Guangzhou

Guangzhou, also called Canton, is the capital and biggest city of Guangdong in southern China. It sits on the Pearl River, about 120 kilometres northwest of Hong Kong. Guangzhou has a history of over 2,200 years and was an important stop on the Silk Road.

The port of Guangzhou is a major transportation hub. It is one of China's three largest cities and was the only Chinese port open to Europeans for a long time. Guangzhou is at the center of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area, the world's most crowded urban area, with about 70 million people.

Today, Guangzhou is known for the Canton Fair, China's oldest and biggest trade fair. The city is a key finance hub in Asia and ranks high among global financial centers. Guangzhou has hosted important international events, like the 2010 Asian Games and the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. It is also home to many respected universities and research centers.

Toponymy

Guǎngzhōu is the official romanization of the Chinese name 广州. The city's name comes from an ancient area called Guǎng Prefecture. The word 廣 or 广 means “broad” or “expansive”.

Before it was called Guangzhou, the town was known as Panyu (Punyü; 番禺). This name is still used for one of Guangzhou’s districts today.

Guangzhou is also called the “City of Rams” or the “City of the Five Rams” because of five stones at an old temple. Other nicknames include the “City of Flowers” because of the many plants and trees there.

The English name “Canton” comes from an old Portuguese phrase. It was used for many years before the city’s name officially changed to “Guangzhou”. Even today, people sometimes use “Canton” when talking about the local culture and traditions.

History

A settlement called Nanwucheng was present in the area by 1100 BC. Some traditional Chinese histories say it was founded during the reign of King Nan of Zhou, emperor of Zhou from 314 to 256 BC. It was said to have been little more than a small wooden and mud fort.

Guangzhou, then known as Panyu, was founded on the eastern bank of the Pearl River in 214 BC. Ships arrived on the South China coast in the late years of ancient times. Surviving records from the Tang dynasty confirm that the people of Panyu took part in many trade missions. Records about foreign trade ships go back to the late 20th century.

Panyu was the seat of Qin Empire’s Nanhai Commandery and served as a base for the first invasion of the Baiyue lands in southern China. Legendary stories say that the soldiers at Panyu were very careful. After the fall of the Qin, General Zhao Tuo established the kingdom of Nanyue and made Panyu its capital in 204 BC. It stayed independent during the Chu-Han Contention.

In AD 226, it became the seat of Guang Prefecture, which gave it its modern name. The Old Book of Tang described Guangzhou as an important port in southern China. Direct routes connected the Middle East and China.

The port was closed for fifty years after its destruction. Amid the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms that followed the collapse of the Tang dynasty, the Later Liang governor Liu Yan used his base at Panyu to establish a “Great Yue” or “Southern Han” empire.

From the 10th to 12th century, Guangzhou was visited by travelers from around the world.

Shortly after the Hongwu Emperor’s declaration of the Ming dynasty, he changed his mind about foreign trade and banned it. Private trade was stopped, and those who broke the rules faced serious punishment. Trade was only allowed with certain official visits.

Following the Portuguese conquest of the Melaka Sultanate, a traveler named Rafael Perestrello visited Guangzhou. Later, another traveler tried to visit but was seen as a spy. The Guangzhou leaders had to stop them.

In October 1646, a leader named Zhu Yuyue came to Guangzhou. He was later deposed and executed.

The Qing became more open to foreign trade after gaining control of Taiwan in 1683. Traders from many places returned. By the late 1700s, Guangzhou was one of the world’s greatest ports, organized under the Canton System. The main exports were tea and porcelain. Guangzhou became a major meeting place for merchants from all over the world.

In the 19th century, most of the city’s buildings were still only one or two stories. The brick city walls were about 6 mi (10 km) in circumference. The city had gates that closed at night.

The Canton System ended with the outbreak of the First Opium War in 1839. After battles, the British captured Canton. Later, more treaty ports opened, and Guangzhou lost some of its special trade status.

The concession for the Guangzhou–Hankou railway was awarded in 1898. It faced some problems but was finished later.

