Introduction to Durban

Durban, a beautiful coastal city, is located in KwaZulu, the hometown of Zulu.

1, subtropical sports ground, the gateway to Africa

Durban is the busiest port in Africa and the gateway to the African continent and other countries in the Indian Ocean. There are four seasons like spring, charming beaches, and five-star hotels by the sea can enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Indian Ocean.

Durban is not only a playground in South Africa, but also an ideal place for international conferences and important conferences in Africa. The International Conference Center is highly competitive in the world, and has hosted a series of important conferences, including the South African Economic Summit, the Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Africa Conference in 2002, the 13 International AIDS Conference, and the International Conference against Racial Discrimination. The African Union was established at the African Union Summit held here in July 2002. 20111United Nations Climate Conference 10 was held here in October. The 5th BRICS Summit 20 13 was held in Durban International Conference Center, South Africa on the evening of March 26th.

2. New entertainment facilities

Durban and several private consortia jointly invested in the construction of Ushaka Ocean Park, which reinforced the Victoria River embankment, Wilson Pier (featuring the new Catalina Theatre with restaurants and shops), the Sunshine Coast Casino in Tesogosen (famous for its rural green food on the northern coast), the Sibaya Casino in Fleeson and the entertainment kingdom opened in the winter of 2004. All these facilities make Durban enjoy a high reputation. Here countries cooperate sincerely, enterprises achieve their goals, colleagues enjoy information, people are friendly and United, and tourists enjoy the scenery of Zulu Kingdom.

3. Shopping and tourist attractions

Portal shopping plaza provides shopping and entertainment services. Specialty stores, restaurants, 18 cinemas, the famous Bania Theatre and the high-end markets of African antiques and artworks are all concentrated here. It is not only an important retail place in Durban and the largest shopping and entertainment center in South Africa, but also provides sports facilities such as skateboarding, cross-country cycling, rock climbing and wave pool for sports-loving tourists. Datingzi Shopping Center is another multi-level shopping center. Its design style reflects the Victorian architectural style. Huge roofs made of metal and glass stand a few miles away from Fiona Fang. Receive millions of tourists every month. The interior is marble, and there is a large comprehensive cinema.

The workshop shopping center was converted from the original train maintenance factory in Durban. It is close to the city auditorium and other tourist attractions in the city.

4. Ideal for outdoor sports

Durban has a pleasant climate, which is subtropical and sunny all year round. There are many beautiful parks and beautiful natural landscapes here, including the Botanical Garden at the foot of beria Mountain, the scenic Mitchell Park (with its own zoo), the Umghini Bird Park on the south bank of Umghini River, and several wild parks under the jurisdiction of KZN. Among them, Stan Shore, Umlanga, Coastal Mangrove and Kohlandt Krov Nature Reserve can not only be visited, but also have a picnic.

There are all kinds of sports. Golf Park-Durban Country Club is adjacent to its member club-Beach Forest. The Royal Golf Course in Durban is surrounded by the Lace Golf Course in Graydon, which provides competition facilities and welcomes other visiting golfers. Exciting air movement, such as hang gliding, is very popular in BaiPark Jung Su area in the north of Umlunga.

Natal Shark Boat is open to tourists all week. Visitors can go to see sharks, dolphins and whales by boat on weekends. KZN's famous sardines are a big sight in winter, attracting a large number of fishermen and tourists to the seaside to watch this spectacular scene.

In a word, there are countless human and natural landscapes here. As early as 6.5438+500,000 years ago in the Paleolithic Age, people lived here. Stone tools were found in caves in the Drakensberg Mountains. Tens of thousands of years ago, Abatawa people lived a social life of hunting here. They lived in the hinterland of Natal until African black tribes moved here two thousand years ago.

1824, King Sharjah, an outstanding military strategist, united the Ng'Uni tribe and formed the Zulu nationality. Since then, the vast area from the northern Uskla River to the Umm Ziwubu River belongs to the Zulu people. Amatuli and Amachele in Durban were also included in the Kingdom of Sharjah.

1497, vasco gama discovered Durban Bay during his voyage to India. This is the first European to discover a half-bay. Since the sixteenth century, slave traders, whaling ships, pirates and businessmen have frequented it.

In order to establish trade ties with Sharjah Kingdom, a group of businessmen came to Durban Port in 1824. He was received by King Sharjah and allowed to settle in Durban on the premise of observing Zulu laws.

