Guangzhou

Guangzhou is the capital and largest city of Guangdong Province in southern China. Located on the north bank of the Pearl River near its delta on the South China Sea, it is a major port city and commercial hub in the Pearl River Delta region. The city has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters.

Guangzhou's history stretches back over two millennia. It was part of the Nanyue Kingdom and later grew as a key port on the Maritime Silk Road. During the Qing Dynasty the Canton System restricted foreign trade to the port of Guangzhou; after the Opium War the area became one of China's earliest treaty ports and later developed into a modern industrial and service economy.

Economy and infrastructure: Guangzhou is one of China's largest urban economies, with strengths in manufacturing, logistics, finance, and technology. Its port is one of the world's busiest, and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is a major aviation hub. The city is served by an extensive metro system and a network of high-speed rail connections to other major cities.

Culture and education: The city is a center of Cantonese culture and cuisine, part of the broader Yue culture. It hosts the Canton Fair (China Import and Export Fair), one of the world's largest trade fairs. Notable higher education institutions include Sun Yat-sen University and South China University of Technology. Landmarks include the Canton Tower, Chen Clan Academy, and the Zhujiang New Town skyline.

Demographics: The urban population runs into tens of millions; Mandarin and Cantonese are widely used, with Cantonese widely spoken in daily life.