Guangzhou China, a city full of Charming
Guangzhou China Overview
Guangzhou, abbreviated as “Sui” and also known as the City of Rams, City of Flowers, and Five-Rams City, is a sub-provincial city and the capital of Guangdong Province. It is a major national center city and a megacity located in southern China, in the south-central part of Guangdong Province, near the mouth of the Pearl River. Covering an area of 7,434.40 square kilometers, Guangzhou China is composed of 11 districts as of October 2023. By the end of 2023, the city had a permanent population of 18.83 million people.
The city’s terrain consists of hilly areas, with higher elevations in the northeast and lower areas in the southwest. Guangzhou China has a subtropical monsoon climate with significant oceanic characteristics and abundant rainfall. For more than 2,000 years, from the Qin and Han dynasties to the Ming and Qing dynasties, Guangzhou has been a crucial port for foreign trade and is one of the starting points of the Maritime Silk Road, earning it the title of “Millennium Commercial Capital.”
*The night view of Guangzhou and the Canton Tower.
*The popular spiral staircase in Guangzhou.
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Guangzhou briefly became a centrally administered municipality before being placed under the leadership of the South China Military and Administrative Committee in 1950, and later becoming a provincial city under Guangdong’s leadership in 1954. In 1994, it was upgraded to a sub-provincial city.
Guangzhou is the core city of the Guangzhou Metropolitan Area, an important national center city as designated by the State Council, and a national historical and cultural city. It is a modernized city with a prominent maritime heritage, serving as an international transportation hub, a center for science, education, and culture, and an international commercial hub.
It is also a key base for advanced manufacturing in China, a comprehensive gateway, and a major platform for international technological innovation. Historically, Guangzhou has been a melting pot of cultures, and it is one of the birthplaces of Cantonese culture. The city is also home to the headquarters of the Southern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army.
As one of the first coastal cities to open up to foreign trade, it plays a central role in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Pan-Pearl River Delta Economic Zone, and is a key hub in the Belt and Road Initiative, earning it the nickname “China’s Southern Gateway.”
Historical Development🎏
From the Qin and Han dynasties to the Ming and Qing dynasties, Guangzhou was an important port for foreign trade. It was one of the starting points of the Maritime Silk Road. According to the “New Tang Book – Geography,” during the Tang Dynasty, this sea route was called the “Guangzhou Maritime Route.” The journey started from Guangzhou, passed through the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, and extended to Basra in the Persian Gulf, eventually reaching the East African coast.
*Guangzhou city roads.
This was the longest sea route in the world before the 16th century. By the Tang and Song dynasties, Guangzhou had become a renowned international port in the East. It was the first city in China to establish a government office to manage foreign trade. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Guangzhou was a special open port, and for a long period, it was the only city in China allowed to conduct foreign trade.
After the Opium Wars, the Treaty of Nanjing forced China to open five ports, including Guangzhou, which ended its monopoly on foreign trade. During the Qin Dynasty, Guangzhou served as an administrative center. Two independent kingdoms emerged in Guangzhou during the late Qin and late Tang periods. The Nanyue Kingdom was established in the late Qin period, with Zhao Tuo (the Qin’s Nanhai Lieutenant) declaring himself king and making Guangzhou his capital (206–111 BCE).
In the late Tang Dynasty, Liu Yan declared himself emperor in Guangzhou, establishing the Southern Han Kingdom (917–971 CE) with Guangzhou as the capital. From the Qin Dynasty onward, Guangzhou served as the administrative center of the Nanhai Prefecture, covering most of modern-day Guangdong and Guangxi provinces.
In 214 BCE, after unifying the Lingnan region, the First Emperor of Qin established the Nanhai Prefecture in the area that is now Guangzhou. Lieutenant Ren Xiao built a city wall on what is now Zhongshan Fourth Road, marking the beginning of Guangzhou’s status as the administrative center of the Nanhai Prefecture.
The prefecture covered a vast area, extending north to Guanping Stone, east to Zhangpu in Fujian, and west to Zhanjiang. Its total area was approximately 140,000 square kilometers. During the late Qin and early Han dynasties, Zhao Tuo expanded the kingdom’s territory to include the Leizhou Peninsula, parts of Guangxi, and northern Vietnam.
