Guangzhou

Guangzhou, known in earlier centuries as Canton or Kwangchow, stands on the Pearl River some 120 km northwest of Hong Kong and 145 km north of Macau. Its recorded existence spans more than 2,200 years. From its origins as a riverbank settlement near Baiyun Mountain, the city evolved into a key terminus of the Silk Road. In the mid-19th century, British forces seized Guangzhou during the First Opium War. The 1841 Convention of Chuenpi and subsequent Treaty of Nanking transferred Hong Kong to British rule, ending Guangzhou’s monopoly on southern China trade while preserving its role as a principal entrepôt.

Situated at the heart of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area—home to roughly 70 million inhabitants—Guangzhou forms part of the world’s most populous urban cluster. Administratively, it holds subprovincial status and ranks among China’s nine National Central Cities. Its municipal boundary covers some 7,434 km² on both banks of the Pearl River, stretching from 112° 57′ to 114° 03′ E and 22° 26′ to 23° 56′ N. Lowlands near the river give way northeastward to mountains, the highest of which, Tiantang Peak, rises to 1,210 m above sea level. Intertidal wetlands once lined the estuary, though much of this terrain now serves agriculture. Local authorities refer to Baiyun Mountain as Guangzhou’s “lung,” underscoring its role in urban ecology.

By the 2020 census, the registered population reached 18.68 million, up 47 percent since 2010; 16.49 million resided in the nine central districts. A “floating” migrant community, drawn by regional demand for labor, once numbered some 10 million. In 2008, migrants from other Chinese provinces comprised 40 percent of the city’s dwellers, while nationals of sub-Saharan African origin arrived in significant numbers following the 1997–98 Asian financial crisis. Han Chinese constitute the overwhelming majority. Cantonese remains the first language of roughly half the populace, though Mandarin use has grown, particularly among younger residents; surveys indicate that as of 2018, close to 90 percent of local youth maintain fluency in Cantonese.

Guangzhou’s climate falls into the humid subtropical category. Monsoon rains drench the city from April through September, yielding annual precipitation above 1,950 mm. Mean temperatures range from 13.8 °C in January to 28.9 °C in July, with an annual average of 22.4 °C. Relative humidity hovers near 76 percent. With only about 1,559 hours of bright sunshine each year—markedly less than neighboring Shenzhen or Hong Kong—Guangzhou experiences its clearest skies in October, when possible sunshine reaches 51 percent. The last official snowfall occurred on 24 January 2016, the first in 87 years. Record lows dip to 0 °C, while highs have climbed above 39 °C.

Economic output reached RMB 2,823 billion (USD 444.4 billion) in 2021, positioning Guangzhou second in South-Central China after Shenzhen. Per capita GDP stood at RMB 151,162 (USD 23,794). Oxford Economics projects the city among the world’s top ten by nominal GDP by 2035, with per-capita income surpassing USD 42,000 by 2030. The local real estate market ranks among China’s priciest. Guangzhou’s status as a finance hub appears in global indices: it placed 21st in the 2020 Global Financial Centres Index and stands alongside San Francisco and Stockholm in the Alpha (global first-tier) category. Research and development also thrive: Guangzhou ranks eighth worldwide and fourth in the Asia-Pacific for R&D, hosting major universities such as Sun Yat-sen, designated “Double First-Class.”

Trade exhibitions anchor modern commerce. The China Import and Export Fair—commonly called the Canton Fair—dates to spring 1957. With two annual sessions until the 103rd meeting and three phases from the 104th onward, it occupies the Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center in Pazhou, linked by multiple metro and tram lines. Guangzhou’s airport, Baiyun International, briefly led global passenger traffic in 2020 amid pandemic restrictions; it handled tens of millions of travelers via three runways and two terminals, with plans for expansion. High-speed rail lines radiate north to Beijing and east to Shenzhen, while intercity connections link to Zhuhai, Foshan, and beyond. The city’s metro, launched in 1997, now comprises sixteen lines spanning over 652 km. Its Bus Rapid Transit system—introduced in 2010 along Zhongshan Road—registers some one million passenger trips per day, with peak capacity near 26,900 pphpd, making it second only to Bogotá’s TransMilenio.

Guangzhou’s industrial base covers manufacturing, minerals, and energy. Within municipal limits lie 820 ore fields containing granite, limestone, ceramic clay, albite, marble and geothermal water. Rivers and waterways account for 10 percent of the land area, sustaining both landscape and local ecology. Green urban planning has mitigated past air and water pollution, earning the city recognition among China’s most livable.

Cultural life reflects Cantonese heritage—its language, cuisine, and opera form a regional core—yet embraces diversity. Western classical music finds a stage at the Guangzhou Opera House; Cantopop and local symphony meld tradition and modernity. In districts such as Xiguan, narrow lanes recall the walled city’s layout before early 20th-century demolition. Hakka communities in Zengcheng preserve their own culinary and linguistic customs, exemplified by dishes like Zhengguo wonton and Paitan roasted chicken.

Religious architecture once numbered over 124 temples. Today, Buddhist and Taoist associations oversee prayer halls, while a historic Jewish community and several Christian congregations maintain places of worship. Public parks and restored colonial edifices, notably on Shamian Island, offer respite amid skyscrapers in Zhujiang New Town—a business district whose skyline, illuminated by the Pearl River’s reflection, serves as a visual emblem.

Guangzhou hosted the 2010 Asian Games and Para Games and staged matches during the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Its roster of 65 foreign consulates places it third in China behind Beijing and Shanghai. Billionaire residents numbered fifth nationally in 2020. Local authorities have identified eight vistas—the “Eight Views of Ram City”—from riverbanks and parks to heritage halls, drawing both residents and visitors.

Over two millennia, Guangzhou sustained its role as a gateway: first by maritime routes, later via rail and air. Today the city balances commercial vigor with cultural depth, supporting a population nearing 19 million within its metropolitan bounds. Its waterways continue to shape daily life, while streets once narrow have widened to accommodate trams and modern avenues. In the convergence of history and growth, Guangzhou exemplifies a sustained link between China’s past and its global present.