During the late Qing dynasty, Guangzhou was the site of revolutionary attempts. The successful 1911 Revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty.

After the assassination of Song Jiaoren and attempts by Yuan Shikai to remove the Nationalist Party of China from power, a leader named Hu Hanmin joined a revolution against him. The city later became important again when a leader declared a government there.

From 1923 to 1926, leaders used the city as a base for a new revolution in China. They worked with another group but later had to separate.

The People’s Republic of China started building projects, including new housing. Since the 1980s, the city has grown because of its ties to nearby places and changes in rules that helped businesses.

The municipality was expanded in the year 2000. In 2014, some areas were changed to districts.

On 16 June 2022, a tornado struck the city, causing power outages.

Incorporated into the Han dynasty, Panyu became a provincial capital. In AD 226, it became the seat of Guang Prefecture, which gave it its modern name. The Old Book of Tang described Guangzhou as an important port in southern China. Direct routes connected the Middle East and China.

Amid the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms that followed the collapse of the Tang dynasty, the Later Liang governor Liu Yan used his base at Panyu to establish a “Great Yue” or “Southern Han” empire.

From the 10th to 12th century, Guangzhou was visited by travelers from around the world.

Shortly after the Hongwu Emperor’s declaration of the Ming dynasty, he changed his mind about foreign trade and banned it. Private trade was stopped, and those who broke the rules faced serious punishment.

Following the Portuguese conquest of the Melaka Sultanate, a traveler named Rafael Perestrello visited Guangzhou. Later, another traveler tried to visit but was seen as a spy. The Guangzhou leaders had to stop them.

In October 1646, a leader named Zhu Yuyue came to Guangzhou. He was later deposed and executed.

In the 19th century, most of the city’s buildings were still only one or two stories. The brick city walls were about 6 mi (10 km) in circumference.

The Canton System ended with the outbreak of the First Opium War in 1839. After battles, the British captured Canton. Later, more treaty ports opened, and Guangzhou lost some of its special trade status.

The concession for the Guangzhou–Hankou railway was awarded in 1898. It faced some problems but was finished later.

Revolutions

During the late Qing dynasty, Guangzhou was the site of revolutionary attempts. The successful 1911 Revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty.

Republic of China

After the assassination of Song Jiaoren and attempts by Yuan Shikai to remove the Nationalist Party of China from power, a leader named Hu Hanmin joined a revolution against him. The city later became important again when a leader declared a government there.

From 1923 to 1926, leaders used the city as a base for a new revolution in China. They worked with another group but later had to separate.

The People’s Republic of China started building projects, including new housing. Since the 1980s, the city has grown because of its ties to nearby places and changes in rules that helped businesses.

The municipality was expanded in the year 2000. In 2014, some areas were changed to districts.

On 16 June 2022, a tornado struck the city, causing power outages.

History of Guangzhou

The [Thirteen Factories](/wiki/Thirteen_Factories) c. 1805, displaying the flags of Denmark, Spain, the United States, Sweden, Britain, and the Netherlands

An 1855 painting of the gallery of Tingqua, one of the most successful suppliers of "export paintings" for Guangzhou's foreign traders

Vrooman's 1860 map of the "City and Entire Suburbs of Canton", one of the first made after the treaties of Tianjin and [Beijing](/wiki/Beijing) permitted foreigners full access to Guangzhou's walled city

The [Flowery Pagoda](/wiki/Flowery_Pagoda) at the [Temple of the Six Banyan Trees](/wiki/Temple_of_the_Six_Banyan_Trees) in 1863

The [Five-story Pagoda](/wiki/Five-story_Pagoda) atop [Yuexiu Hill](/wiki/Yuexiu_Hill) c. 1880

The Sacred Heart Cathedral towering over the one- and two-story homes of old Guangzhou c. 1880

The [US Navy](/wiki/US_Navy)'s Dept of Navigation's 1920 map of "Canton"

[Sun Yat-sen](/wiki/Sun_Yat-sen) and [Chiang Kai-shek](/wiki/Chiang_Kai-shek) at the opening of the [Whampoa Military Academy](/wiki/Whampoa_Military_Academy) on 16 June 1924

The Guangzhou Bund in 1930, with rows of Tanka boats

• A short film of Guangzhou in 1937

The [People's Liberation Army](/wiki/People's_Liberation_Army) entering Guangzhou on 14 October 1949

Geography

The old town of Guangzhou was near Baiyun Mountain on the east bank of the Pearl River (Zhujiang). Today, the city covers a large area on both sides of the river. The Pearl River is one of the biggest rivers in China.

