Guangzhou (广州)

1. Introduction

Guangzhou City, commonly known as Guangzhou, abbreviated as Guang or Sui, and also called Yangcheng, is the capital of Guangdong Province, a sub-provincial city, a city specifically designated in the state plan, and one of the first coastal open cities in the People's Republic of China. Guangzhou serves as a commercial and trade center and comprehensive transportation hub for both mainland China and Guangdong's external relations. It is one of the first-tier and megacities in mainland China, a central city within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and also hosts the Joint Command of the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army.

With a history of over 2,200 years of city establishment, Guangzhou is the birthplace and flourishing center of Lingnan culture. It was listed as one of China's first National Historical and Cultural Cities in 1982. Since the Qin Dynasty, Guangzhou has consistently been the administrative center of commanderies, prefectures, and superior prefectures, as well as the political, military, economic, cultural, legal, and scientific-educational hub of South China. It is also the source of modern Chinese revolution and an important cradle of modern civilization. Guangzhou briefly served as the capital of local separatist regimes during the Nanyue Kingdom and Southern Han periods. Entering the modern era, it established a municipal government organization in 1921, pioneering the municipal administrative system in mainland China.

Due to its special geographical location, historically distant from the core areas of unified central authority, Guangzhou, as China's southernmost and longest-standing foreign trade port, has maintained prosperity since its founding. It is one of the few major ports in the world that has thrived for over 2,000 years. From the Three Kingdoms period onward, Guangzhou became the main port of the Maritime Silk Road. During the Tang and Song dynasties, it grew into China's largest port, a world-renowned Eastern port city, and established China's earliest foreign trade management agency, the Maritime Trade Office. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, Guangzhou further became China's sole major foreign trade port, a monopolistic commercial center in China, and one of the world's important commercial and trade hubs. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou became the host city of the China Import and Export Fair in 1957, known as the "barometer" and "weather vane" of China's foreign trade. Following the launch of reform and opening-up, Guangzhou, as a frontline of opening to the outside world, created numerous "national firsts," leading to rapid economic development. Its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has consistently ranked first among China's provincial capitals to this day.

Located at the mouth of the Pearl River and the center of the Pearl River Delta, Guangzhou enjoys a highly advantageous geographical position. It is a central city of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Economic Zone and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as a hub city for the "Belt and Road" Initiative, acclaimed as China's "Southern Gateway" to the world. Guangzhou is designated by the State Council of China as an international metropolis and a national comprehensive gateway city. It has been continuously included in the Global and World Cities Study Group's roster of international metropolises, ranked 27th globally in 2018, and maintained its status as an Alpha- world city, ranking 34th globally in 2020. According to the United Nations' "2016 China City Sustainable Development Report," Guangzhou's Human Development Index ranked first among 35 major cities in mainland China. The Guangzhou Metropolitan Area, comprising the entire areas of Guangzhou and Foshan cities, along with parts of Zhaoqing and Qingyuan cities, is one of the largest and most economically powerful metropolitan areas in South China.

2. Origin of the Name

2.1 Historical Origins

Panyu City (also known as Renxiao City) was the earliest name for Guangzhou when it was first established. In 214 BC, after Emperor Qin Shi Huang sent troops to conquer the Lingnan region, Renxiao, the commandant of Nanhai Commandery, built a city on Panyu Hill and Yushan Hill (near present-day Cangbian Road). This name remained in use until the Republican era. In 226 AD and 246 AD, the Wu Kingdom twice divided Jiaozhou into two parts: "Jiaozhou" and "Guangzhou." The area west of Hepu was still called "Jiaozhou," while the area east of Hepu took the character "Guang" from Guangxin, the original seat of the Jiaozhou Governor's Office, and was named "Guangzhou." This region included the four commanderies of Nanhai, Cangwu, Yulin, and Hepu, with its administrative seat in Panyu. This marked the beginning of the separate governance of Guangdong and Guangxi, as well as the origin of the name "Guangzhou." However, at that time, Guangzhou was merely an administrative region, roughly equivalent to present-day Guangdong Province. Starting from the Tang Dynasty, the Guangzhou Prefecture was established, giving rise to the term "Guangfu." It was not until 1921 that Guangzhou City was officially established, and Panyu City was formally renamed "Guangzhou City" for the first time.

2.2 Alternative Names

Alternative names for Guangzhou, such as "City of Five Rams," "Ram City," and "City of Grain," originate from the legend of the Five Rams. According to the legend, five immortals dressed in five-colored robes and riding five-colored rams arrived in Guangzhou, each holding a stalk of grain with six ears. They presented the grain to the people of the city before ascending to heaven, while the five rams turned into stone. Hence, Guangzhou is also abbreviated as "Sui" (grain). Guangzhou is well-suited for flower cultivation, which led to the development of the Guangzhou Flower Market and earned the city the nickname "Flower City." In 2017, a survey indicated that 81.02% of residents favored the nickname "Flower City" the most.

Since the Tang Dynasty, Guangzhou has served as the seat of Guangzhou Prefecture, and after the Qing Dynasty, it became the provincial capital of Guangdong Province. Therefore, "Provincial City" also became a common term for Guangzhou among the people of Guangdong. In ancient times, Guangzhou was also referred to by names such as "Nanwu City," "Chuting," "Panyu," and "Nanhai."

3. History

3.1 Pre-Qin to the Three Kingdoms Period

As early as the Neolithic Age 4,000 years ago, the "Baiyue" people were active in the area of present-day Guangzhou. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the region encompassing present-day Guangdong, Guangxi, and northern Vietnam was broadly referred to as Lingnan, and the ethnic groups residing there were called Nanyue (also known as Nanyue). During the Zhou Dynasty, the "Baiyue" people here had interactions with the people of the Chu State in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. In the late Spring and Autumn period, the Yue State was conquered by the Chu State. The Yue prime minister, Gong Shi Yu, led the Yue officials and people south to Guangdong, where they established the city of Nanwu, the precursor to present-day Guangzhou.

The documented history of Guangzhou can be traced back to the Qin Dynasty, characterized primarily by maritime trade and a history of serving as a capital for "three dynasties and ten emperors." In 219 BC, the King of Qin sent Tu Sui as the main commander and Zhao Tuo as his deputy, leading an army of 500,000 to attack Lingnan. The Yue people killed Tu Sui, and Ren Xiao was appointed as the main commander. In 214 BC, the Qin forces captured Lingnan. They chose a highland (Panshan) inhabited by the Nanyue people between Baiyun Mountain and the Pearl River to construct the city of Panyu (historically known as Ren Xiao City), marking the beginning of Guangzhou's establishment as an administrative district and a city. In 204 BC, Zhao Tuo, the Commandant of Nanhai Commandery during the late Qin period, established the Nanyue Kingdom, with its capital at Panyu (present-day Guangzhou). This was the first time a capital was established in the Lingnan region.

In the sixth year of the Yuanding era of Emperor Wu of Han (111 BC), the Han Dynasty conquered the Nanyue Kingdom and established nine commanderies, with the seat of Nanhai Commandery still located at Panyu. In the 22nd year of the Jian'an era of the Wu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period (217 AD), Bu Zhi, the Inspector of Jiaozhou, moved the provincial administrative seat back to Panyu, expanded the city walls, and it later became known as Bu Zhi City. Later, when Lu Yin served as the Inspector of Jiaozhou, because the provincial seat at Panyu was coastal and lacked fresh water, he had the Ganxi channel dug to bring water into the north of the city and built reservoirs to store water, solving Panyu's water supply needs.

3.2 The Two Jins to Sui and Tang Dynasties

During the periods of the Western and Eastern Jin and the Northern and Southern Dynasties, frequent wars in the northern Central Plains led to a large migration of Han Chinese to the relatively stable Jiangnan region, with a significant number also moving into Lingnan, promoting economic development in the Guangzhou area. The center of overseas trade shifted from Jiaozhi to Guangzhou, and the maritime trade of Guangzhou Port became increasingly prosperous. Guangzhou also became an important hub for cultural and political exchanges between foreign countries and the Central Plains. In the second year of the Taikang era of the Western Jin Dynasty (281 AD), envoys from Da Qin (the Roman Empire) landed in Guangzhou via sea routes and reached the capital Luoyang. In the same year, the Indian monk Kumarajiva came to Guangzhou and established the first Buddhist temple, the Renwang Temple. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the eminent monk Dharmayasas arrived in Guangzhou by sea and established the Wangyuan Temple, which is today's Guangxiao Temple. Subsequent Sino-foreign Buddhist exchanges also mostly passed through Guangzhou.