In 111 BCE, Emperor Wu of Han conquered Nanyue, dividing its territory into nine prefectures (later reduced to seven). Guangzhou continued to be known as Nanhai Prefecture and became part of Jiaozhi Province. The administrative center later moved to Guangxin (modern-day Zhaoqing or Wuzhou, according to different accounts), and Guangzhou briefly declined. During the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Guangzhou was part of the Wu Kingdom.
In 217 CE, the provincial government moved back to Panyu (modern-day Guangzhou). In 226 CE, the region was renamed Guangzhou, marking the first time the city was officially called Guangzhou. During the Han Dynasty, Guangzhou’s administrative area covered around 105,000 square kilometers. During the Jin Dynasty, Guangzhou remained the administrative center of the Nanhai Prefecture, though its territory shrank somewhat, losing control over parts of eastern Guangdong. The prefecture now covered about 46,000 square kilometers.
Through the Southern and Northern Dynasties and the Sui Dynasty, Guangzhou continued to serve as the administrative center with slight changes to its jurisdiction. In the Tang Dynasty, Guangzhou became the seat of the Guangzhou Commandery and the capital of the Lingnan Circuit. Its jurisdiction extended south to Bao’an and Zhongshan, north to Qingyuan, and west to Sihui and Huaiji, covering approximately 42,000 square kilometers. In the late Tang period, Liu Yan declared himself emperor and founded the Southern Han Kingdom, with Guangzhou as the capital. The city was renamed Xingwang Prefecture, and two new counties were established in the area.
In 970 CE, after the Southern Han Kingdom was conquered by the Song Dynasty, Guangzhou’s name was restored, and it became the capital of the Guangnan East Circuit (later known as Guangdong). This marked the beginning of the term “Guangdong” for the province. During the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, Guangzhou was successively known as Guangzhou Circuit (Yuan Dynasty) and Guangzhou Prefecture (Ming and Qing Dynasties), serving as the provincial capital throughout these periods.
*Guangzhou European-style architecture.
*Guangzhou ancient architecture.
Geography and Environment
Topography and Landforms
Guangzhou is located in a hilly region, with higher elevations in the northeast and lower areas in the southwest. The city is surrounded by mountains, with its northern part comprising forested hills. The highest peak is Tiantang Peak, located at the border between Conghua District and Longmen County, with an elevation of 1,210 meters. In the northeast is Baiyun Mountain, known as the “lungs of the city.” The central area consists of hilly basins, while the southern part forms part of the Pearl River Delta’s coastal alluvial plain.
Climate🍃
Guangzhou is situated in the Pearl River Delta and faces the South China Sea. The city’s climate is heavily influenced by both the ocean and the continent. The annual average temperature ranges from 21.5°C to 22.2°C, with plentiful rainfall. The average annual precipitation exceeds 1,800 millimeters, and there are around 150 rainy days per year.
Water💧
Guangzhou has abundant water resources, with numerous rivers and waterways flowing through the city. There are 22 rivers with a drainage area of over 100 square kilometers and 1,368 rivers with a width of over five meters, creating a distinctive Lingnan water-town culture.
Natural Resources
Water Resources
The main characteristic of Guangzhou’s water resources is that local water resources are relatively scarce, while transit water resources are abundant. The total water area in the city is 74,400 hectares, accounting for 10.05% of the city’s land area. Major rivers include the Beijiang, Dongjiang, Zengjiang, Liuxi, Bainee, the Guangzhou section of the Pearl River, and the Shiqiao and Shawan waterways. The total amount of local water resources is 7.979 billion cubic meters, with surface water making up 7.881 billion cubic meters and groundwater 1.487 billion cubic meters.
However, per capita water resources in Guangzhou are only half the national average, highlighting the city’s dependence on transit water from other areas. Transit water is mainly concentrated in the southern river network area and Zengcheng District, with 1,591.5 billion cubic meters entering the city from the Beijiang and Xijiang rivers and 142.03 billion cubic meters from the Dongjiang River. The southern river network area is affected by tidal forces, with significant water flow. The Pearl River’s three main estuaries, Humen, Jiaomen, and Hongqili, flow into the Lingdingyang Channel and the South China Sea, bringing a significant amount of water with both freshwater and tidal flows.
Land Resources🌌
Guangzhou has diverse land types, ranging from mountains to plains, and a variety of landscapes that create a wide range of suitable land uses. The terrain decreases from north to south, with the highest peak being Tiantang Peak at 1,210 meters above sea level. The southern part of the city consists of coastal alluvial plains forming part of the Pearl River Delta.