The city has many natural resources, including minerals and water from rivers and streams. It also has many plants and crops, especially fruits like lychee. Guangzhou has a warm climate with wet summers and mild winters. The city gets a lot of rain and has plenty of sunshine.

Administrative divisions

Main article: List of administrative divisions of Guangzhou

Guangzhou is a big city. It has control over eleven different areas called districts.

Economy

Guangzhou is a big city for making things and doing business in the Pearl River Delta. This area is one of China's busiest places for trade and jobs. In 2021, Guangzhou's economy was very strong, with a total value of ¥2,823 billion (about US$444 billion). This made it the second-largest economy in the South-Central China area, just after Shenzhen.

The city has many important businesses and many foreign companies. It is famous for its tasty Cantonese cuisine and other local products like colorful Canton porcelain, beautiful Cantonese embroidery, and popular Zhujiang Beer.

Zhujiang New Town

Zhujiang New Town is the main business area of Guangzhou today. It covers 6.44 km² in Tianhe District and has many big financial companies.

Canton Fair

The Canton Fair, also called the "China Import and Export Fair", happens every year in April and October. It started in 1957 and is one of China's biggest trade events. Since 2014, it has been held at the new Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center in Pazhou.

Local products

Guangzhou is famous for its tasty Cantonese cuisine. The city is also known for its beautiful Cantonese sculpture made from jade, wood, and ivory, as well as colorful Canton porcelain and fine Cantonese embroidery. Zhujiang Beer is one of China's most popular beers.

Industry

Business Environment

Guangzhou is a key place for international businesses. By 2018, over 30,000 foreign companies were based in the city, including many large global companies.

Demographics

The 2010 census found Guangzhou's population to be about 13 million people.

2020 census

In 2020, Guangzhou had about 19 million people living there. This was an increase of nearly 6 million people since 2010. Most people lived in cities, while some lived in the countryside.

Many people move to Guangzhou for jobs, making it one of China's biggest cities for people who are not from there. In 2020, about 12 million people lived in Guangzhou but were not from their hometowns. Guangzhou's population density is about 1,800 people per square kilometer. The area around Guangzhou connects to other cities. This area is called the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone and has about 22 million people, including Guangzhou and cities like Shenzhen, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Foshan, Jiangmen, Zhuhai, and part of Huizhou. With nearby Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the total is over 28 million people. Many people move to this area for work.

Ethnicity and language

Most people in Guangzhou are Han Chinese. Almost everyone speaks Cantonese, but many also speak forms of Mandarin. In recent years, more young people use Mandarin in daily life. Efforts are being made to keep the Cantonese language and culture alive, with some schools teaching Cantonese and events being held. Guangzhou also has many Hakka people in districts like Zengcheng District, Huadu District, Conghua District, Baiyun District, Tianhe District, Yuexiu District and Panyu District.

Metropolitan area

The area around Guangzhou was estimated to have about 25 million people in 2010.

Development of Guangzhou

A report from 2018 showed Guangzhou's growth from 1990 to 2020. In 1990, most homes were in western Guangzhou, with other parts still farms or forests. By 2020, development spread from west to east, but the south and much of the north were still farms or forests.

Transportation

Urban mass transit

In 1997, the first line of the Guangzhou Metro opened. This made Guangzhou the fourth city in Mainland China to have an underground railway. Today, the metro has nineteen lines and covers more than 700 km (430 mi). It is one of the busiest metro systems in the world. There is also the Haizhu Tram line, which opened in 2014.