During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Guangzhou maintained its status as a center of maritime trade. Emperor Wen of Sui abolished Nanhai Commandery and established the Guangzhou Chief Military Command. In the sixth year of the Xianqing era of the Tang Dynasty (661 AD), the Office of the Commissioner for Merchant Shipping was established in Guangzhou to oversee diplomatic relations and foreign trade via sea routes. After the mid-Tang period, the overland Silk Road in the west was blocked, and the "Maritime Silk Road" rose to prominence. As one of the starting points and hubs of the Maritime Silk Road, Guangzhou's prosperity once reached its peak. After the opening of sea routes from Guangzhou to Java and Arabia, merchant ships traveled back and forth frequently. The Tang government adopted policies encouraging overseas trade, allowing foreign merchants to trade freely in China. Over 100,000 foreign merchants gathered in Guangzhou. At this time, Guangzhou became China's earliest open trading port that never closed. It was not only the largest trading port in the country but also a major world trade port, and simultaneously a crucial center for Sino-Western cultural and religious exchange. Eminent monks and missionaries from various countries successively came to China via Guangzhou. In the sixth year of the Qianfu era of the Tang Dynasty (879 AD), Huang Chao's army captured Guangzhou, killing many "foreign merchants" there, dealing a heavy blow to Guangzhou's overseas trade.

3.3 The Five Dynasties to Song and Yuan Dynasties

In 917, Liu Yan established the Southern Han Kingdom, with its capital at Xingwang Fu (Guangzhou). This was the second time in history Guangzhou served as a capital. At this time, Guangzhou's fiscal revenue still relied mainly on foreign trade. In the fourth year of the Kaibao era (971 AD), Emperor Taizu of the Northern Song, Zhao Kuangyin, conquered the Southern Han Kingdom, abolished Xingwang Fu, reinstated the name Guangzhou, placed it under Lingnan Circuit, and established the Maritime Trade Office in Guangzhou. As overland traffic between China and the West was almost at a standstill, maritime transport flourished during both the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties. During the Northern Song, Guangzhou remained the largest trading seaport, with over fifty countries coming to trade and pay tribute, exceeding the number during the Tang Dynasty. In the third year of the Zhidao era (997 AD), the Northern Song established Guangnan East Circuit, with Guangzhou as its administrative seat. After the mid-Southern Song period, Quanzhou Port surpassed Guangzhou Port to become the largest port.

During the transition between the Song and Yuan Dynasties, Guangzhou became the final battleground between Song and Yuan forces, suffering severe destruction in the warfare, and foreign trade came to a halt. In 1278 (the 15th year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty), it was placed under the jurisdiction of the Jiangxi Branch Secretariat as part of Guangdong Circuit and Guangzhou Route administration. After the Battle of Yashan in 1279, the Yuan government established its rule in the Guangzhou area. In the same year, the Yuan government dispatched the Guangdong Pacification Commissioner to Kulam (Kollam) to invite countries on the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia to come for trade and tribute. In 1286 (the 23rd year of the Zhiyuan era), Guangzhou reinstated the Maritime Trade Office. During the Yuan Dynasty, Guangzhou remained the second largest port in the country after Quanzhou, an important port for China's foreign trade. Maritime trade was equally prosperous, with sea routes connecting to countries in Asia, Europe, and Africa. The number of countries trading with Guangzhou reached over 140.

3.4 Ming and Qing Dynasties

In the early Ming Dynasty, reversing the open-door policies of the Song and Yuan periods, the government implemented a maritime ban. Guangzhou became the only trading port open to most countries, regaining its status as the nation's largest port. In 1368 (the first year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty), Guangzhou Route was changed to Guangzhou Prefecture, serving as the seat of the Guangdong Provincial Administration Commission and Guangzhou Prefecture. During the Jiajing era, the Portuguese fleet invaded Guangzhou, leading to the Battles of Tunmen and Xicao Bay. After defeating the Portuguese, the Ming government blockaded Guangzhou. However, the Portuguese转而 occupied Macau, essentially monopolizing Guangzhou's foreign trade. In 1567 (the first year of the Longqing era), as coastal倭寇 (Japanese pirates) were gradually pacified, the Ming Dynasty lifted the maritime ban, tacitly permitting private foreign trade. Guangzhou's overseas trade continued to develop, and the yahang (brokerage firms) specifically serving foreign merchants in Guangzhou also expanded. After the Wanli era, specialized comprador merchants known as the "Thirteen Hongs" emerged to act as agents for foreign merchants. The specific foreign trade operations of the Maritime Trade Office were also manipulated by the yahang. In 1650, the Manchu Qing forces carried out a massacre in Guangzhou to suppress anti-Qing forces, historically known as the Gengyin Catastrophe.

In the 22nd year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1757), Guangzhou became the sole trading port open to Western countries, historically known as the "Canton System" or "Single Port Trade." The Guangzhou Thirteen Hongs monopolized most of China's foreign trade, and Guangzhou became the world's third-largest city at the time (after Beijing and London). In the summer of 1840, the British expeditionary force blockaded the Pearl River estuary at Guangzhou, and the Opium War broke out. In May 1841, the spontaneous struggle of the people of Sanyuanli in the Guangzhou suburbs against the British invaders occurred. In 1842, the Qing government was defeated and signed the Treaty of Nanjing, opening five ports including Guangzhou for trade. After Hong Kong was ceded to Britain and opened as a free port, it gradually replaced Guangzhou as the main distribution center for goods. In 1858, the British and French allied forces captured Guangzhou. The Governor of Guangdong surrendered, a foreign committee was established, and the Guangdong government became a puppet regime. Britain and France occupied Shamian Island from 1861 for over 80 years.

3.5 Late Qing Revolution to the Republic of China

As the birthplace of China's modern revolution, in the late 19th century, figures like He Ziyuan and Qiu Fengjia founded and promoted new-style schools in Guangzhou. This not only cultivated a large number of socially progressive and innovative elites but also gave rise to the Lingnan School of Painting, accumulating significant energy for the 1911 Revolution. However, the 1910 New Army Yantang Uprising and the 1911 Huanghuagang Uprising led by Huang Xing and others both ended in failure.

After the Wuchang Uprising in October 1911, the Advisory Council of various provincial organizations declared independence in November, elected Hu Hanmin as the Military Governor of Guangdong, and established the Guangdong Military Government. After the founding of the Republic of China in 1912, Guangzhou Prefecture was abolished. After Sun Yat-sen's failed "Second Revolution" in Guangdong, in August 1917, about a hundred former members of the National Assembly from Beijing convened an "Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly" in Guangzhou, establishing the Republic of China Military Government. Sun Yat-sen served as Grand Marshal, exercising the executive power of the Republic of China, and launched the Constitutional Protection Movement. Later, as the "Extraordinary Assembly" sided with the Guangxi clique, Sun was forced to leave Guangzhou. In the same year, the Guangzhou Municipal Administration Office was established. In October 1918, the Municipal Administration Office announced the demolition of all city walls, converting the old wall foundations into roads. On February 15, 1921, the "Provisional Regulations of Guangzhou City" were promulgated and implemented, the Guangzhou Municipal Administration was established, and Guangzhou officially became a city, the first in China. In April 1921, the Extraordinary Assembly claimed to establish the Government of the Republic of China, electing Sun Yat-sen as President, who took office in Guangzhou.

The Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) held its First National Congress in Guangzhou in 1924. In the same year, Sun Yat-sen founded the Republic of China Military Academy on Changzhou Island. In 1925, the 16-month-long Canton-Hong Kong strike broke out. During this period, demonstrators were suppressed in what became known as the Shakee (Shaji) Massacre. The National Government of the Republic of China was formally established in Guangzhou the same year. In 1926, Chiang Kai-shek led the National Revolutionary Army in a pledge-taking ceremony at the East Parade Ground in Guangzhou to launch the Northern Expedition. Simultaneously, Mao Zedong, Peng Pai, and others held the Peasant Movement Training Institute here, training core cadres for the Chinese Communist Party.

The period from 1929 to 1936 was when Chen Jitang governed Guangzhou. Guangzhou's economy, culture, transportation, and urban development progressed significantly, leaving behind famous structures such as Haizhu Bridge, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, the new Wushan campus of National Sun Yat-sen University, and the Aiqun Hotel. In 1930, Guangzhou was briefly elevated to a Special Municipality but was changed back to a provincial municipality the same year. Chen Jitang launched the Two Guang Incident in 1936, ultimately failing and fleeing to Hong Kong. The Yuehan (Guangzhou-Hankou) Railway was also completed that year. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance against Japan, on October 12, 1938, Japanese forces landed at Xiaogui, Yanqian, Fanhe, and Pinghai in Daya Bay to attack Guangzhou. Guangzhou officially fell on October 21. Subsequently, its population rapidly decreased from over 1.2 million to 300,000, with the vast majority fleeing to Hong Kong.### 3.6 Post-World War II to the Republic On September 1945, the National Revolutionary Army entered Guangzhou, leading to its liberation. On March 29, 1947, the Sixth Plenary Session of the Third Central Committee of the Kuomintang resolved to designate Guangzhou as a special municipality; on July 1 of the same year, Guangzhou was reinstated as a municipality directly under the Executive Yuan (a direct-controlled municipality). In February 1949, during the late stages of the Second Chinese Civil War, as the People's Liberation Army approached the Yangtze River, the government of the Republic of China relocated south from Nanjing to Guangzhou, making Guangzhou the capital of the Republic of China until October 13.

