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Updated: 2013-09-08 07:35
(China Daily)
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Unique History
Siming, which means "missing the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)", was given its name by renowned general Zheng Chenggong.
After the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) force defeated the Ming in the north, Zheng still led an army in Fujian province to defend the struggling Ming.
He named the place where his army was stationed as the Siming prefecture in 1650.
Zheng led a navy force from Xiamen to Taiwan to fight against the Dutch invaders in 1661. After several decisive victories, the Dutch were forced to leave Taiwan, and the island became Zheng's last stronghold against the Qing, which had already seized most of the Chinese mainland.
Zheng was a diehard loyalist to the Ming Dynasty, which made it impossible for him to return to the mainland. Unable to return to his homeland because of the continued strife, he died in 1662 in Taiwan.
In the early years of the Republic of China period (1912-1949), Siming county was established with an area covering today's Xiamen city and Kinmen county of Taiwan.
In 1950, the Siming district was founded at the central part of Xiamen.
A huge Zheng Chenggong statue has been erected on the Gulangyu Island to commemorate this national hero.
(China Daily 09/08/2013 page18)