago, on August 28, 1784, the Empress of China arrived at the Ancient Whampoa Anchorage in Pazhou, loaded with ginseng, fur, and other American goods. Three months later, the ship returned to the US, carrying 800 chests of tea, 20,000 pairs of nankeen trousers, cinnamon, and approximately 64 tons of porcelain, marking the beginning of trade between the two nations.
"Today, Pazhou continues to witness the frequent exchanges between China and the US. Located near the Canton Fair Complex and in close proximity to downtown Guangzhou, the Pazhou Ferry Terminal handles hundreds of thousands of inbound and outbound passengers annually, many of whom are from the US. Passengers can depart from the Pazhou Ferry Terminal and fly directly to the US from Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) through airlines such as Cathay Pacific Airways, and United Airlines, which offer UCI (Upstream Check-in) services at the Terminal," said Wang Jun, a board member of Guangzhou Pazhou Hong Kong Macao Passenger Transport Co., Ltd.
In addition, Wang said that passengers could also transfer to the US utilizing Baggage Interline Agreement services provided by airlines such as Emirates Airlines, Air France, Air Canada, Korean Air, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, China Airlines (for foreign passengers only), and EVA Air (for foreign passengers only).
Li Xuedong, Deputy General Manager of Swire Coca-Cola Limited, shared, "The Empress of China embarked on its maiden voyage 240 years ago. This not only signified the establishment of the route between China and the US but also marked the initiation of trade exchanges between the nations. To celebrate the 240th anniversary of the first voyage of the Empress of China, Swire Coca-Cola Limited has set up two smart vending machines at the Pazhou Ferry Terminal to provide passengers with diversified drinks."
According to Selin Lin, Director of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, travelers from Guangzhou and other parts of Guangdong enjoy the convenience of a seamless connection through the Pazhou Terminal for their onward flights to/from Los Angeles via HKIA. With a series of major sports entertainment happenings about to take place in LA, Selin welcomed travelers to come back to LA and experience the city's lively vibes.
Li Xin, a staff member in the Marketing Department of the Pazhou Ferry Terminal, said that the Terminal sees about 20,000 passengers per month, with foreign tourists comprising 40 percent of that total. Among the foreign tourists, American tourists make up the highest proportion.
As of today, 66 airlines have introduced the SkyPier sea-air intermodal connection service at the Pazhou Ferry Terminal, with 19 of these airlines offering check-in services.
This service enables passengers to complete immigration, check-in, and baggage tagging at the Pazhou Ferry Terminal prior to their journey to the SkyPier, which is located within the restricted area of HKIA. Subsequently, passengers can proceed directly to the boarding gates, eliminating the need to undergo immigration and customs procedures in Hong Kong.
Reporter | Jasmine, Rofel with Southcn.com
Editor | Monica, James
