With the implementation of the Qing government's policy of closing the country to the outside world, China gradually became disconnected from the world, and in the mid-19th century, China was completely unable to keep up with the rhythm of the world, and became a weak country invaded by great powers. Coupled with the decay and weakness of the government of the late Qing Dynasty, China became a place where the great powers trampled and slaughtered at will. The Qing government, under the help of western ships and cannons, was forced to sign many treaties that humiliated the country, which greatly deepened China's colonization and reduced China to a semi-feudal and semi-colonial country.
At that time, many places in China were ceded by the Qing government, and these places became colonies for foreigners, and it was not until many years later that they returned to the embrace of the motherland. There are many places that have been forcibly leased for 99 years, the most famous of which are Macau and Hong Kong. However, in addition to Macau and Hong Kong, there is another place in China that has been leased for 99 years, do you know where it is? This place was Guangzhou Bay, but this Guangzhou Bay was not the Pearl River Delta region that people know today, but a city in Guangdong at that time, now called Zhanjiang City.
Today's Hong Kong is known as the Pearl of the Orient, and Guangzhou Bay at that time was also the Pearl of the Orient in the eyes of the French. The French had always coveted this place in Guangzhou Bay, and in order to invade it, they sent a warship to forcibly enter the waters of Guangzhou Bay in the name of avoiding wind and waves. Under the survey of the French, it was found that the sea water in guangzhou bay was very deep, which was very suitable for the docking of large warships, and it was convenient for France to station a large fleet in China, thus expanding its competitiveness in China. Immediately, France proposed to the Qing government to lease here, and also issued a threat to the Qing government. At that time, the Qing government was deeply involved in internal and external troubles, and it was simply unable to compete with France, so it did not take much effort to successfully obtain the lease right of Guangzhou Bay.
On November 16, 1899, China and France signed the Sino-French Treaty of Mutual Determination of Guangzhou Bay for a lease period of 99 years. The French government has also made a lot of investment in Guangzhou Bay, but these investments are all aimed at plundering the resources of Guangzhou Bay, which has no substantial benefits for China, but this still promotes the development of Guangzhou Bay to a certain extent. Later, after the outbreak of the Japanese army's all-out war of aggression against China, it soon sent troops to occupy Guangzhou Bay, and this area fell into the hands of the Japanese and was once again subjected to colonial aggression. However, after the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan, Guangzhou Bay successfully returned to the embrace of the motherland, and China also renamed it Zhanjiang City, until now.