On October 14, 1949, the People's Liberation Army launched the Guangzhou Campaign. On the same day, the Nationalist forces retreated and destroyed the Haizhu Bridge. Subsequently, Guangzhou came under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and became a municipality directly under the Central Government of the People's Republic of China, as well as the seat of the People's Government of Guangdong Province. Due to political and economic reasons, a large number of people subsequently fled to British Hong Kong, an event historically known as the "Escape to Hong Kong Wave." This situation did not improve until after the reform and opening-up. On June 19, 1954, in accordance with the Central People's Government's "Decision on Abolishing the Administrative Structure at the Regional Level and Merging Several Provinces and Municipalities," Guangzhou was incorporated into the administrative structure of Guangdong Province and became a provincial-administered city. In 1956, the authorities began implementing the public-private partnership policy, confiscating all privately operated businesses. Some enterprises relocated to Macau, Hong Kong, and other places, while some private and non-governmental schools moved to Hong Kong to continue operations. In 1957, Guangzhou hosted the first China Export Commodities Fair, which has since been held twice annually, solidifying Guangzhou's status as a crucial foreign trade city in China. After the Cultural Revolution began in 1966, the city fell into chaos, and many historical sites and cultural relics were destroyed.

3.7 Economic Reopening

Following the reform and opening-up, Guangzhou, as a coastal open city and the central city of the comprehensive reform pilot zone, positioned itself at the forefront of the reform and opening-up initiative. Leveraging preferential policies and local advantages, Guangzhou experienced sustained and rapid economic growth, becoming one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. Its comprehensive economic strength rose from sixth place in 1980 to third place in 1992, trailing only Shanghai and Beijing. The status and role of Guangzhou as a regional central city were consolidated and enhanced. In October 1984, it was designated as a city with independent planning status under the state plan. In 1998, the authorities proposed a development plan known as "small changes in one year, medium changes in three years, and major changes in ten years."

In the 21st century, "Guangzhou-Foshan Integration" became a hot topic of discussion. Television stations, radio stations, and telecommunications services began operating in both cities, fostering closer exchanges between their residents. On November 11, 2001, the 9th National Games of the People's Republic of China opened in Guangzhou. In November 2010, the 16th Asian Games were held in Guangzhou, marking another successful hosting of a comprehensive large-scale sports event by the city. In 2016, the State Council approved the "Guangzhou City Master Plan (2011–2020)," which identified Guangzhou as a national historical and cultural city, an important central city in China, an international trade center, and a comprehensive transportation hub. By the end of 2017, the Guangdong Provincial Government and the State Oceanic Administration jointly announced that Guangzhou was tasked with developing into China's third global maritime center, following Shanghai and Shenzhen. In February 2019, the State Council issued the "Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area," positioning Guangzhou as one of the central cities in the Greater Bay Area. The plan outlined a development direction to "fully leverage its role as a national central city and a comprehensive gateway city, comprehensively enhance its functions as an international trade center and comprehensive transportation hub, cultivate and elevate its role as a center for science, education, and culture, and strive to build an international metropolis."

4. Geography

4.1 Geology and Topography

Guangzhou is located between 112°57′ to 114°3′ east longitude and 22°26′ to 23°56′ north latitude, with a total municipal area of 7,434.4 square kilometers. The terrain is high in the northeast and low in the southwest, featuring mountains at its back and facing the sea. The topography is complex, comprising five land types: medium-low mountains, hills, terraces, alluvial plains, and tidal flats. The northern part is a hilly and mountainous area with concentrated forests, with the highest peak being Tiantangding at an altitude of 1,210 meters, located at the border between Conghua District in the north and Longmen County, Huizhou City. The northeastern part consists of medium-low mountains, and within the urban area lies Baiyun Mountain, renowned as the "city's lung." The central region is a hilly basin, while the south is a coastal alluvial plain, forming part of the Pearl River Delta.

Guangzhou possesses favorable metallogenic conditions. A total of 47 mineral types have been discovered, accounting for 31.5% of the province's total, with 820 mineral occurrences, including 22 large and medium-sized deposits. Major minerals include construction granite, cement limestone, ceramic clay, potash, albite, salt, mirabilite, nepheline syenite, fluorite, marble, mineral water, and thermal mineral water. Energy minerals and non-ferrous metal minerals are notably scarce in the region.

4.2 Climate

Guangzhou is situated along the subtropical coast, with the Tropic of Cancer passing through its northern part. It features a maritime subtropical monsoon climate characterized by warmth, abundant rainfall, ample sunlight and heat, long summers, and short frost periods. The annual average temperature ranges between 21.7°C and 23.1°C, with an average relative humidity of 77%. The average annual rainfall in the urban area is approximately 1,923 mm, with the highest recorded annual rainfall being 2,637.8 mm (2016) and the lowest being 1,239.5 mm (1990). As Guangzhou lies south of the Tropic of Cancer, the probability of snowfall in winter is extremely low. However, due to the southward movement of polar continental air masses, winter temperatures can sometimes be quite low. During the 400-year Little Ice Age spanning the Ming and Qing dynasties, Guangzhou experienced snowfall at least 11 times. In modern times, recorded snowfalls occurred on January 31, 1928, December 29, 1967, and January 24, 2016.

The historically extreme minimum temperature with reliable meteorological records is 0.0°C (February 11, 1957, and December 23, 1999), with an unofficial record of -5.0°C (January 18, 1893). The historically extreme maximum temperature is 39.1°C (July 1, 2004), with an unofficial record of 39.2°C (August 1, 2014). The highest number of high-temperature days recorded was 65 days (2014), while the lowest was 0 days (1975). Throughout the year, temperatures rise in March, often accompanied by "returning south" humid weather. April to June is the rainy season, characterized by frequent heavy rains due to the convergence of cold and warm air masses and monsoon troughs. July to September is under the control of the subtropical high, featuring hot and sweltering weather with frequent typhoons. October and November constitute the clear and dry autumn with moderate temperatures. December to February is the cool and overcast winter.

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------------|-----------|-----------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|-----------|-----------|------------|------------| | Record High °C | 28.4 | 29.4 | 32.1 | 33.3 | 38.8 | 40.1 | 43.9 | 41.6 | 39.6 | 36.2 | 33.4 | 29.6 | 43.9 | | Record High °F | 83.1 | 84.9 | 89.8 | 91.9 | 101.8 | 104.2 | 111.0 | 106.9 | 103.3 | 97.2 | 92.1 | 85.3 | 111.0 | | Avg High °C | 19.0 | 20.7 | 22.8 | 26.5 | 30.5 | 32.0 | 33.7 | 33.5 | 32.1 | 29.7 | 25.3 | 21.0 | 27.2 | | Avg High °F | 66.2 | 69.3 | 73.0 | 79.7 | 86.9 | 89.6 | 92.7 | 92.3 | 89.8 | 85.5 | 77.5 | 69.8 | 81.0 | | Daily Mean °C | 14.1 | 16.4 | 18.9 | 22.7 | 26.4 | 27.9 | 29.4 | 29.1 | 27.9 | 25.1 | 20.2 | 15.6 | 22.8 | | Daily Mean °F | 57.4 | 61.5 | 66.0 | 72.9 | 79.5 | 82.2 | 84.9 | 84.4 | 82.2 | 77.2 | 68.4 | 60.1 | 73.0 | | Avg Low °C | 10.8 | 13.5 | 15.9 | 20.0 | 23.3 | 25.1 | 26.3 | 25.9 | 24.7 | 21.6 | 16.5 | 12.0 | 19.6 | | Avg Low °F | 51.4 | 56.3 | 60.6 | 68.0 | 73.9 | 77.2 | 79.3 | 78.6 | 76.5 | 70.9 | 61.7 | 53.6 | 67.3 | | Record Low °C | 0.1 | 1.3 | 3.2 | 7.7 | 13.7 | 18.8 | 21.6 | 20.9 | 15.5 | 9.5 | 4.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | | Record Low °F | 32.2 | 34.3 | 37.8 | 45.9 | 56.7 | 65.8 | 70.9 | 69.6 | 59.9 | 49.1 | 40.8 | 32.0 | 32.0 | | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 44.3 | 67.9 | 94.9 | 183.5 | 285.6 | 315.0 | 240.0 | 230.8 | 200.9 | 70.5 | 38.4 | 29.4 | 1,801.2 | | Average precipitation inches | 1.74 | 2.67 | 3.74 | 7.22 | 11.24 | 12.40 | 9.45 | 9.09 | 7.91 | 2.78 | 1.51 | 1.16 | 70.91 | | Average precipitation days | 7.5 | 11.2 | 15.0 | 16.3 | 18.3 | 18.2 | 15.9 | 16.8 | 12.5 | 7.1 | 5.5 | 4.9 | 149.2 | | Average relative humidity (%) | 68 | 75 | 76 | 79 | 77 | 79 | 75 | 76 | 72 | 66 | 64 | 63 | 73 | | Mean monthly sunshine hours | 118.5 | 71.6 | 62.4 | 65.1 | 104.0 | 140.2 | 202.0 | 173.5 | 170.2 | 181.8 | 172.7 | 166.0 | 1,628 | | Percent possible sunshine | 35 | 22 | 17 | 17 | 26 | 35 | 49 | 43 | 46 | 51 | 52 | 50 | 37 |

4.3 Hydrology

Guangzhou is located in the lower reaches of the West River, East River, and North River, featuring a well-developed river system and extensive water areas within its territory. The city's rivers belong to the Pearl River system, including the Pearl River Delta and the North River as two secondary water systems, primarily falling under the Pearl River Delta system. The northeastern part is dominated by mountainous rivers, with main rivers including the Liuxi River flowing through Conghua District, Huadu District, and Baiyun District, as well as the Zengjiang River, the main northern branch of the East River, and the Baini River flowing through Zengcheng District. The southern part is the Pearl River Delta river network area, mainly consisting of the intertwined waterways of the lower reaches of the West, North, and East Rivers, along with the Qian and Hou channels of the Pearl River. The total length of the main waterways in the river network area is 416 kilometers, with the Qian and Hou channels running through the urban area of Guangzhou. The Pearl River has eight major outlets to the sea, among which the three outlets of Humen, Jiaomen, and Hongqili are located within Guangzhou, discharging river runoff into the Lingdingyang. The coastline of the Pearl River Estuary is 522 kilometers long, with shallow sea waters covering approximately 4,000 square kilometers.