Many tribes also moved here to cooperate with local businessmen to help them get ivory. As the relationship with Zulu monarchy (King Dingen assassinated King Sharjah and seized the throne in 1828) deteriorated gradually, Benjamin D 'Urban (the ruler of British Cape colony) came to power in 1835, and the country was renamed Durban.

1836 Due to the abolition of slavery, the Boers left the Cape area. Some of them crossed the Drakensberg Mountain in the north of Natal, and at 1838, the war was triggered by the territorial dispute with the Zulu people. Later, in order to keep the throne, King Dinggen decided to assassinate his opponent. Prince Pande won the support of the Boers and defeated King Dingen. King Dinggen fled to Swaziland and was killed.

Prince Pande seized the Zulu throne with the help of the Boer leader Pu Leto Leah, and divided the territory between the Uskla River and the Umzinubu River to the Boer. 1839, the Boer Republic of natalia was founded, with its capital in Petersburg, and Durban was also included in the Boer Republic.

The Boers' cruel treatment of African blacks attracted the attention of Cape Colony. 1842, a small group of British troops entered Durban in the name of easing the relationship between Zulu and Boer, which was opposed by Boer. The British army lost in the battle of Congra and was besieged by Boer troops. Dick Wang Shuai sent a large number of cavalry to Grahamston, a Cape colony (about 1000 km from the southern end) for rescue. After more than a month, the siege was lifted. 1845, natalia Bohr * * and the Republic joined the Cape Colony and changed its name to Natal Colony. Most Boers have resettled in the interior of South Africa.

The British began to emigrate to Durban, and many businessmen contributed to the development of Durban. In the early 1950s, it was found that sugarcane was not only high in yield, but also suitable for planting here. As a result, the sugar industry developed rapidly, and a large number of Indian indentured laborers came here to engage in the sugar industry, and wealthy Indian businessmen also moved here. In Durban, a multicultural family, descendants of Indians account for a considerable proportion. Durban is now the most populous place outside the Indian subcontinent.

1854, Durban was approved as an autonomous region, and the first mayor and the first Council were elected. 1860, a railway from Durban to the port was completed, becoming the first railway in South Africa. South Africa's railway system developed slowly, but with the discovery of gold mine in transvaal province, the railway developed rapidly, reaching 1895 and extending to Johannesburg (the center of gold mining), Free State and Durban. These railway trunk lines not only transport goods, but also carry passengers, making Durban a famous holiday resort.

1886 the discovery of transvaal province gold mine and Dundee coal mine has promoted railway construction and enhanced Durban's status as an important port. In order to enable large ships to berth, the port has been deepened. The construction of Maidun Wharf and Dry Dock makes Durban Port the largest seaport in Africa.

With the development of ports, related industries such as shipyards, handling companies and paint factories have developed rapidly.

By the beginning of the 20th century, Durban had power equipment, sewage treatment equipment, water supply network system and high-intensity expressway system. 1935, Durban Town was approved to be upgraded to Durban City. Durban's status is rising, and it has become the second largest industrial center after Transvaal. With a population of over 3 million, Durban is one of the fastest growing areas in the city and the most famous holiday resort in South Africa.

There are many museums in and around Durban, which record the history of Durban: the apartheid history of Kwamu Museum, the maritime memorabilia of maritime museum, and the Indian indentured labor history of Durban Culture and Documentation Center. Durban is a multicultural city. The three main social groups in Durban all have their own unique backgrounds, which have integrated the traditions of Africa, India and Britain. There are also traditions from Holland, Portugal and China. The second and third generation Durban developed various foods, restaurants, arts, handicrafts and dances with national characteristics.

Of Durban's 3.7 million residents, 800,000 are descendants of Indians. Apart from the South Asian subcontinent, Durban has the largest number of Indians.

The vibrant Indian market on Victoria Street is a favorite attraction for tourists, including Gray Street for shopping, the magnificent Imali Catholic Cathedral and Juma Mosque, the largest mosque in the southern hemisphere. These two opposing religious buildings are built next to each other and coexist harmoniously. In this noisy place full of pedestrians, cars and businessmen, Imam Catholic Cathedral and Gamma Mosque represent peace and tranquility, symbolizing tolerance and tolerance.

Durban and Gray Street are full of restaurants specializing in Indian North and South cuisine. Rabbit meat sauce, bread and curry snacks are all popular local hospitality foods.

