How did the Qin dynasty first bring Guangdong into the Chinese empire?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Hong Kong: bridge — Guangdong Bridge between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on the Chinese mainland.

Guangdong was first incorporated into the Chinese empire in 222 BCE during the Qin dynasty. The region was brought under imperial control when Shihuangdi, the first emperor, conquered the territory extending along the Xi and Bei river valleys down to the Pearl River Delta.1

Prior to this conquest, the area was occupied by non-Han ethnic groups and remained physically separated from the early centers of Chinese civilization in North China. While this military campaign established political control, it did not result in immediate or successful colonization, and the region remained only politically integrated into the empire at that time.1