The lakes in Guangzhou are primarily artificial. There are 1,322 reservoirs and various water storage projects within the city, with a total storage capacity of 1.116 billion cubic meters. Among them, there is one large reservoir, the Liuxi River Reservoir, with a total storage capacity of 387 million cubic meters, and 15 medium-sized reservoirs with a total storage capacity of 412 million cubic meters. Since the 1950s, more than 20 artificial lakes have been built in the urban area, serving both flood control and tourism purposes. Among them, Dongshan Lake, Lu Lake, Liuhua Lake, Liwan Lake, and Baiyun Lake cover a total area of 5.79 square kilometers, with a water surface area of 2.26 square kilometers. In the city of Guangzhou, the Six-Vein Canals were excavated during the Five Dynasties period, connecting the dense network of rivers inside and outside the city. After the late Qing Dynasty, as the city gradually demolished its walls and opened roads, the old inner-city canals gradually disappeared. After the 2010 Asian Games, canals such as the Donghao Canal were redeveloped by the authorities as recreational and tourist sites.

4.4 Biology

Guangzhou boasts a rich variety of biological species. The zonal vegetation is southern subtropical monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest, but it is mostly secondary and artificial forests, with very few natural forests remaining. There is a wide variety of food crops, cash crops, livestock, poultry, aquatic products, and wild animals. Zengcheng Simiao rice is the first geographical indication-protected variety in Guangzhou. Fruit trees are predominantly tropical and subtropical varieties, making the area a center for the origin and formation of types such as lychee, longan, wampee, black olive, and olive. Terrestrial wildlife in Guangzhou is mainly distributed in the northern border area of Tiantangding, including species such as pythons, pangolins, and goshawks. Aquatic wildlife primarily includes the Chinese white dolphin, marbled eel, and Chinese sturgeon.

5. Administrative Divisions

Guangzhou currently administers 11 municipal districts: Yuexiu District, Liwan District, Haizhu District, Tianhe District, Baiyun District, Huangpu District, Panyu District, Huadu District, Nansha District, Zengcheng District, and Conghua District.

The present urban area of Guangzhou is primarily located in Yuexiu District, Liwan District, Haizhu District, and Tianhe District. Historically, the urban area of Guangzhou has been continuously expanding: from the initial city establishment in Yuexiu District and Dongshan District, to Xiguan in the Qing Dynasty, Henan (now the northwestern part of Haizhu District) during the Republic of China era, and further to Baiyun, Fangcun, and Tianhe by the end of the 20th century, followed by Panyu District and Luogang District from the beginning of the 21st century. After the administrative division adjustment in 2005, the future urban area of Guangzhou may include the urban extension areas of Yuexiu District, Haizhu District, Liwan District, Tianhe District, Huangpu District, the southern part of Baiyun District (south of the North Second Ring Expressway), Panyu District (north of the Shawan Waterway), and Luogang District (excluding the Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City and Jiulong Town), covering an area of approximately 1,310 square kilometers.

In May 2005, Guangzhou adjusted its administrative divisions, abolishing Dongshan and Fangcun districts. Dongshan District was merged into Yuexiu District, and Fangcun District was merged into Liwan District. Simultaneously, two new districts, Nansha and Luogang, were established. Nansha District was formed by combining the Guangzhou Nansha Economic and Technological Development Zone with some villages from the former Panyu District. Luogang District was established by combining the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone with parts of the former Baiyun District, Tianhe District, Huangpu District, and Zengcheng City. The new district institutions were officially inaugurated by the end of September of the same year. Since then, Dongshan District and Fangcun District have ceased to exist, although some place names and institutional names continue to be retained. This adjustment also sparked widespread controversy, with many concerned that terms like "Dongshan Young Masters" and "Xiguan Young Ladies" would gradually fade from memory.

The original urban district setup before the 2005 adjustment was as follows:

• 4 old urban districts, including Yuexiu District, Haizhu District, Liwan District, and Dongshan District, locally referred to as the city center, with Yuexiu and Dongshan being the traditional provincial capital areas;
• 4 central urban expansion districts, including Fangcun District, Tianhe District, Huangpu District, and Baiyun District;
• 2 satellite urban districts, including Panyu District and Huadu District;
• 2 suburban county-level cities, including Zengcheng City and Conghua City.

In February 2014, the State Council approved Guangdong Province's adjustment of some administrative divisions in Guangzhou, abolishing Luogang District and the original Huangpu District to establish the new Huangpu District; Conghua and Zengcheng were changed from cities to districts. This also signifies that Guangzhou no longer administers any counties or county-level cities.

• 6 central urban districts include Yuexiu District, Haizhu District, Liwan District, Tianhe District, Huangpu District, and Baiyun District;
• 5 peripheral districts include Panyu District, Nansha District, Huadu District, Zengcheng District, and Conghua District.

| Division Code | Division Name | Hanyu Pinyin | Area (sq km) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | |-------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------| | 440100 | Guangzhou City | Guǎngzhōu Shì | 7,434.40 | 18,676,605 | Yuexiu District | 510000 | 142 | 34 | | 440103 | Liwan District | Lìwān Qū | 59.10 | 1,238,305 | Shiweitang Subdistrict | 510360 | 22 | | | 440104 | Yuexiu District | Yuèxiù Qū | 33.80 | 1,038,643 | Beijing Subdistrict | 510030 | 18 | | | 440105 | Haizhu District | Hǎizhū Qū | 90.40 | 1,819,037 | Jianghai Subdistrict | 510300 | 18 | | | 440106 | Tianhe District | Tiānhé Qū | 137.38 | 2,241,826 | Tianyuan Subdistrict | 510665 | 21 | | | 440111 | Baiyun District | Báiyún Qū | 795.79 | 3,742,991 | Jingtai Subdistrict | 510405 | 20 | 4 | | 440112 | Huangpu District| Huángpǔ Qū | 484.17 | 1,264,447 | Luogang Subdistrict | 510700 | 16 | 1 | | 440113 | Panyu District | Pānyú Qū | 529.94 | 2,658,397 | Shiqiao Subdistrict | 511400 | 11 | 5 | | 440114 | Huadu District | Huādū Qū | 970.04 | 1,642,360 | Huacheng Subdistrict | 510800 | 4 | 6 | | 440115 | Nansha District | Nánshā Qū | 783.56 | 846,584 | Nansha Subdistrict | 511458 | 3 | 6 | | 440117 | Conghua District| Cónghuà Qū | 1,974.50 | 717,684 | Jiekou Subdistrict | 510900 | 3 | 5 | | 440118 | Zengcheng District| Zēngchéng Qū | 1,616.47 | 1,466,331 | Licheng Subdistrict | 511300 | 6 | 7 |

6. Economy

Guangzhou has been a renowned commercial port in South China since ancient times, boasting over 2,000 years of open trade history. Following China's reform and opening-up in the late 1970s, Guangzhou's economy developed rapidly. A 2005 report by the State Council stated that Guangzhou was the first city in mainland China to reach a "developed" status. In 2010, the city's GDP reached 1,060.448 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 13%, making it the third city after Shanghai and Beijing to join the GDP "trillion-yuan club" and the first provincial capital to surpass the trillion-yuan economic aggregate. In September 2012, the Nansha New Area of Guangzhou was approved, becoming the sixth national-level open development zone. In 2021, Guangzhou's GDP reached 2,823.2 billion yuan, an increase of 8.1% over the previous year, with a per capita GDP of 150,000 yuan. Its total GDP ranks fourth in China, with a per capita GDP level comparable to Portugal's, and its purchasing power parity is on par with that of major cities in developed countries.

6.1 Agriculture

Guangzhou enjoys ample rainfall and fertile land, with historically extensive agricultural areas within the city. Records of rice cultivation date back over two thousand years. During the Song Dynasty, Guangzhou hosted one of China's largest rice markets and was also famous for its vegetables, fruits, sugarcane, and flowers. Having long served as a major Chinese port, Guangzhou introduced numerous high-quality crop varieties. In the first half of the 20th century, agricultural growth stagnated due to the influx of agricultural products from other regions facilitated by improved transportation and the impact of wars. After the reform and opening-up, as Guangzhou developed into a major metropolis, its agriculture gradually transformed into a suburban model serving the urban population. The government's policy focused on serving the city, enriching farmers, and benefiting the people, while encouraging exports for foreign exchange. Specific measures included reducing grain production proportion and increasing the share of agricultural by-products such as vegetables, fruits, eggs, and dairy, with dedicated efforts to develop forestry, animal husbandry, and fisheries. Guangzhou's agricultural output value grew significantly, reaching 49.761 billion yuan in 2020. However, with the rapid growth of the secondary and tertiary industries, agriculture's share of the economy has gradually declined: it accounted for 11.67% of Guangzhou's GDP in 1978, dropped to 8.05% in 1990, and was only 1.78% in 2010.

