Nanhai

Nanhai, written 南海 in Chinese, is a name that appears in historical and contemporary geography in southern China. The term literally means “South Sea” and has long been used in traditional Chinese geography to designate the waters to the south of the Chinese mainland, including references to the South China Sea. Over centuries, various administrative entities bearing the name Nanhai existed in what is now Guangdong province.

In modern administrative terms, Nanhai District is a district of the prefecture-level city of Foshan in Guangdong, China. Located in the southern part of the Pearl River Delta, it forms part of Foshan’s urban region and shares borders with other districts within Foshan. The district comprises urban neighborhoods and rural villages and has an economy that includes manufacturing, logistics, and service industries, reflecting Foshan’s broader role as a regional economic hub. It benefits from the transportation network of the Pearl River Delta and has connections to Guangzhou and other major cities in southern China.

Historically, Nanhai referred to a county-level division within Guangdong. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the area was reorganized within Foshan’s administrative structure and designated as Nanhai District. The name remains in local toponyms, institutions, and geographic designations in the region.

Nanhai’s significance lies in its location within the Pearl River Delta and its contribution to regional commerce, industry, and urban development. The term also reflects broader patterns in Guangdong’s administrative evolution, where historic counties and prefectures have been reorganized into urban districts to support growth and modernization.