Canton (Guangzhou)

Canton (Guangzhou)
Name	Canton
Native name	广州
Settlement type	Sub-provincial city
Coordinates	23, 07, 46, N...
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	China
Subdivision type1	Province
Subdivision name1	Guangdong
Established title	Founded
Established date	214 BC
Government type	Sub-provincial city
Leader title	CPC Secretary
Leader name	Guo Yonghang
Leader title1	Mayor
Leader name1	Sun Zhiyang
Area total km2	7434.4
Population total	18,676,605
Population as of	2020
Population density km2	auto
Population metro	40,000,000 (Pearl River Delta)
Timezone	China Standard Time
Utc offset	+8
Postal code type	Postal code
Postal code	510000
Area code	20
Iso code	CN-GD-01
Website	www.gz.gov.cn

Canton (Guangzhou). As the capital of Guangdong province, it is a pivotal National Central City and a core metropolis within the Greater Bay Area. With a history spanning over 2,200 years, it served as a major terminus of the ancient Maritime Silk Road and later became the sole port open to foreign trade during the Qing dynasty's Canton System. Today, it is a global hub for trade, transportation, and manufacturing, famously hosting the Canton Fair.

History

The city's origins trace back to its founding as Panyu in 214 BC after the Qin dynasty's conquest of the Baiyue tribes. It flourished as a key port during the Tang dynasty and Song dynasty, attracting merchants from across the Indian Ocean and the Middle East, including figures like the Ming dynasty admiral Zheng He. Under the Qing dynasty, the Thirteen Factories district became the epicenter of Western trade, leading to events like the First Opium War and the subsequent Treaty of Nanking. In the modern era, it was a birthplace of the Chinese revolution, witnessing the Guangzhou Uprising and serving as the base for the Whampoa Military Academy and figures like Sun Yat-sen.

Geography and climate

Located on the Pearl River (Zhu Jiang), approximately 120 km north-northwest of Hong Kong, the city's topography is characterized by flat alluvial plains in the south, giving way to hilly terrain in the north. It features a humid subtropical climate influenced by the East Asian monsoon, with long, hot, and humid summers, and mild, relatively dry winters. The urban area is centered around districts like Yuexiu and Tianhe, with the riverfront Zhujiang New Town forming its modern core, while the city administers extensive suburban and rural areas, including parts of the Pearl River Delta.

Economy

A cornerstone of the Chinese economy, it is a global manufacturing and commercial powerhouse, historically centered on the Canton Fair, the world's largest trade fair. The city's economy is highly diversified, with major sectors including automotive (GAC Group), electronics, petrochemicals, and fintech. It is a critical logistics node, home to the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and the Port of Guangzhou, one of the world's busiest container ports. Major commercial districts include Tianhe CBD and the burgeoning Nansha New Area.

Culture

As the heart of Cantonese culture, it is renowned for its distinctive cuisine (notably dim sum and Cantonese opera (Yueju), and the Cantonese language. The city hosts significant cultural institutions like the Guangzhou Opera House, designed by Zaha Hadid, and the Guangdong Museum. Traditional landmarks such as the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall and the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees coexist with modern attractions like the Canton Tower. Major annual events include the Guangzhou International Light Festival and the vibrant Canton Spring Festival Flower Fair.

Administration and demographics

As a Sub-provincial city, it exercises jurisdiction over 11 districts, including Liwan, Haizhu, and Baiyun. According to the 2020 census, its permanent population exceeds 18.6 million, with a large floating population of migrant workers. The city is a major educational and research center, hosting prestigious institutions like Sun Yat-sen University, South China University of Technology, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health.

Transport

It is a comprehensive national transport hub, served by the massive Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and the high-speed Guangzhou South Railway Station, a key node on the Beijing–Guangzhou high-speed railway. The city's extensive Guangzhou Metro network is one of the busiest in the world. Major expressways like the G4 Beijing–Hong Kong and Macau Expressway and the G15 Shenyang–Haikou Expressway converge here, while the Port of Guangzhou facilitates vast maritime trade through its Nansha Port Area.

Category:Guangzhou Category:Provincial capitals in China Category:Port cities and towns in China