Urban development and industrialization have also led to a significant loss of rural labor and a rapid shrinkage of arable land. In the fifth year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1879), the total registered area of farmland, hills, and ponds in Guangzhou Prefecture was 10.6232 million mu. By 1978, Guangzhou's cultivated land area was 3.7422 million mu, which decreased to only 1.3175 million mu by 2020. Currently, agricultural production in Guangzhou is mainly concentrated in Baiyun, Huadu, Panyu, Nansha, Conghua, and Zengcheng districts. The agricultural population was 2.5046 million in 1990 and 761,300 in 2014. Famous agricultural specialties of Guangzhou include the "Pangtang Five Delicacies" (lotus root, water chestnut, water caltrop, wild rice stem, arrowhead) and various tropical fruits, notably the "Four Famous Lingnan Fruits": lychee, banana, papaya, and pineapple.

6.2 Industry

Ancient Guangzhou had highly developed handicraft industries, with shipbuilding, metallurgy and metalworking, textiles, food processing, traditional Chinese medicine production, ceramics, and arts and crafts enjoying nationwide fame. The cotton produced in Guangzhou in the early Qing Dynasty was renowned for being light and warm, contributing to the wealth accumulation of the Thirteen Hongs of Guangzhou. As locally produced cotton cloth was cheaper and of better quality than British cloth, it was extensively exported. The substantial profits drove the rapid rise of cotton processing with imported materials. The formation of the Guangzhou textile belt spurred the prosperity of related industries. Starting in the 1870s, the Qing court initiated the Self-Strengthening Movement, marking the beginning of modern industry in Guangzhou. By the late Qing Dynasty, the Guangzhou area had concentrated a large number of various light industrial factories. With the beginning of the Republic of China era, Guangzhou's light industry developed rapidly, and foreign trade increased substantially, making Guangzhou one of China's more developed cities at the time. From 1929 to 1936, under Chen Jitang's governance of Guangdong, a relatively comprehensive industrial system was established, greatly boosting Guangdong's economy. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, industries were nationalized. In the 1950s and 1960s, industry recovered somewhat, but the Cultural Revolution again severely impacted Guangzhou's industrial production, slowing industrial development. However, a heavy industry system was still established during this period with government support. After 1975, as the political situation improved, the government vigorously supported light industry focused on daily necessities, and Guangzhou's industry entered a period of rapid growth. In the late 1980s, Guangzhou primarily developed its tertiary sector, leading to a decline in the proportion of industrial output value.

From the 1990s onwards and into the 2000s, the Guangzhou municipal government sought to change the industrial structure, increasing support for heavy industry. Automobile manufacturing, petrochemicals, and electronic information product manufacturing became the three pillar industries of Guangzhou in the early 21st century. The automobile industry is Guangzhou's largest industry, also supporting a major share of its GDP and fiscal revenue. In this sector, Guangzhou successfully attracted investments from three major Japanese automobile manufacturers to establish factories, making it one of China's important automobile production bases within a few years. In 2017, Guangzhou's automobile output reached 3.108 million vehicles, ranking first in the country. The largest auto parts market in the Jiangnan region, the Guangzhou Chentian Auto Parts Market, is located in the suburbs. Guangzhou is also the city producing the most Japanese-brand cars in China. Major petrochemical enterprises in Guangzhou include Sinopec Guangzhou Company, Guangzhou Zhujiang Chemical Group, and Guangdong Southern Alkali Industry Co., Ltd. In 2019, Guangzhou's total industrial output value ranked fourth in the province, with the electronics product manufacturing sector achieving an annual output value of 264.3 billion yuan.

In recent years, Guangzhou has vigorously developed high-tech industries and is one of the pilot cities for "Made in China 2025." As early as March 1991, Guangzhou established the Guangzhou High-tech Industrial Development Zone, one of China's first national-level high-tech zones. In 2010, the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City, jointly promoted by China and Singapore, was inaugurated. It focuses on technological innovation, high-end manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and intellectual property protection. It has since attracted R&D projects and institutions such as the GE Biotech Park, BeiGene, the China-Singapore International Joint Research Institute, and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. In 2011, the Guangzhou International Bio-Island (Guanzhou Island) officially opened, positioning itself as an international biomedical innovation center to promote the development of Guangzhou's biomedical industry. By 2016, 132 enterprises had signed agreements to settle there. In March 2017, Guangzhou announced plans to develop emerging industries like new-generation information technology, artificial intelligence, and biomedicine, aiming to upgrade from the three pillar industries to the "IAB" plan (Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Biomedicine). In 2018, Guangzhou added over 3,000 new high-tech enterprises, increasing the total number from 1,919 in 2015 to 11,000 in 2018, with the number of new additions ranking third nationally.

6.3 Commerce

During the Six Dynasties period, Guangzhou's foreign trade was already quite prosperous, with foreign maritime merchants "staying in Guangzhou for long periods, coming and going to seek profit." During the Sui and Tang dynasties, Guangzhou's foreign trade reached its peak, with the foreign population once exceeding 30% of the city's total, making it the core of China's foreign trade at the time. After a brief lull during the Yuan Dynasty, Guangzhou rose again in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Under the Qing Dynasty's "Canton System" of single-port trade, it became China's sole foreign trade port and a monopolistic national commercial center. After Shanghai opened as a treaty port and as China gradually opened up nationwide, Guangzhou gradually lost its central position in foreign trade but remained one of the country's most important commercial cities.

During the period when the People's Republic of China faced economic blockade and trade embargo from many countries after the Korean War, Guangzhou successfully hosted the first China Export Commodities Fair ("Canton Fair") in April 1957. This expanded trade with Southeast Asia and sought support from relevant merchants, serving as a window for New China to the world. Since then, it has been held biannually in spring and autumn. Starting in 2007, an import section was added, and it was renamed the "China Import and Export Fair." Currently, each session attracts over 200,000 buyers from more than 210 countries and regions worldwide. It is the largest, longest-running, and most successful international exhibition in the People's Republic. As of the 130th session in 2022, the cumulative export turnover of the Canton Fair reached approximately $1.5 trillion, with cumulative attendance of about 9 million overseas buyers. With the upcoming completion of the fourth phase of the Pazhou Complex, its exhibition capacity will become the world's largest.

After the reform and opening-up, Guangzhou's department store industry flourished. Starting in the 1980s, the Friendship Store specialized in selling imported goods like appliances to visitors from Hong Kong, Macao, and foreign guests, while the Xihu Road Night Market with lights was a popular destination for ordinary citizens. The Nanfang Building, located by the river along Yanjiang West Road, became the largest comprehensive department store in South China. It also established mainland China's first 24-hour convenience store. Together with Huaxia Department Store, it formed the Renminnan commercial district, an extension of the traditional Shangxiajiu commercial district in the west, which became a pedestrian street in 1995. The business of the Xindaxin Company and Guangzhou Department Store on Beijing Road also thrived, and the road was later converted into a pedestrian street. The supermarkets Makro and Jusco opened their first mainland China stores in Guangzhou in 1996. Subsequently, familiar supermarket and convenience store brands like Hong Kong's 7-Eleven, PARKnSHOP, and OK Convenience Store entered the Guangzhou market. Affected by traffic pressure and the development of the Tianhe New District, the Renminnan commercial district began to decline in the late 1990s, transforming into a wholesale distribution center for electronics and clothing, while the city's commercial center shifted eastward to the new districts. By the 21st century, the Tianhe Road commercial district, represented by Grandview Mall, Tee Mall, Zhengjia Plaza, TaiKoo Hui, and One Link Walk, has become Guangzhou's central commercial area.

7. Transportation

Guangzhou boasts a well-developed transportation network and serves as a crucial transportation hub in South China. The city's road system plays a significant role, featuring elevated roads such as the Renmin Road Viaduct and the Donghaochong Viaduct; expressways like Guangyuan Expressway and South China Expressway; and ring roads including the Inner Ring Road, the Outer Ring Road (Guangzhou Ring Expressway), and the Second Ring Expressway (Guangzhou Bypass). However, traffic congestion remains one of the most common issues in Guangzhou due to factors like a high number of private vehicles and limited road capacity. In terms of public transportation, Guangzhou offers various modes including metro, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), public buses, trolleybuses, and trams. In January 2007, the Guangzhou municipal government completely banned motorcycles within the city proper. However, in November 2021, Guangzhou initiated a registration and licensing system for electric bicycles, allowing citizens to ride them. Long-distance coaches from Guangzhou provide direct service to Hong Kong and Macau (effectively reaching Zhuhai), with busy coaches annually picking up passengers from various points in the city (primarily hotels) bound for Hong Kong and Macau.

