Canton, Guangdong Province, China

🇨🇳 Guangzhou, also known as Canton and alternately as Kwangchow, is the capital and most populous city of the province of Guangdong in southern China. Located on the Pearl River about 120 km north-north-west of Hong Kong, Guangzhou has a history of over 2,200 years and was a major terminus of the maritime Silk Road, and continues to serve as a major port and transportation hub, as well as one of China's three largest cities. It was the only Chinese port accessible to most foreign traders, Guangzhou was captured by the British during the First Opium War. It continued to serve as a major trans-shipment port. Due to a high urban population and large volumes of port traffic, Guangzhou is classified as a Large-Port Megacity, the largest type of port-city in the world.

Guangzhou is at the heart of the most-populous built-up metropolitan area in mainland China, which extends into the neighbouring cities of Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Shenzhen and part of Jiangmen, Huizhou, Zhuhai and Macao, forming the largest urban agglomeration on Earth and part of the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone. Administratively, the city holds sub-provincial status and is one of China's nine National Central Cities. Guangzhou has one of the most expensive real estate markets in China. The city's expansive administrative area includes 9 urban districts, plus Conghua and Zengcheng.

For three consecutive years Forbes ranked Guangzhou as the best commercial city in mainland China. Guangzhou has a high level of scientific research output, ranking 14th globally and 4th in China, and is home to many of China's most prestigious universities, including Sun Yat-sen University, South China University of Technology, Jinan University, South China Normal University, South China Agricultural University and Guangdong University of Technology.

Economy Guangzhou is the main manufacturing hub of the Pearl River Delta, one of mainland China's leading commercial and manufacturing regions. In 2017, the GDP reached ¥2,150 billion (US$318 billion). Guangzhou is considered one of the most prosperous cities in China. Guangzhou ranks 10th in the world and 5th in China in terms of the number of billionaires according to the Hurun Global Rich List 2020. Guangzhou is projected to be among the world top 10 largest cities in terms of nominal GDP in 2035 (together with Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen in China) according to a study by Oxford Economics, and its nominal GDP per capita will reach above US$42,000 in 2030.

The Canton Fair, formally the "China Import and Export Fair", is held every year in April and October by the Ministry of Trade. Inaugurated in the spring of 1957, the fair is a major event for the city. It is the trade fair with the longest history, highest level, and largest scale in China. From the 104th session onwards, the fair moved to the new Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center (广州国际会展中心) in Pazhou. The GICEC is served by two stations on Line 8 and three stations on Tram Line THZ1. Since the 104th session, the Canton Fair has been arranged in three phases instead of two phases.

Local products Cantonese is one of China's most famous and popular regional cuisine, with a saying stating simply to "Eat in Guangzhou" (食在廣州). • Cantonese sculpture includes work in jade, wood, and (now controversially) ivory. • Canton porcelain developed over the past three centuries as one of the major forms of exportware. It is now known within China for its highly colourful style. • Cantonese embroidery is one of China's four main styles of the embroidery, and is represented in Guangzhou, although the industry is mainly centred in Chaozhou. • Zhujiang Beer, a pale lager, is one of China's most successful brands. It is made in Guangzhou from water piped directly to the brewery from a natural spring.

Economy: Industry • GAC Group • Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone • Guangzhou Nansha Export Processing Zone The Export Processing Zone is located in Nansha District and it belongs to the provincial capital, Guangzhou. The major industries encouraged in the zone include automobile assembly, biotechnology and heavy industry. It is situated 54 km (34 miles) south of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and close to Nansha Port. It also has the advantage of Guangzhou Metro line 4 which is being extended to Nansha Ferry Terminal. • Guangzhou Free Trade Zone The zone was founded in 1992. It is located in the east of Huangpu District and near to Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone. It is also very close to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport. The major industries encouraged in the zone include international trade, logistics, processing and computer software. Recently the Area has been rebranded and is now being marketed under the name Huangpu District. Next to the industries above, new sectors are being introduced to the business environment, including new energy, AI, new mobility, new materials, information and communication technology and new transport. It is also Home to the Guangzhou IP Court. • Guangzhou Science City

Guangzhou hosts the 🇭🇰 Hong Kong and 🇲🇴 Macao trade office plus 65+ foreign consulates-general/consulates including: 🇦🇴 Angola; 🇦🇷 Argentina; 🇦🇺 Australia; 🇦🇹 Austria; 🇧🇾 Belarus; 🇧🇪 Belgium; 🇧🇷 Brazil; 🇰🇭 Cambodia; 🇨🇦 Canada; 🇨🇱 Chile; 🇨🇴 Colombia; 🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo; 🇨🇺 Cuba; 🇩🇰 Denmark; 🇪🇨 Ecuador; 🇪🇹 Ethiopia; 🇫🇷 France; 🇩🇪 Germany; 🇬🇭 Ghana; 🇬🇷 Greece; 🇮🇳 India; 🇮🇩 Indonesia; 🇮🇷 Iran; 🇮🇱  Israel; 🇮🇹 Italy; 🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire; 🇯🇵 Japan; 🇰🇷 South Korea; 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan; 🇰🇼 Kuwait; 🇱🇦 Laos; 🇲🇾 Malaysia; 🇲🇱 Mali; 🇲🇽 Mexico; 🇳🇵 Nepal; 🇳🇱 Netherlands; 🇳🇿 New Zealand; 🇳🇬 Nigeria; 🇳🇴 Norway; 🇵🇰 Pakistan; 🇵🇦 Panama; 🇵🇪 Peru; 🇵🇭 Philippines; 🇵🇱 Poland; 🇵🇹 Portugal; 🇶🇦 Qatar; 🇷🇺 Russia; 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia; 🇸🇳 Senegal; 🇸🇬 Singapore; 🇪🇸 Spain; 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka; 🇸🇩 Sudan; 🇨🇭 Switzerland; 🇹🇭 Thailand; 🇹🇷 Turkey; 🇺🇬 Uganda; 🇺🇬 Ukraine; 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates; 🇬🇧 United Kingdom; 🇺🇸 United States; 🇺🇾 Uruguay; 🇻🇪 Venezuela; 🇻🇳 Vietnam; 🇿🇲 Zambia.