On January 14, an undersea volcano that had been dormant for many years erupted in Tonga. Experts estimate that its energy is equivalent to 1,000 atomic bombs. The enormous destructive force has caused immeasurable damage to the local area. It also allowed the strange country of "Tonga" to break into the eyes of the Chinese people.
What kind of country is she? Why is it said that its indigenous people first came from China? Let's take you all into this distant kingdom of Tonga.
Tonga is a South Pacific island nation with 173 islands, although only 36 are inhabited. The terrain is low and flat, but there are many volcanic islands to the west. The population of the country is 104,000, and the area is 747 square kilometers.
The total GDP is about $500 million, or $5,000 per capita. The official language is Tongan, which was also spoken because it was historically occupied by the British. The country declared independence on 4 June 1970, although it remains a member of the Commonwealth. In short, it is a small country with limited natural resources and far from the world market.
Many experts believe that the ancestors of the Tongans were Polynesians, who settled on the island of Tongatapu 3,000 years ago. But in recent years, some archaeologists have made new discoveries by studying the island's early pottery: as early as 8,000 years ago, humans sailed south from southern China and Taiwan, eventually reaching the South Pacific, and then migrating to the islands in Tonga.
There are even people who say that the name of Tonga should be called "Tongu", and legend has it that there is a Chinese couple who sell mutton soup here, hence the name "Tong". Of course, this statement is not verifiable. But China and Tonga have historical roots, but they are not empty.
Tangjia belongs to the tropical rainforest climate, the dry season rainy season is distinct, the average annual temperature is 23 to 27 degrees, which is comfortable and pleasant. Only between November and March, there will be hurricanes and torrential rains, so beware if you come here.
The so-called patrons eat mountains and rely on water to draft water, Tonga fishery resources are relatively rich, but the mineral resources are relatively poor. Although Tonga is a small country, it also has 5 districts and 23 districts. The five districts are Centro, Cala, Marine, Prata Oaks and Savannais.
The aesthetic of the Tongans is similar to that of the Tang Dynasty on the mainland, that is, fat is beautiful. Women who are too thin to marry out. Therefore, girls generally marry when they are fat in their mother's house.
The capital of Tonga, Nuku'alofa, is located on the largest island of Tabu. The city is the seat of tonga's government and royal residence. It is also a commercial center for soup processing, a transportation hub and a concentration of import and export goods.
Another of the more famous cities is Inner Yafu, which is located in the north of the Tang family and covers an area of 11 square kilometers. With well-established banks, schools, police stations and hospitals, it is the tourist center of Tonga.
Tourism is one of the industries that the Tongan government is vigorously developing. It is a new economic growth point in recent years. According to statistics, the total number of foreign tourists visiting Tonga in 2016 is about 90,000. Among them, there are 3,300 Chinese tourists.
Tonga provides free compulsory primary education, and lower secondary education requires only a nominal fee. Education above high school is mainly funded by foreign countries.
In addition, Tonga has a national free medical system. This is still relatively good, but based on the current situation of weak medical conditions, it is difficult to be optimistic about serious diseases.
Chinese Navy peace ark hospital ship in Tonga for medical assistance
One of the pillars of Tonga's economy is agriculture. The number of people working in agriculture in the country accounts for 40% of the total employment. The main cash crops are coconut, vanilla beans, bananas, coffee beans, cassava, etc. The farming methods are relatively primitive, the technology is backward, and the natural disasters are greatly affected, and the yield quality is not high.
cassava
The absolute dominant player in Tonga's exports is the fish export, which is rich in tuna. However, in recent years, fish stocks have also been declining due to climate and overfishing. The tuna export business is shrinking. There is an urgent need to find new economic growth points.
The main industrial aspects are the manufacture of small fishing boats, the manufacture of biscuits and instant noodles, and the processing of coconut oil. It has little influence in the world market.
The legal tender of Tonga is Panga. A panga means one dollar. Paanga comes in denominations of one dollar, two dollars, 5 dollars, 10 dollars, 20 dollars, 50 dollars, 100 yuan. Think about it is very similar to our country? And one panga is equal to 100 points, which is more like that.
Houses in Tonga are generally built of wood, and the royal palace is no more than a 3-storey wooden building. Country houses are even less elaborate, basically made of coconut trunks and leaves.
Women in the city like to wear colorful dresses, and they also like to hold umbrellas in the summer. Men dress more casually, but in formal occasions they generally wear a skirt called "Farofara".
Tonga has one of the most famous dances called me'etu'upaki, a dance that only men can perform. Another famous Tonga dance, lakalaka, was declared by unesco in 2003 as one of the masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of mankind.
The Tongans are warmly welcoming, and the local produce is basically all laid out for guests. The most eye-catching thing is the food that the local folk regard as "noble" - roasted whole pig. The whole piglet, roasted by their unique method, is the most popular delicacy for tourists.
The "Whole Pig Feast" is the most grand welcome banquet in Tonga. Before the opening of the table, the elders are first invited to pray in the Tang family language, and then the hostess cuts the first piece of meat and offers it to the host to taste first, and then the crowd can enjoy it. They are used to grasping food with their hands.
Militarily, there are only more than 600 officers and men in Tonga. Divided into the Army, Navy and Royal Guard. In addition, more than 400 police officers maintain daily policing.
In terms of transportation, the total length of roads in the country is about 950 kilometers. There are fewer than 40,000 cars. Water transport is relatively developed, and there are 6 seaports in the country. There are 6 airports in the country, mainly with Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and other countries.
Tonga's more famous attraction is the Tidal Cave, located on the south coast of Tongatapu Island, which is a unique wonder in the South Pacific Ocean. The thousand-meter-long Coral Coast is invaded by the sea into a variety of holes.
These caves are open overhead, and when the tide rises, the raging waves crash to the shore, and the sea gushes out from thousands of caves, forming a column of water up to 10 meters high, which is very spectacular.
Speaking of attractions, one has to mention Haamonga. This is a stone gate located near the Tonga Royal Palace and belongs to the historical monument. It is said that this magnificent building was built 1200 years ago. On both sides of the arch are two huge coral stones, up to 5 meters high. Between these two boulders, there is a 6-meter-long stone strip. The three stones weighed 40 tons. I don't know how they put it up.
On November 2, 1998, the mainland established diplomatic relations with Tonga and established an embassy that month. In May 2005, Tonga also officially established an embassy on the mainland. The two countries have friendly cooperation in political, economic, cultural, educational, and other fields.
Embassy of the People's Republic of China
Finally, the Chinese who go to travel should pay attention to it. There are many taboos in Tonga that everyone should avoid. Tongans like to be quiet when they eat, and talking loudly will be despised. Walking on a road with bare arms is considered illegal.
The above is the real kingdom of Tonga, and I hope that this volcanic eruption will not cause great casualties to people.