Guangzhou is also one of China's most important railway and aviation hub cities. Passengers can reach major domestic cities by train or plane, and international routes connecting Guangzhou with foreign countries span the globe. According to Forbes' 2014 ranking of the top 25 cities by passenger and freight capacity, Guangzhou ranked first in China for both passenger and freight indices.

7.1 Urban Rail Transit

In 1997, Guangzhou opened Metro Line 1, becoming the fourth city in mainland China to have an underground railway system, following Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai. As of December 29, 2023, the Guangzhou Metro operates 16 lines with a total length of 653 kilometers, ranking third in mainland China. The Guangzhou Metro has become one of the primary modes of transportation for Guangzhou residents. In 2021, it recorded over 2.8 billion passenger trips, accounting for 61% of the city's total public transportation ridership. To better address traffic congestion, Guangzhou is still undergoing large-scale metro expansion. As of June 2022, there were 10 metro lines under construction in Guangzhou, totaling 201.9 kilometers.

Guangzhou's first tram line, the Haizhu Tram, began trial operations on December 31, 2014. The Huangpu Tram Line 1 also commenced operations in December 2020. In the future, Guangzhou will have multiple tram lines covering various districts.

7.2 Road Public Transportation

Guangzhou taxis introduced the "hail-and-stop" service model in 1978, ending the era of "empty taxis on the road not picking up passengers." Guangzhou buses also pioneered unmanned ticketing in 1993. These innovative measures were quickly adopted across mainland China.

The Guangzhou Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, introduced in 2010, is the world's second-largest BRT system and has been rated as a gold standard for BRT. Its daily passenger capacity can reach 1 million, with peak-hour one-way passenger flow as high as 26,900 per hour, second only to Bogotá's TransMilenio. On average, a bus arrives every 10 seconds, and each station sees an average of 350 buses per hour. The Shida Jida Station platform, including its bridge, is the world's longest BRT platform at 260 meters. In 2018, Guangzhou had 1,251 public bus routes with a total length of 23,000 kilometers. The bus network density in the urban area exceeded 3.9 km/km²; the total length of dedicated bus lanes reached 519.4 kilometers, with 15,000 buses in operation. In July 2019, the average daily ridership of Guangzhou's conventional buses reached 6.27 million.

Taxis and public buses in Guangzhou initially used liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel. Later, they were gradually replaced by hybrid (gasoline-electric or gas-electric) and even pure electric vehicles. Public buses began large-scale deployment of pure electric buses in 2017, and subsequently, all newly deployed or replaced buses have been pure electric. By 2018, the six central districts of Guangzhou had approximately 11,000 pure electric buses, essentially achieving full electrification of the public bus fleet. The scale of electric bus deployment in Guangzhou ranks second globally.

7.3 Aviation

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is located at the border of Baiyun District and Huadu District. It officially commenced operations on August 5, 2004, and is the third busiest airport in mainland China, the second busiest in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and an important international aviation hub. It is also one of mainland China's three major gateway composite hub airports. This airport replaced the old airport located in the city center, which could no longer meet the growing aviation demand. The airport currently has two terminals and three runways, making it the third civil aviation airport in China with three runways, eight years ahead of the scheduled 2023 completion of the third runway at the nearby Hong Kong International Airport. Guangzhou Baiyun Airport is a hub for China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, 9 Air, and Longhao Airlines. The FedEx Asia-Pacific hub is also located at the airport. In 2019, Baiyun Airport's route network covered over 230 destinations worldwide, including 94 international and regional points. More than 80 Chinese and foreign airlines operated at the airport. That year, the airport handled 73.386 million passengers, 1.92 million tons of cargo and mail, and 491,000 aircraft movements. In 2020, despite the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Baiyun Airport achieved a passenger throughput of 43.768 million with a relatively strong recovery rate, ranking first in the world for the first time.

7.4 Railway Transport

Guangzhou is one of the four major railway hubs in mainland China. Its main stations include Guangzhou Railway Station, Guangzhou South Railway Station, Guangzhou East Railway Station, and Guangzhou Baiyun Railway Station. Other stations include Guangzhou North Railway Station and Qingsheng Railway Station. Guangzhou Railway Station is the terminus for the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway, Guangzhou-Shenzhen Railway, Guangzhou-Maoming Railway, and Guangzhou-Meizhou-Shantou Railway. Guangzhou South Railway Station is the starting point for the Beijing-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway, Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-Speed Railway, Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity Railway, Nanning-Guangzhou Railway, and Guiyang-Guangzhou Passenger Dedicated Line. The Guangzhou-Kowloon Through Train departs from Guangzhou East Railway Station and goes directly to Hung Hom Station in Hong Kong, covering approximately 182 kilometers with a journey time under two hours. At the end of 2009, the Wuhan-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway began operations, with a maximum speed of 350 km/h. On January 7, 2011, the Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity Railway commenced operations, with a maximum speed of 200 km/h. In December 2019, the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Intercity Railway officially opened. On November 30, 2020, the first phase of the Guangzhou-Qingyuan Intercity Railway and the first phase of the Xinbai-Guangzhou Intercity Railway began operations. Taking a high-speed train from Guangzhou South Station to Shenzhen North Station takes at least 35 minutes, to Hong Kong West Kowloon Station at least 47 minutes, to Shanghai Hongqiao Station at least 6 hours and 38 minutes, and to Beijing West Station at least 7 hours and 16 minutes.

7.5 Shipping

Guangzhou Port is located in the heart of the Pearl River Delta. After Emperor Wu of Han conquered Nanyue, he sent envoys along the sea routes opened by the Baiyue people, extending the route across the Bay of Bengal to Sri Lanka. This marked the beginning of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, with Guangzhou Port as its starting point. Continuing into modern times, it remains a major logistics distribution center for the Pearl River Delta and South China, and the largest international trade hub port. Guangzhou Port primarily consists of two major port areas: Huangpu Port and Nansha Port. It currently has trade links with over 500 ports in more than 170 countries and regions worldwide. In 2018, Guangzhou Port handled 612 million tons of cargo and 21.91 million TEUs of containers, ranking fourth among domestic ports and fifth among global ports. Global shipping giants such as Maersk, CMA CGM, MSC, and COSCO Shipping are all present at Guangzhou Port.

Apart from the "Ru Yue" water bus routes that require advance booking, there are 9 regular water bus routes operating within the urban area of Guangzhou, serving as an important means for citizens to cross the river and a supplement to Guangzhou's public transportation. Additionally, there are various ferry routes on the Pearl River for residents living near the river to cross directly. High-speed catamarans operate daily between Nansha Ferry Terminal and Lianhuashan Ferry Terminal, and there are also passenger and cargo ships traveling to and from Hong Kong.

8. Education

The history of education in Guangzhou dates back to the late Western Han Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms period, Yu Fan, the Commandant of Cavalry, established a school in Panyu Yuyuan. In the Song Dynasty, the Fanshan Academy was founded. During the Qing Dynasty, the Prefectural Confucian Temple served as the highest institution of learning in Guangzhou, while county-level Confucian temples such as the Panyu Confucian Temple and the Nanhai Confucian Temple were also established. Additionally, privately funded charitable schools and community schools emerged. In the late Qing Dynasty, as reformist sentiments grew stronger, the Westernization Movement faction established the Tongwen Guan in Guangzhou in the third year of the Tongzhi reign to train translators. A large number of missionary schools were also founded during this period, later establishing branches in Hong Kong and Macau, including Pui Ching, Pui To, Pui Ying, Heep Woh, and True Light. During the Guangxu reign, Kang Youwei founded the Wanmu Caotang to teach new learning. At that time, numerous academies flourished, with notable ones including Yuexiu Academy, Yuehua Academy, Sacred Heart Academy, Yangcheng Academy, Xuehai Tang, Jupo Jingshe, Yingyuan Academy, and Guangya Academy.

Guangzhou is a city with a relatively advanced higher education system in China. As early as 1866, Guangzhou was home to China's first Western medical education institution—the Boji Medical School. In 1888, the Gezhi Academy was established, which later became Lingnan University, one of the 13 Christian universities in China during the Republic of China era. In 1924, Sun Yat-sen founded National Guangdong University (later renamed National Sun Yat-sen University) and the Army Officer Academy (i.e., the Whampoa Military Academy) in Guangzhou, which respectively cultivated political and military talents for national construction and the National Revolution. These institutions had a profound impact on the history of the Republic of China and earned the reputation of "Sun Yat-sen University for civil education, Whampoa for military education." Additionally, institutions such as Xiangqin University, Guanghua Medical College, Guangdong National University, and Guangdong Industrial College also held significant influence during the Republic of China era.

After 1949, the Guangzhou Military Control Commission of the People's Liberation Army gradually took over the campuses or organizations of all schools, merging or abolishing missionary schools. Some of these schools relocated to Macau, Hong Kong, and other places, while some public and private schools were adjusted, merged, or abolished during the institutional restructuring in the 1950s. In modern times, higher education in Guangzhou remains highly developed. The higher education population in Guangzhou totals 2.88 million, accounting for approximately 20% of the total population. The city is home to over 40 higher education institutions, making it one of the most densely populated cities for universities in the Lingnan region. Nationally renowned institutions in Guangzhou include Sun Yat-sen University, South China University of Technology, Jinan University, South China Normal University, South China Agricultural University, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou University, Guangdong University of Technology, and Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. The Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, funded with substantial investment by the authorities, was put into use in 2004. Guangzhou has 10 municipal higher education institutions, two of which are undergraduate universities: Guangzhou University and Guangzhou Medical University.