Biological Resources🪸
Crops grown in Guangzhou exhibit distinctive characteristics of a transition from tropical to subtropical zones, making it one of the regions with the richest fruit tree resources in China. These include tropical, subtropical, and temperate species, covering 41 families, 82 genera, and 174 species and varieties, with over 500 distinct varieties. Notably, there are 55 major varieties of lychee alone, and the region is a central area for the origin and development of fruits such as lychee, longan, wampee, and black/white olive.
The city’s vegetables are renowned for their high quality and diversity, encompassing 15 categories, 127 species, and more than 370 varieties. In terms of flowers, Guangzhou produces seven main categories: fresh-cut flowers (including fresh flowers, leaves, and branches), potted plants (including bonsai and bedding plants), ornamental nursery stock, edible and medicinal flowers, industrial and other functional flowers, turf, and seedlings.
Altogether, there are over 3,000 varieties, combining both traditional species and newly introduced or developed ones. The city also has a rich variety of grains, economic crops, livestock, poultry, aquatic products, and wildlife, with many prized and unique varieties. Among these, Zengcheng Silk Seedling Rice is Guangzhou’s first product to receive geographical indication protection.
*Guangzhou moon-themed photo spot.
*Guangzhou Pearl River night view.
Historical and Cultural Overview
Guangzhou is one of the first national historical and cultural cities designated by the State Council. As early as six to seven thousand years ago during the Neolithic period, ancient ancestors were already living and thriving on this land. Before the Qin Dynasty, the region was inhabited by ethnic minorities known as the “Nan Yue” (one of the Bai Yue peoples), including the Zhuang, Yao, and Li ethnic groups. Guangzhou is also known as “Yangcheng” (City of Rams) and “Suicheng” (City of Ears of Grain).
According to legend, five celestial beings rode five-colored rams to Guangzhou, each ram carrying an ear of grain in its mouth. They bestowed the grain upon the people and blessed the city to be free from famine forever. Today, the Five Rams Statue in Yuexiu Park has become a symbol of Guangzhou. In 214 BC, after the Qin Dynasty unified the Lingnan region, the Nanhai Commandery was established, and Panyu (now Guangzhou) was founded, covering an area of about 0.05 square kilometers. This marked the beginning of Guangzhou’s over 2,200 years of urban history.
During the Tang Dynasty in 716, Zhang Jiuling opened the Dayu Mountain Path (Meiguan Ancient Road), and Panyu (Guangzhou) became the political, economic, and cultural center of Lingnan. This era saw the rise of the Maritime Silk Road, with Panyu (Guangzhou) serving as a key port for goods entering the central plains from overseas.
The Meiguan Ancient Road became the primary route for large-scale migrations of people from the Central Plains and Jiangnan region to the Pearl River Delta during times of war, contributing to the formation of the Cantonese people and culture. Historical texts record that many of Guangzhou’s old families trace their roots to these migrations.
In the Qing Dynasty, the Thirteen Hongs of Guangzhou became the only legal foreign trade zone in the Qing Empire, turning Guangzhou into a hub for Sino-Western trade and cultural exchange. This attracted a large number of wealthy merchants and industrialists from across China and neighboring regions, leading to a significant population boom in the city.
Guangzhou is a heroic city with a glorious revolutionary tradition. In modern history, the people of Sanyuanli fought against imperialist invasion during the Anti-British struggle, and the city was the site of the “March 29 Uprising” (also known as the Huanghuagang Uprising) led by Sun Yat-sen against feudal rule, as well as the Guangzhou Uprising led by the Communist Party of China. Guangzhou is both the birthplace of the bourgeois democratic revolution and a heroic city where the proletarian party led the people in revolutionary struggles.
Origin of the Name "Guangzhou"🏟️
The name “Guangzhou” as an administrative concept dates back 1,796 years. Its geographical significance has changed over time. During the Western Han Dynasty, the region south of the Yangtze River was divided into three provinces: Yangzhou, Jingzhou, and Jiaozhou. Guangzhou was part of the Nanhai Commandery in Jiaozhou. After the defeat of the Nanyue Kingdom, Emperor Wu of Han issued an edict proclaiming the importance of governing the newly conquered Yue region with benevolence, hence the name “Guangxin” (meaning broad and trustworthy).