The Guangzhou Bus Rapid Transit (GBRT) system started in 2010. It connects well with the metro and carries one million passengers each day. During busy times, buses come every ten seconds.

Motor transport

See also: List of bus routes in Guangzhou

In the 19th century, Guangzhou had many long, straight streets. In 1919, work began to tear down the city wall to make way for wider streets.

In 2009, it was announced that all buses and taxis in Guangzhou would use LPG-fuel by 2010. This helped keep the air clean.

Starting in 2007, motorcycles were banned in Guangzhou's urban areas. This helped reduce traffic problems.

Airports

Guangzhou's main airport is Baiyun International Airport in Baiyun District; it opened in 2004. It is the second busiest airport in China for flights. The new airport has three runways, with two more planned. Terminal 2 opened in 2018. Another airport in Zengcheng District is still being planned.

Passengers can also fly from Hong Kong International Airport by taking a ferry from Lianhuashan Ferry Terminal or Nansha Ferry Port in Nansha District. There are also coach buses connecting Guangzhou to the airport.

There are direct buses to nearby cities like Foshan, Dongguan, Shenzhen, and Zhongshan.

Rail

Guangzhou is the end point for several important railways, including the Beijing–Guangzhou, Guangzhou–Shenzhen, Guangzhou–Maoming, and Guangzhou–Meizhou–Shantou lines. In 2009, the Wuhan–Guangzhou high-speed railway began operating. In 2014, the Guiyang–Guangzhou high-speed railway and Nanning-Guangzhou railway also started service. The Guangdong Through Train goes from Guangzhou East railway station to Hung Hom station in Kowloon, Hong Kong, taking less than two hours. New regional railways have started operating.

Water transport

There are daily high-speed catamaran trips between Nansha Ferry Terminal and Lianhua Shan Ferry Terminal in Guangzhou and the Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal, as well as between Nansha Ferry Terminal and Macau Ferry Pier in Hong Kong.

• Transport in Guangzhou

[Panyu Square station](/wiki/Panyu_Square_station) of the [Guangzhou Metro](/wiki/Guangzhou_Metro)

• and_B5_Train(07x011-012)_at_Guangzhou_CRRC_Base,_Guangzhou_Metro_20230626.jpg)

  Trains used by the Guangzhou Metro

A [GBRT](/wiki/Guangzhou_BRT) station, _Gangding_

Baiyun International Airport in [Huadu District](/wiki/Huadu_District)

• .jpg)

  CRH380A at Guangzhou South Railway Station

[Guangzhou Tram](/wiki/Guangzhou_Tram)

Culture

Guangzhou's culture is mainly Cantonese culture, which is part of the larger "Southern" or "Lingnan" culture, and also includes Hakka culture. Important parts of Cantonese culture include:

• Cantonese language, the local way of speaking.
• Cantonese cuisine, one of China's famous food styles.
• Cantonese opera, with performances that can be exciting or tell stories.
• Xiguan (Saikwan), an area west of the old city walls.

The Guangzhou Opera House and Symphony Orchestra perform both Western and Chinese music. Cantonese music is a traditional Chinese style, while Cantopop is the local kind of pop music and rock-and-roll that began in nearby Hong Kong.

Cantonese language, Cantonese cuisine, and Cantonese opera are shared by the whole Guangdong area, not just Guangzhou. Because Guangzhou has people from many backgrounds, its culture also includes other styles, like Hakka culture and language.

In areas where Hakka people live in Guangzhou, Hakka culture is strong and well kept. Over time, Canton culture and Hakka culture have mixed to create new traditions. Zengcheng, Guangzhou is a district that has existed for over 1,800 years, where Canton and Hakka cultures live together peacefully.

Religions

Before modern times, Guangzhou had many places for religious activities. Today, Guangzhou has groups for Buddhism, Taoism, a Jewish community, and a history with Christianity.

Taoism

Taoism and Chinese folk religion are still found in a few of the city's temples. One important temple is the Temple of the Five Immortals, which honors five figures said to have brought rice farming to the city. During a time of big changes in China, many Taoist temples were damaged, but a few have been fixed since the 1980s. Guangzhou, like much of southern China, still keeps the tradition of honoring family ancestors during special holidays.