9. Population

By the end of 2021, Guangzhou had a permanent resident population of 18.8106 million, with an urbanization rate of 86.46%. The registered household population at year-end was 10.1153 million, with an urbanization rate of 80.81%. The permanent resident population in the urban districts was 11.126 million, with migrants accounting for 46.2% of the total population. Guangzhou is one of China's cities with a relatively high population density, with the majority concentrated in the old urban areas. The average permanent resident population density in the four central districts (Yuexiu, Liwan, Tianhe, Haizhu) reached 19,456 people per square kilometer. Yuexiu District, with the highest population density, reached 31,036 people per square kilometer, more than 80 times that of Conghua District, which has the lowest density.

Since 2001, Guangzhou's annual birth rate has remained below 9.6‰, and the natural growth rate has been below 4.3‰. The life expectancy of residents is 81.34 years, higher than the national average. At the same time, the issue of population aging is becoming increasingly prominent. By the end of 2018, the elderly population aged 60 and above reached 1.6927 million, accounting for 18.25% of the city's total population. The proportion of elderly people is highest in the old urban areas, exceeding 25%; by 2020, the elderly population had surpassed 2 million. The 2010 Sixth National Population Census showed that there were more males than females in Guangzhou. At the end of 2010, the sex ratio was 109.46, with 573,694 more males than females. Among them, the gender imbalance in the 0-14 age group was severe, reaching 115.62, indicating a potential trend of widening gender disparity in Guangzhou's future.

The population of Guangzhou is predominantly Han Chinese, accounting for approximately 98.3% of the permanent residents. The permanent ethnic minority population is 212,900, belonging to 55 different ethnic groups. The nine larger minority groups include Zhuang, Tujia, Miao, Yao, Hui, Manchu, Dong, Mongolian, and Bouyei. Guangzhou's rapidly developing economy and high employment opportunities attract a large number of migrants. As early as 2018, migrants accounted for 50% of the city's population. How to properly manage urban affairs is a challenging task for the municipal government.

9.1 Migrant Population

As a major city, Guangzhou attracts a large influx of migrants for work. However, there are some tensions between "locals" and "migrants," which also lead to a series of social issues. In 2014, the Guangdong Provincial Government issued a document explicitly requiring control over the population size of megacities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

Statistics from 2018 indicate that Guangzhou's registered household population was 9.12 million, while the registered migrant population was 9.673 million, meaning migrants had surpassed the registered household population. The vast majority are young and middle-aged adults, with those aged 20-50 accounting for 85%, and 12% holding college degrees or higher. The migrant populations in Baiyun District, Panyu District, and Tianhe District each exceed one million. Panyu District alone had 1.117 million registered migrants, originating from 30 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government. In terms of gender ratio, males slightly outnumber females, accounting for 53.5% of the total. In 2019, migrant workers constituted 70% of Guangzhou's migrant population, with the majority being male migrant workers.

9.2 Foreign Population

Guangzhou is one of China's primary cities for opening up to the outside world. As a window for foreign trade and due to its proximity to Hong Kong and Macau, it hosts numerous foreigners from North America, Japan and South Korea, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and other regions. Among these, people of African descent, particularly Black Africans, are notably numerous, leading Guangzhou to be dubbed the "capital" of the Third World. They mainly congregate in areas such as Huanshidong Road, Taojinkeng, Jianshexincun, and around Tianhe North Road in Tianhe District where many foreign company offices are located. Certain residential complexes in Panyu District, like Clifford Estates and Lijiang Garden, also have significant foreign populations.

Statistics from the Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau's Exit-Entry Administration Detachment in 2019 showed 83,000 registered foreign residents in Guangzhou. Among them, 23,000 were temporary residents, and 60,000 had resided for over six months. People from Japan, South Korea, Europe, and America constituted the majority. Over 13,000 registered foreigners were from Africa; approximately 10,000 were from Arab countries and regions. Although not settling in large numbers, they frequently engage in trade in commercial areas like Xiaobei-Dengfeng. Tangjing Street also has a considerable Korean population. In 2019, there were over 2.9 million entries and exits of foreigners through Guangzhou ports, with 350,000 from African countries. Most involved the same individuals making repeated trips, often due to short visa durations or business needs rather than immigration. In recent years, public security issues in Guangzhou have occasionally involved the African community, causing discontent among local residents. To address the "three illegalities" (illegal entry, illegal residence, illegal employment) arising from the large influx of foreigners, the Guangzhou public security authorities have established four law enforcement service teams. Since 2008, Guangzhou has set up "Foreigner Management Service Stations" in communities with over 200 foreign residents to tackle issues related to foreigners involved in the "three illegalities."

9.3 Ethnic Groups

The population of Guangzhou is predominantly Han Chinese, accounting for approximately 98.3% of the permanent residents. The permanent ethnic minority population is 212,900, belonging to 55 different ethnic groups. The nine larger minority groups include Zhuang, Tujia, Miao, Yao, Hui, Manchu, Dong, Mongolian, and Bouyei.

10. Religion

Guangzhou boasts a long-standing religious history, encompassing five major religions: Chinese Buddhism (introduced in 255 AD), Taoism (introduced in 306 AD), Islam (introduced in the early Tang Dynasty), Catholicism (introduced in the late Ming Dynasty), and Protestantism (introduced in the early Qing Dynasty). By the end of 2020, there were 82 legally registered and government-approved religious activity sites in Guangzhou, including 23 Buddhist temples, 10 Taoist temples, 4 Islamic mosques, 7 Catholic churches, and 38 Christian churches. Due to Guangzhou's historical role as a foreign trade port, all religions except Taoism (which is indigenous to China) were introduced from abroad, including Zoroastrianism, which arrived with merchants.

Nearly ten key temples, mosques, and churches of the five major religions are distributed along Guangzhou's old central axis, showcasing a unique cultural landscape where religious culture intertwines with the city's historical heritage. In 2020, Guangzhou had over 900,000 religious adherents, including approximately 560,000 Buddhists, 200,000 Taoists, 80,000 Muslims, 29,000 Catholic Christians, 67,000 Protestant Christians, and about 50,000 foreign believers. There were 450 religious professionals recognized by religious organizations, including bhikkhus (Buddhist monks), bhikkhunis (Buddhist nuns), Taoist priests, imams, pastors, priests, and nuns.

11. Culture

11.1 Cantonese Opera

Cantonese Opera, originating from Southern Opera, is widely popular in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Macau, and overseas Chinese communities, holding a significant position in Guangdong culture. After the Qing Dynasty lifted the ban on Cantonese Opera, performers established the Bahe Guild Hall in Huangsha, Guangzhou. Subsequently, Guangzhou gradually became the center of Cantonese Opera activities, reaching its peak of prosperity during the Republic of China era. During the Chinese Civil War, some Cantonese Opera artists relocated to Hong Kong. Later, it suffered damage during the Cultural Revolution but regained attention after the Reform and Opening-up, flourishing once again from the 1980s to the 1990s.

Famous Cantonese Opera repertoires in Guangzhou include: The Princess's Flower, The Purple Hairpin, The Peony Pavilion: A Dream Interrupted, Two Immortals Worshipping the Moon Pavilion, The Reincarnated Red Plum Story, Butterfly Shadow and Red Pear Story, The Fragrant Silk Tomb, Cherries Ripened, Hearts Broken, and others. Historically notable Cantonese Opera troupes in Guangzhou include the Juexian Sheng Troupe, Guangdong Provincial Cantonese Opera Troupe, Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Troupe, Guangzhou Hongdou Cantonese Opera Troupe, etc. Renowned Cantonese Opera performers include: Xue Juexian, Ma Shizeng, Liang Cibo, Liang Xingbo, Xin Ma Shizeng, Fang Yanfen, Hong Xiannü, Luo Pinchao, among others.

11.2 Cuisine

Guangzhou boasts a highly developed catering industry, with tens of thousands of food and beverage enterprises throughout the city. In urban areas, establishments commonly operate with "three teas, two meals, and one late-night snack" (morning tea, afternoon tea, night tea, lunch, dinner, and late-night snack), offering almost uninterrupted service throughout the day. This results in Guangzhou's annual catering retail sales reaching hundreds of billions of yuan, with per capita consumption consistently ranking first among major cities in mainland China. Guangzhou hosts the annual "Guangzhou International Food Festival" to promote the development of the catering industry.

