Things remained relatively unchanged until the Three Kingdom period (三國時代). In 222 AD, one of the Kingdoms, Wu (吳), established Wuyee County (武夷縣) which approximately where present Xinhui is situated. The name was changed to Xinyee (新夷) in 280 AD. Sine the word yee (夷) means barbarians then it is not difficult to conclude this part of China was not exactly civilized. In actual fact the northerner, the inhabitants north of the Yangtze, commonly referred the inhabitants across the river and beyond as Southern Barbarians (南蠻子).

The name Xinhui (新會) first appeared in 420 when Xinhui Quon (新會郡) which initially contained three and later increased to twelve counties was established. It covered a large area including the entire present Xinhui, Taishan (台山), Heshan (鶴山), Kaiping (開平), Shunde (順德), southeast portion of both Xinxing (新興) and Gaoming (高明), eastern portion of Enping (恩平), northeastern and eastern portions of Zhongshan (中山).

The next major change came in 590 AD when it and six other counties were placed under the jurisdiction of Feng Zhou (封州). The next year it was renamed E Zhou ((允州)) which two years later was changed to Gong Zhou (岡州). Gong Zhou was also the name of town where the Xinhui administration was located. Many historians believe it is located at the southwest corner of present day Xinxing. During the ensuring 130 years, there were many flip-flops on Gong Zhou. Finally, Gong Zhou was abolished and the land was divided into two counties, Xinhui and Yeening (義寧), under the jurisdiction of Guangzhou (廣州). Xinhui’s boundaries were finally established and remained unchanged until 1152.

From 1152-1732 the following counties were established by partitioned land from Xinhui. The first, in 1152, to be established was Huengshan (香山) which was renamed in the 20th century to Zhongshan (中山). It is the birthday place of the father of modern China, Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Following the Chinese tradition of not using the country’s chief executive’s (prime minister) personal name but the county of origin. Thus to the Chinese he is generally known as Sun Zhongshan (孫中山). Three other counties were established in fairly rapid fashion: Shunde (1452), Enping (1478) and Xinning (新寧)(1499). The final two partitions took place during the Qing Dynasty (清朝), Kaiping (1649) and Heshan (1732).

Xinhui will always be remembered as where, Yamen (崖門), the army of the Southern Sung Dynasty (南宋), in 1279, made its last stand against the invading all-conquering Mongolian army. The prime minister, Luk Shiufu (陸秀夫), determining that both himself and the emperor should never be captured, strapped the eight year-old child onto his back and jumped off the cliff into the water below.

The story doesn’t end here. Legend has it that days later a monk found the body of a young boy in a yellow robe (traditionally yellow is the colour reserved for the royal family) floating in the open sea. The body was sheltered by birds. After collecting the body and upon close examination the monk discovered the royal seal (玉璽) which confirmed the body was that of the boy emperor. Quietly the monk buried the body and it wasn’t till years later before words of this grave got out. Now each Qing Ming (清明) the Chiu (Zhao) Association in Hong Kong visits grave and pays its respect. The legend and photo of the grave are provided by Henry Chiu.

Another legend is that this child emperor hung his robe on a lychee tree before the fatal event. From then onward, lychees from the area all have a green strip and the sweetest (掛綠荔枝).

Here is a little historical background. In 1126 AD (靖康元年) when the Jins (女真金人), a northern nomadic tribe who were the ancestors of the later day Manchus (滿清), invaded China. They lay siege to the capital, Kaifeng (開封) or Binliang (汴梁) as it was called then. They returned a year later and sacked the city, returned north with their captives which included the two Sung emperors and members of the royal family totalling over 3,000 people. A little over a hundred years later (1233 AD), this scene was replayed when the Mongolians conquered the Jins.

According to clan records, Lee Dong (李棟) was involved with the failed effort to relief the siege of Kaifeng. From the wordings, he was either a low ranking officer or leader of a local militia which had become common as a defence against the numerous roaming robbers and bandits (流寇). The heros of the famous novel Water Margin (水滸傳) supposingly were from this era.

After the siege, Lee Dong took his family which included his wife, their three sons, Lee Hon (李侃), Lee Chun (李侚) and Lee Yee (李佁), and his younger brother, Lee Jong (李棕) to Lau-sa Li (流沙里) in Panyu just south of Guangzhou. However, there are writing saying they went to Guangzhou’s Gao-de Li (高德里) first. They later moved to what was Gongzhou (岡州) in ancient time but is currently known as Xinxing (新與), in Xinhui county (新會). Lived in Chong-bu Hong (中步巷) which was on the town’s western edge, Lai-yee Feng district (禮儀坊). On a modern day map of Xinhui there is a Gongzhou just west of Xinhui City. Could this be one and the same?

After things somewhat settled, by that I guess they meant after the invaders had left, Lee Dong and his brother returned to Nanxiong (南雄) to tie up loose ends such as disposing real estate properties. Lee Dong died on the return trip. His brother brought his remains back and he was buried at Shek Goe Shan, Xinhui (新會石狗山).

After Lee Dong’s death, the family was on the move again. Except this time they all went their separate ways. Lee Dong’s widow went with the third son Lee Yee and the second son Lee Chun’s third son Lee Kit (李杰) to Gun-jok Hong De-hung Li, Taishan (台山德行里筋竹坑). Lee Dong’s brother, Lee Jong, and his family went to Shunde (順德) and Huengshan (香山)(later renamed Zhongshan, (中山). The second son, Lee Chun was dispatched to Dai Gong, Kaiping (開平大岡). Lee Hon, the eldest son, moved to Wunbu, Xinhui (新會雲步).

Map of Guangzhou showing the southern migration routes from Nanxiong