Why did Guangdong become a source of emigration by the late 1600s?

By the late 17th century, Guangdong had become a significant source of emigration primarily due to rapid population growth. Following the Mongol conquest and subsequent migrations, the region experienced effective Han occupation and accelerated cultural development.1

This demographic expansion was further fueled in the 16th century by the introduction of new food crops from the Americas, such as corn (maize) and sweet potatoes, which allowed for the cultivation of marginal hilly lands and provided insurance against famine. As the population grew quickly, the region reached a point where it could no longer sustain its inhabitants, leading to outward migration. Initially, these migrants moved to Guangxi, Sichuan, and Taiwan, before the movement expanded to Southeast Asia and North America by the mid-19th century.231