Buddhism

Buddhism is the most common religion in Guangzhou. The Zhizhi Temple, founded in AD 233, is known as the Guangxiao Temple ("Temple of Bright Filial Piety") since the Ming dynasty. The Temple of the Six Banyan Trees is famous for a poem written by Su Shi during the Northern Song. These temples were damaged during different times in history but have been fixed up since the 1980s.

Christianity

Nestorian Christians first came to China by land, but faced hard times and mostly disappeared by the year 1000. Later, rules limited outside religious workers until they changed after wars in the 1800s. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Guangzhou is at Guangzhou's Sacred Heart Cathedral, built from 1861 to 1888. Since China opened up in the 1980s, more people have become interested in Christianity.

Islam

Guangzhou has had links with the Islamic world since the Tang dynasty. Today, the city is known for the Huaisheng Mosque, built in 627 by Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, a companion of the Prophet who came to China in the 620s.

• Religious sites in Guangzhou

  The Huaisheng Mosque and Guangta Minaret

  Guangzhou's Temple of the Five Immortals

  The Hall of the 500 Arhats at the Flowery Forest Temple (Hualin) in the 1870s

  The Temple of Bright Filial Piety

  Guangzhou's City God Temple

  The sacred pigs of the Ocean Banner Temple (Hoi Tong) in the 1830s

  The Flower Pagoda at the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees (Liurong)

  The Thousand Buddha Tower at the present-day Hoi Tong Monastery

  Sacred Heart Cathedral

  Tianhe Church, built in 2017

Sports

The Guangzhou Gymnasium was used for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

In 2010, Guangzhou hosted the 16th Asian Games and the first Asian Para Games. These were the biggest sporting events the city has ever hosted.

Guangzhou has also hosted other important sports events, such as the 1st FIFA Women's World Cup in 1991 and the 49th World Table Tennis Championships in 2008.

In the 2010s, Guangzhou became successful in football, winning many national titles and taking part in the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup.

Restaurants

In the 1990s, Guangzhou newspapers often talked about the city's restaurants. They added special pages about daily life and fun stories to help them earn money.

Destinations

Main articles: Eight Views and Eight Views of Guangzhou

The Eight Views of Ram City are Guangzhou's eight most famous places to visit. They have changed over time since the Song dynasty. The current list was chosen in 2025 by a public vote.

• Taying Huacheng: Canton Tower, Guangzhou Art Museum, Flower City Square, and more
• Yunshan Diecui: Baiyun Mountain, Yunluo Botanical Garden, and Yunxi Botanical Garden
• Yuexiu Fenghua: Beijing Road, Museum of the Nanyue King Mausoleum, Yuexiu Park, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
• Liwan Shengjing: Yongqing Fang, Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, White Goose Tan, and more
• Nansha Xuri: Nansha Mazu Temple, Puzhou Garden, Nansha Binhai Park, Nansha Wetland Park
• Huangpu Yunfan: Nanhai Temple, Whampoa Military Academy
• Huanle Changlong: Guangzhou Chimelong Tourist Resort
• Liuxi Yanzhu: Liuxi River National Forest Park, Conghua Hot Spring Tourist Resort, and more

Guangzhou has many beautiful parks and gardens, such as:

• Baiyun Mountain
• Nansha Wetland Park
• People's Park
• South China Botanical Garden
• Yuexiu Park
• Guangdong Tree Park

Guangzhou is a popular place to visit, with many attractions including:

• Canton Tower
• Chen Clan Ancestral Hall
• Chime-Long Paradise
• Chime-Long Waterpark
• Guangdong Provincial Museum
• Guangzhou Zoo
• Mulberry Park
• Nanyue King Museum
• Peasant Movement Training Institute
• Sacred Heart Cathedral (Stone House)
• Temple of Bright Filial Piety (Guangxiao)
• Temple of the Six Banyan Trees (Liurong)
• Sanyuan Palace
• Shamian or Shameen Island
• Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
• Xiguan (Saikwan)