It is said that the “Guang” in “Guangzhou” originated from this term. The name “Guangzhou” officially appeared during the Three Kingdoms period. In 226 AD, Sun Quan, finding the Lingnan region too vast to govern and concerned about the power of the Jiaozhou governor Shi Xie, decided to split Jiaozhou into two. This division became known as the “Separation of Jiao and Guang,” and the name “Guangzhou” was born. The region under Guangzhou’s jurisdiction at the time encompassed most of modern-day Guangdong and Guangxi. During the early Sui Dynasty, Emperor Wen established the Guangzhou Governor’s Office.
Culture📖
Guangzhou’s culture mainly belongs to the “Cantonese culture” of Lingnan, with Hakka culture being secondary. Cantonese culture refers to the culture of the Han Chinese people who speak Cantonese and live in the Guangzhou Prefecture area of the Pearl River Delta. Guangzhou has long been the political, economic, and cultural center of Guangdong and the Lingnan region. In architecture, art, religion, theater, music, literature, painting, craftsmanship, cuisine, gardening, and customs, the city’s long history and unique character are evident in every aspect of its culture.
Intangible Cultural Heritage♥️
As of 2021, Guangzhou has 118 city-level intangible cultural heritage items, including two on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, 21 national-level items, and 81 provincial-level items. There are 208 inheritors of intangible cultural heritage, including 12 at the national level and 79 at the provincial level. The city is also home to 47 intangible cultural heritage transmission bases.
*Beautiful scenery at Pazhou Metro Station in Guangzhou.
*Guangzhou Museum of Ancient Architecture.
Gardens🌺
Lingnan gardens primarily refer to the narrower definition of Cantonese gardens. Lingnan gardens are characterized by distinctive architectural features. First, they are light, transparent, and simple in form, with relatively small structures. Second, the decorations are exquisite and ornate, incorporating a variety of traditional crafts such as wood carvings, brick carvings, ceramics, and grey plaster.
Elements like doors, windows, and decorative screens are intricately carved and often set with colored glass to form patterned designs. Third, the layout and some components are influenced by Western architectural culture. Guangzhou’s surviving classical Lingnan garden from the Qing Dynasty is Yuyin Mountain House, one of the four major Lingnan gardens.
Religion
Guangzhou has a long religious history. The city is home to the five major religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Christianity. Except for Taoism, which is indigenous to China, the others were introduced from abroad. Buddhism was the first to arrive in Guangzhou in 255 AD, followed by Taoism in 306 AD.
Islam was introduced during the early Tang Dynasty, while Catholicism and Christianity arrived in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, respectively. By the end of 2014, there were 81 registered religious venues in Guangzhou, with 1.18 million religious followers. Along Guangzhou’s old central axis, there are nearly 10 significant temples, churches, and mosques representing these five religions.
Culinary Delights🥗
Guangzhou is known as one of China’s top ten food capitals, with the saying “Eat in Guangzhou” highlighting the city’s reputation for cuisine. Cantonese cuisine, of which Guangzhou food is the core and representative, is known for its wide range of ingredients, meticulous selection, and exquisite cooking techniques. The flavors are clean but not bland, fresh but not overpowering, tender yet thoroughly cooked, and rich without being greasy.
The cuisine focuses on clear, fresh, tender, smooth, crispy, fragrant, and crunchy textures, emphasizing the natural taste of the ingredients. It is well-suited to Guangdong’s climate and aligns with modern nutritional standards, making it a scientific and well-balanced culinary culture.
Famous Dishes🍽️
Guangzhou is famous for dishes like white-cut chicken, roast goose, roast suckling pig, braised pigeon, honey-glazed barbecued pork, lobster baked in broth, steamed grouper, boiled prawns, and stir-fried rice noodles with beef. The city is also known for its morning tea tradition. Popular snacks include braised beef brisket with radish, beef offal, wonton noodles, “Scholar’s Congee,” “Boat Congee,” rice noodle rolls, pig intestine noodles, lotus leaf-wrapped rice, clay pot cakes, and “Chicken Biscuits.”
The culinary scene in Guangzhou is represented by the “Four Gardens” – Dongyuan, Nanyuan, Xiyuan, and Beiyuan restaurants, as well as century-old establishments like Guangzhou Restaurant, Panxi Restaurant, Lianxianglou, and Taotaoju.