Guangzhou is a representative city of Cantonese cuisine, one of China's Four Great Cuisines, with traditional local dishes primarily consisting of Guangzhou-style cuisine. Located at the Pearl River Estuary, seafood and river delicacies are also common dishes. Guangzhou's subtropical monsoon maritime climate, characterized by heat and humidity prone to causing "internal heat," makes drinking herbal tea a year-round habit for its residents. Guangzhou cuisine features a wide variety of ingredients. At the 1965 "Guangzhou Famous Dishes and Pastries Exhibition," 5,457 Cantonese dishes were introduced. Famous dishes include Five-Snake Soup, Roast Suckling Pig, Dragon-Tiger-Phoenix (a dish made with snake, cat, and chicken), Winter Melon Soup, and Slow-Simmered Soup. Steaming, pan-frying, and deep-frying are the most common cooking methods in Cantonese restaurants, as these methods require short cooking times, aligning with the culinary philosophy of preserving original flavors. Morning tea is one of the most famous labels of Guangzhou's food culture, with Cantonese dim sum being a standard accompaniment. Dim sum is divided into dry and wet types: dry items include dumplings, fun guo, buns, pastries, etc., while wet items include congee, meat dishes, turtle jelly, tofu pudding, etc.

As a historically significant foreign trade port and famous hometown of overseas Chinese, Guangzhou's cuisine also exhibits characteristics of integration and diversity. On one hand, Guangzhou cuisine is adept at borrowing ingredients and cooking techniques from other culinary traditions. For example, dishes like Lobster Baked in Superior Broth and Salt-Baked Sea Snail reflect the Western "baking" method adapted into Guangzhou cuisine. On the other hand, Guangzhou cuisine has also influenced the food cultures of neighboring countries. For instance, Vietnamese pho is said to have originated from Guangzhou's Shahe noodles, introduced to Vietnam by Cantonese people in the early 20th century. Since the Reform and Opening-up, the trend of internationalization in Guangzhou's dining scene has strengthened. Restaurants from other regions have opened branches in Guangzhou, and a variety of international flavor eateries abound. Some of mainland China's first Southeast Asian cuisine chefs started their careers here. Besides Indian restaurants specializing in South Asian flavors, there are also Muslim restaurants catering to Middle Eastern patrons. In 2018, the world-renowned gourmet guide Michelin Guide released its first edition for Guangzhou, marking Guangzhou as the second region in mainland China and the ninth in Asia to receive Michelin Guide ratings.

11.3 Folk Customs

Guangzhou holds a special annual Flower Market before the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), where citizens can purchase festive flowers and various supplies. Flower markets appeared in Guangzhou as early as the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. After the mid-Qing Dynasty, the scale of Guangzhou's flower markets grew larger, with an increasing variety of flowers available. After 1919, influenced by the dismantling of city walls and the new思潮 of the May Fourth Movement, they became even more prosperous. Typically, the flower market starts three or four days before the Spring Festival and concludes at midnight on Lunar New Year's Eve. Parks such as Yuexiu Park, Cultural Park, Martyrs' Cemetery Park, and Liuhua Lake also host various flower exhibitions and fairs during the Spring Festival, forming an important part of Guangzhou's flower market; Lizhiwan Park also features Guangzhou's only waterborne flower market, creating a new form distinct from the traditional market.

11.4 Traditional Crafts

Guangzhou's unique traditional arts and crafts are known as the "Three Carvings, One Color, One Embroidery." The three carvings refer to ivory carving, jade carving, and wood carving; the one color and one embroidery refer to Canton enamel and Canton embroidery. Among these, Canton embroidery is one of China's "Four Great Embroideries." Canton enamel production began during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, later creating the famous cloisonné enamel. Canton carving is renowned for the hollowing and deep piercing techniques in ivory carving. Guangzhou jade carving is on par with Beijing, Yangzhou, and Shanghai, publicly recognized as the leader of the "Southern School," one of the four major "schools" in jade carving. Its craftsmanship has a long history, with elegant and beautiful forms possessing strong local characteristics. New techniques like openwork pedestal pieces, pierced-carving jade balls, and combined inlay have significant influence in the industry. Additionally, there are Guangzhou olive pit carving, Guangzhou brick carving, Guangzhou bone carving, and furniture craftsmanship, among others. As the younger generation is often unwilling to inherit and learn these skills, traditional crafts face a shortage of successors. Guangzhou crafts listed in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List include Canton embroidery, ivory carving, Guangzhou jade carving, Guangzhou olive pit carving, grey sculpture, Guangzhou-style hardwood furniture making techniques, and Canton enamel porcelain firing techniques.

11.5 Tourism

Guangzhou is an International Garden City, an Excellent Tourism City of China, and a Famous Historical and Cultural City of China. Guangzhou currently has two National 5A-level tourist attractions: Chimelong Tourist Resort and Guangzhou Baiyun Mountain Scenic Area. It also has 24 National 4A-level tourist attractions, including Canton Tower, Beijing Road Cultural Tourism Area, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Museum of the Nanyue King Mausoleum, Guangzhou Zoo, Huanghuagang Park, Yuexiu Park, Guangzhou Martyrs' Cemetery Park, Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Grandview Mall, South China Botanical Garden, etc. The "Eight Scenes of Yangcheng" refer to the eight tourist attractions listed in different historical periods of Guangzhou, which have varied over time. In 2011, the Yangcheng Evening News media group organized a selection for the "New Eight Scenes of Yangcheng": Tower Shining on New City, Pearl River Flowing Light, Cloudy Mountains Layered Green, Yuexiu's Elegance, Ancient Ancestral Hall's Lingering Fragrance, Liwan's Scenic Beauty, Science City's Brocade, and Wetland's Evening Song.

11.5.1 Parks

Parks are widely distributed throughout Guangzhou's eleven districts. Since 2009, except for a few parks (such as Baiyun Mountain Scenic Area, Guangzhou Zoo, etc.), major parks in Guangzhou's urban area have offered free admission. Among them, People's Park, established in 1917, is Guangzhou's first comprehensive park and also its first free park.

Besides serving as recreational spaces for citizens, some parks hold special significance. For example, Yuexiu Park on Yuexiu Mountain houses the Five-Ram Statue, a landmark of Guangzhou. Huanghuagang Park contains the tombs of several revolutionaries. Guangzhou Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall was built to commemorate Sun Yat-sen. Haixinsha Asian Games Park was the venue for the opening ceremony of the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. Additionally, some parks serve various cultural functions, notably Guangzhou Cultural Park, Guangzhou Children's Park, Guangzhou Sculpture Park, etc. The artificial lake parks also serve the regulatory function of urban wetlands. Among them, Dongshan Lake Park, Liwan Lake Park, Liuhua Lake Park, and Luhu Lake Park, all built in 1958, are collectively known as Guangzhou's four major artificial lake parks. Baiyun Lake Park and Haizhu Lake Park, opened in 2011, became new large artificial lake parks in Guangzhou. City parks often host exhibitions such as flower shows, painting exhibitions, and lantern displays to enrich park activities. Starting in 2013, all districts of Guangzhou have successively built children's parks, ranking first in the country in terms of both area and quantity. However, some free parks in Guangzhou still contain attractions that require an additional fee for entry, a phenomenon that has sparked public debate.

11.5.2 Museums

Major museums in Guangzhou include the Guangdong Museum, Guangzhou Museum (Zhenhai Tower), Nanyue King Museum, Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangdong Folk Arts Museum (Chen Clan Ancestral Hall), etc.

The Guangdong Museum is the largest comprehensive museum in Guangzhou and even Guangdong Province. Its preparation began in 1957, and it is now a National First-Class Museum. Located in Zhujiang New Town, it covers an area of 41,000 square meters. The Guangdong Museum's collection has reached over 172,700 items/sets. Among them, the museum's collection of calligraphy, painting, and ancient ceramics ranks among the top in terms of quantity and quality in national museums. Notable collection highlights include the Xinyi Bronze He (Western Zhou Dynasty) and the Thousand-Gold Monkey King Inkstone. The museum's collections of Guangdong archaeological artifacts, gold and wood carvings, and Duan inkstones are the most abundant and possess the strongest local characteristics, with particular emphasis on collecting folk artifacts from the three major ethnic groups: Cantonese (Guangfu), Hakka, and Chaoshan.

The Tomb Exhibition Area of the Nanyue King Museum houses the oldest artifacts currently known from Guangzhou. Located at 867 Jiefang North Road, the museum is a site museum built on the original location of the mausoleum of Zhao Mo, the second-generation Nanyue King. The museum covers an area of 14,000 square meters, with a building area of approximately 8,500 square meters, officially opening to the public in 1988. Centered around the ancient tomb and built against the mountain, the museum consists of several spaces including a comprehensive exhibition building, the ancient tomb protection area, and the main exhibition building. The museum's collection includes artifacts such as the "Emperor's Travel Seal" gold seal, jade horn cup, tiger tally with gold-inlaid inscription, and copper printing plate mold. These artifacts hold significant historical, scientific, and artistic value, collectively reflecting various aspects of social life in the Lingnan region two thousand years ago.

12. Sister Cities

In 1979, Fukuoka City of Japan became Guangzhou's first sister city. As of February 2023, Guangzhou has established friendly relations with 102 cities across 67 countries, including 38 international sister cities and 64 international friendly cooperation and exchange cities. Guangzhou's Liuhua Lake Park features the Frankfurt Rose Garden, which houses a bronze bust of Goethe gifted by the city; meanwhile, Vancouver's Chinatown displays a marble Chinese archway presented by Guangzhou.

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No. 1 Fuqian Road, Yuexiu District

Baiyun District

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