As far back as the Yuan dynasty, much of China's foreign trade was conducted along the coasts of Fujian and Guangdong. With convenient ocean transportation and quick access to information, wave after wave of its residents went abroad to make a living.
閩粵沿海地帶，早在元朝時就是我國對外的通商口岸，居民憑藉航運便利、信息開通，紛紛出洋謀生，因而素有「僑鄉」美稱。