[3] When the area was first established during the Southern Song dynasty, it was known as Houjie (Chinese: 后街; pinyin: Hòujiē; lit.

'behind the street'), since one well-known traveler chose to reside in a location behind a major building in town.

[2] It borders the town of Humen to the south, and Dongguan's urban center to the north.

[6] Major products produced in Houjie include furniture, electromechanical equipment, footwear, and jewelry.

[citation needed] In 1998, American labor activist Charles Kernaghan documented the scenes of the Liang Shi Handbag Factory, a sweatshop located in Houjie.

[7]: 21–22  The factory mostly employed young women migrant workers hailing from rural regions.