About Guangzhou

Guangzhou, formerly known as Canton, is the capital and largest city of Guangdong Province in southern China, with over 18 million residents in the city proper and more than 65 million in the Greater Bay Area. Founded as Panyu in 214 BC, this ancient city has served as a doorway for foreign influence since the 3rd century CE and was the first Chinese port to be regularly visited by European traders. Located on the Pearl River about 120km northwest of Hong Kong and 145km north of Macau, Guangzhou has maintained its position as a major terminus of the ancient Silk Road and China's gateway to the world for over 2,200 years.

As the birthplace of Cantonese culture, Guangzhou and neighboring Foshan have profoundly influenced southern China's language, customs, and lifestyle. The city is world-renowned as the birthplace of Cantonese cuisine, celebrated for its exquisite culinary skills, delicate flavors, and emphasis on premium ingredients. The local Cantonese people speak Yueyu, a language distinctly different from Mandarin, preserving a unique cultural heritage. As a key component of the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone—with an agglomeration of over 28 million people—Guangzhou serves as the transportation and commercial hub of southern China, blending ancient traditions with modern economic dynamism.