Indian religious festivals that attract many domestic and foreign tourists include Diwali and Float Festival (a large parade by the sea). Among the temples of understanding in Chatsworth, the most worth seeing is the spectacular temple of Krishna. Restaurants in the surrounding communities also have delicious dishes.

The spectacular rickshaws and gorgeous artworks and handicrafts in the golden palace show Durban's Zulu customs and cultural charm. These beautiful and spectacular scenes can be seen from Fezulu in Mount Botha, overlooking the spectacular valleys formed by many mountains.

Other festivals and large-scale cultural and recreational activities include Wodeken Durban July steeplechase, NBS Theatre, Garden Exhibition, African Music Festival, Writers' Age, African Poetry and Durban International Film Festival.

There are also many beach festivals, yacht races and other sea sports in Durban. The longest surfing competition in the world is held in the North Beach of Durban every year, attracting many excellent players from all over the world.

South American beaches are the most famous domestic tourist attractions, surrounded by luxury holiday apartments and high-rise hotels. There are also beautifully decorated Sunshine Coast Leisure and Entertainment Center, Fitzsimon Snake Park and Mini City (the epitome of Durban). Visitors can take colorful rickshaws pulled by Zulu people or witness spectacular sardines. Thousands of sardines swam to the coast, followed by groups of sharks, dolphins and whales. The scene is spectacular.

Durban Port has been continuously developed into a tourist attraction integrating food culture, art culture and entertainment culture, and has received many tourists who come here to enjoy the warm subtropical customs. A new yacht artificial harbor, canals, shops and a world-class marine aquarium have been built in the Ocean Park on the coast of poynter. In other big ports in Africa, such as Wilson Pier, many seafood restaurants offer fresh Indian Ocean fish. There are also new Catalina Theatre, Baseball Center and Multicultural Art Center in this area, with complete exhibition rooms, shops and restaurants with African characteristics.

There is an art gallery, a free lunch concert and a KwaZulu-Natal Symphony Orchestra concert in the magnificent Durban Auditorium. There are many Victorian and world-famous decorative arts buildings in Durban. The African Museum, Natal maritime museum and Kwame Muir Museum all have rich historical records of Durban.

Cultural tours, such as the ruins of Inanda, will take you to visit Durban and its surrounding towns and taste different lifestyles. Explorations, such as Fezulu and Quassim Ba, provide traditional entertainment in Zulu countryside. In addition, there are famous battlefields and other tourist attractions in the province.

Durban is the only province in South Africa with two world heritage sites and the oldest botanical garden in Africa. Outdoor concerts and picnics with friends and family are often held in this botanical garden. This beautiful natural harbor is located at the foot of the Baolia Mountain, not far from the center of Durban, with precious tree resources, among which cycads are the rarest.

KwaZulu-natal province is a veritable "world province". Durban has world-class infrastructure and great attraction, with 345 sunny days every year. This is the first place to feel the sunshine and various cultural charms.

travel

As a major resort and conference destination in South Africa, Durban offers different levels of accommodation, from luxurious five-star hotels to people suitable for hiking. This sunny city is an ideal home for tourists. Five-star hotels and luxury apartments are located by the sea and can enjoy the sparkling Indian Ocean scenery. These hotels provide world-class services, including arranging buses to and from Durban International Airport and checking luggage between Zulu and short-distance tourist attractions. Durban also has a big train station and local buses to facilitate your travel.

1, multiple choice

Visitors can choose hotels with reasonable prices from hotels in the city, from elegant and high-end rooms to exquisite and comfortable rooms. There are many precious world-famous buildings in the suburbs of Durban, from fairyland-like buildings in the early Victorian era to unique decorative arts architectural sites. Many of them have been transformed into comfortable high-class hotels, and most of them are not far apart. Most hotels have adopted local and colonial styles in decoration and menu design, allowing visitors to truly experience the history of Durban. There are also comfortable hotels for hikers. If you want to enjoy the fun of low consumption in Durban, you can choose to stay in hotels for hikers, from simple hotels without any pretensions to reincarnated luxury hotels. On the coast extending from Durban to the north and south, from the seaside to the wild, there are various recreational activities and accommodation conditions at all levels.

2. Time-sharing accommodation

Timeshare apartment is a popular way of accommodation in Durban and its surrounding areas, and more and more tourists choose timeshare apartment. This shows that Durban not only impressed tourists when they first arrived, but also attracted them to visit again with its excellent service. Visitors who have been here are talking about the pleasant climate, beautiful beaches and a melting pot that is compatible with the essence of the East and the West and African cultural traditions. However, Durban's art deco architecture is also world-famous.

