IX. The Hotel of Guangzhou in the Ming Dynasty: Huaiyuan Inn

The oversea trade in the Ming dynasty was divided into the tribute trade and the merchant trade. In the early age of the Ming dynasty, the tribute trade was legal, while the merchant trade illegal. The tribute trade was established during the reign of Emperor Hongwu, and reached its climax during the Yongle and Xuande periods. The tribute trade was an important part in the Ming tribute system. The Ming court adopted the policy of "more export (grant-based) than import (tribute-based)" and "pacifying the remote people", providing large grant to the tribute nations. The policy can be regarded as an economic and political extension. In 1405, the 3rd year of Emperor Yongle, due to the increasing number of the tribute envoys from the oversea countries, inns were built in the three places of Fujian, Zhejiang and Guangdong to receive the tribute envoys from different countries. Guangdong inn was named Huaiyuan Inn, Fujian inn named "Laiyuan Inn" and Zhejiang inn named "Anyuan Inn".

The etymology of "Huaiyuan" was dated back in the ancient time. The History of the Spring and Autumn Period by Zuo Qiuming records the mention of "using etiquette to unite the dispersed people and using virtue to conciliate the remote people" in the dialogue between Guanzhong and the Vassal Lord of Qi. The dynasties after the Spring and Autumn Period often followed the tradition to conciliate the distant countries. The Song Dynasty court once granted the tributary envoy from Samboja Kingdom the title of "Conciliating General", which proved the tradition.

The Song Dynasty set up Duting Inn, Tongwen Guesthouse, Libin House and Huaiyuan Inn in the Capital Kaifeng to receive the envoys from the oversea courtries. Huaiyuan Inn was built in 1006, the 3rd year of Emperor Jingde, for the dedicated reception of "the tribute envoys from countries from the south to the South China Sea".

The Huaiyuan Inn with 120 guest rooms in Guangzhou in the Ming dynasty was managed by the Shibo Supervisorate Office. It was located in the inner harbor near Xianzi Bu outside of the city (now the Shiqi Fu of Xiguan in the west of Guangzhou).It was then still by the riverside with easy access to the ships. In the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, Huaiyuan Inn used to be the locale for the government to receive the foreign tribute envoys.