Chikan town (赤坎古镇), established in 1649, was initially a part of Xinhui County (新会县). Its location, surrounded by the Tanjiang River (潭江), facilitated thriving waterway transport. According to the 1991 town chronicle, a pier was established by 1676. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Chikan emerged as a key maritime transportation hub in Kaiping County (开平县), offering numerous ferries to Jiangmen town (江门镇) in the Pearl River Delta via the Tanjiang River. However, this prominence diminished with the silting of the Tanjiang River in the 20th century.
As a riverport, Chikan became a focal point for emigration from the Tanjiang River catchment area in the late 19th century, driven by factors such as population pressure, rural poverty, and civil unrest, while also being attracted by opportunities elsewhere and overseas. In the early 20th century, Chikan transitioned from a rural market serving nearby villages of two competing clans, the Guan (关氏) and the Situ (司徒氏), to a bustling emigrant market town open to all. The Chikan Chamber of Commerce (赤坎商会) was established in 1907 by representatives from both clans, signalling the town's rapid growth.
This growth was propelled by various factors, including local merchants benefitting from trade along the Tanjiang River, emigrants investing in local businesses, modern infrastructure such as roads replacing traditional trade routes, and the establishment of new schools attracting educated locals. Additionally, returning emigrants contributed to the town's development as the civil order improved. By the 1930s, Chikan had become one of the largest market towns in South China, boasting approximately 1000 shops, the majority operated by emigrants or their descendants.
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