Every year, many tourists from all over the world come to Durban to visit and preserve the buildings of the early twentieth century. However, what surprised them most were the rare Victorian, English Edward V of England, comprehensive, Bailey and Oriental buildings.

Decorative art appeared in the United States in the 1920s, but it was not until the 1930s that Durban made its position clear to the British government and the South African government that decorative art became popular in Durban. Many buildings, especially residential buildings, adopt this style. There were no decorative buildings in Britain at that time, so it was regarded as "modern style". In 1930s, Durban architecture was most influenced by this.

1, main building

Durban is the driving force to promote the economic development in this region, which has extended the decorative art style from the colonial and local residential areas in Berea to the commercial areas. Although the emerging seaport cities draw lessons from many American architectural styles, they can still reflect the background of Durban as a maritime country. Muslim businessmen who run family business in Gray Street began to combine religious belief with architectural decoration style in the early 20th century.

Durban-style buildings include 127 West Street, which is built with characteristic red bricks, 330 West Street, which is decorated with African animal patterns, and Essop Moossa Building, located in Prince Edward Street, which is richly decorated in European and Islamic styles.

No.323 Currie Road is an Art Deco residential building. It was a masterpiece of decorative art at that time, and it kept its simple style. St Augustine's apartment on musgrave Road may be the only representative of Mayan art architecture.

2. Focus building

Howard College, the focus of Natal University, has a comprehensive design style on the outside and a complete decorative art style on the inside. The sculpture on the hall door, the stairs and the portrait of King George V all reflect the gorgeous style of decorative arts. The history of a place is the history of the whole region and even the whole society. It involves the history of all people in society, not just the history of people in the upper class.

There are six museums in Tkvini, Durban, and each museum records different aspects of Durban's history. All museums except maritime museum in Natal are free to visit.

Each museum records different aspects of Durban's history. Except Pinetown Museum and Westville Museum, the opening hours of other museums are: Monday to Saturday from 08: 30-16: 00; Sundays and statutory holidays are11:00—16: 00. All museums are closed on Good Friday, Christmas and Election Day.

The Alter Hof Museum, located at 77 Arriba Street, mainly shows the experiences of people from all walks of life before and during the colonial period. In the exhibition hall upstairs, you can see the early buildings in Durban, learn about the early enterprises, and arrange a walking tour in Durban.

Kwa Muhle Museum, located at Ordnance Road 130, with the theme of former colonial history. This used to be the office building of the Ministry of State Administration, where African blacks applied for jobs in urban areas.

With the theme of "Durban system", Kwa Muhle Museum tells the history of apartheid in Durban, town construction, local beer shop tax, migrant workers and so on.

Gray Street Museum records the history of Indian businessmen. Here you can learn about all aspects of cultural exchanges between different social groups in Durban.

The seaport at the end of Arriba Street is located in maritime museum of Natal Port. The museum records the history and operation of the seaport. There are three boats on display in the museum, showing the technology and lifestyle during the voyage. These three ships are Ulundi (steam-powered ship), J.R. Moore (oil-fueled) and SAS Durban (minesweeper), and they need tickets.

The old house museum at No.31St. Andrew Street is a leisure place for the distinguished Robinson family. The Robinson family is headed by Sir John, the first prime minister of Natal.

The opening hours of Songcheng Museum are: 09: 00-17: 00 from Monday to Friday; Saturday 09: 00-12: 00; Closed on Sundays and legal holidays. Located at the corner of crompton Street and Old Main Road in Pinetown. Songshu Town Museum shows the development history of Songshu Town from prehistoric times to 2 1 century and its simple and natural life. There is also information about tourist attractions in the western part of the diocese.

The Westville Museum is located at queen street 16 (next to King Street) in Westville. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 08: 30-16: 45; 08: 00 on Saturday-12: 00, closed on Sunday and legal holidays. It mainly shows the history of 1848 when the Burgher colonists moved from German to expressway. They were the first organized colonists in Natal Colony. The Westville Museum also records the influence of Haier colonists in Belges on their descendants and the process of Natal's colonization.

The latest project of the Department of Historical and Cultural Heritage is to assist the Cato Manor Development Association to build the Cato Manor Ruins Center. The project is located at Intuthuko intersection, No.750 Francois Road, Gato Manor. It was opened to the public on June, 2003 10.