Popular places to walk in Guangzhou include:

• Beijing Road pedestrian street
• Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street
• Huacheng Square (Flower City Square)

Guangzhou has many large shopping places, especially in the Tianhe district, such as:

• 101 Dynamics
• China Plaza
• Liwan Plaza
• Teem Plaza
• Victory Plaza
• Wanguo Plaza
• Grandview Mall (Grandview Mall Aquarium)
• Wanda square
• Happy Valley
• TaiKoo Hui
• Parc Central
• OneLinkWalk
• Rock Square
• Aeon Mall
• GT Land Plaza
• IFC Plaza
• IGC Mall
• Mall of the World
• K11
• Fashion Tianhe

The city also has many tall buildings, including:

• CITIC Plaza
• Canton Tower
• Guangzhou Circle Mansion
• Guangdong Olympic Stadium
• Guangzhou Opera House
• Guangzhou TV Tower
• Pearl River Tower
• The Twin Towers:
  • Guangzhou International Finance Center (West)
  • The CTF Guangzhou (East)

Also of note are:

• Canton Custom House (est. 1916)
• Aiqun Hotel, once Guangzhou's tallest building
• Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel on Shamian
• The Canton Cement Factory (est. 1907)
• The old provincial capitol, now the Museum of Revolutionary History
• Guangzhou's CBD, including the IFC and CTF

Media

Guangzhou has two local radio stations: Radio Guangdong and Radio Guangzhou. They broadcast in many channels, mostly in Cantonese. Some programs are also in Mandarin Chinese, especially from China National Radio. There is a weekly English program called Guangdong Today, heard around the world through the World Radio Network.

The city has important Chinese-language newspapers and magazines. They are published mainly by three big groups: the Guangzhou Daily Press Group, Nanfang Press Corporation, and the Yangcheng Evening News Group. The top newspapers are Guangzhou Daily and Southern Metropolis Daily. There are also a few English magazines and newspapers, such as That's Guangzhou.

Education and research

The Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, also called Guangzhou University Town, is a large area for students and teachers in the southeast suburbs of Guangzhou. It is on Xiaoguwei Island in Panyu District and has space for up to 200,000 students, 20,000 teachers, and 50,000 staff.

As of June 2023, Guangzhou has 84 colleges and universities, ranking second in China after Beijing. The city has many top schools, including Sun Yat-sen University and South China University of Technology. Guangzhou is also a key place for research in Asia-Pacific.

The Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center includes campuses from these schools:

• Guangdong Pharmaceutical University
• Guangdong University of Foreign Studies
• Guangdong University of Technology
• Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts
• Guangzhou University
• Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine
• South China Normal University
• South China University of Technology
• Sun Yat-sen University
• Xinghai Conservatory of Music

Other universities and colleges in Guangzhou include:

• Guangdong Institute of Science and Technology
• Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University
• Guangdong University of Finance & Economics
• Guangdong University of Finance
• Guangzhou College of South China University of Technology
• Guangzhou Medical University
• Guangzhou Sports University
• Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou)
• Jinan University
• South China Agricultural University
• Southern Medical University
• Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering

The two main libraries are Guangzhou Library and Sun Yat-sen Library of Guangdong Province. Guangzhou Library moved to a new building in Zhujiang New Town in 2013.

Notable people

Guangzhou has been home to many famous people throughout history. Some well-known individuals include Choh Hao Li, an American biochemist who studied hormones, and I. M. Pei, a Chinese-American architect.

Other notable people from Guangzhou are Zhi Cong Li, a racing driver, and Bolo Yeung, a Hong Kong martial artist and actor. The city has also produced successful politicians like Gene Wu from Texas, as well as calligraphers, engineers, and actors who have made their mark in various fields.

International relations

Twin towns and sister cities

Main article: List of twin towns and sister cities in China

Consulates General/consulates

See also: List of diplomatic missions in China

As of April 2023, Guangzhou has 68 foreign consulates-general and consulates. This makes it one of the major cities in China to host more than 50 foreign representatives, after Beijing and Shanghai.