Guanxiang (China Eaglewood) area at the Botanical Garden

Guanxiang (Aquilaria Sinensis) or China Eaglewood, is a kind of evergreen tree that belongs to the Aquilaria of Thymelaeaceae. Being under secondary national protection, it is the only species of tree in China that is named after Dongguan.

According to historical records, guanxiang was introduced into China from abroad during the Tang Dynasty(618-907). By the time of the Song Dynasty(960-1279), it had already been grown all over Guangdong, and Dongguan was the place where the planting of guanxiang, often called "virgin incense", was most popular. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the incense market of Dongguan, together with the flower market of Guangzhou, the medicine market of Luofu, and the pearl market of Hepu (which today belongs to Guangxi) were called “the Four Major Markets of Guangdong”.

At that time on market days, the residents of Jichiling Village would carry baskets of guanxiang with a shoulder pole to Yaxiang Street of Liaobu Town for sale. Some merchants would also ship guanxiang to Hong Kong’s terminals through the Shibu Port of Liaobu, which was then distribute to cities such as Suzhou, Hangzhou and the capital city then, even as far as to the Southeast Asia and West Asia.