Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province, is also the provincial center of politics, industry and commerce, science and technology, education, and culture.  Located on the northern edge of the Pearl River Delta and adjacent to Hong Kong, Macao and the South China Sea, Guangzhou is known as the ‘South Gateway to China’ and considered as the regional center and the hub of communication of South China.

 

There are 10 districts and 2 county-level cities within Guangzhou’s domain.  The whole city covers an area of 7,434 square kilometers, with a population of over 10 million.  The city enjoys a sub-tropical monsoon climate with an average annual temperature of 20-22°C and plenty of rainfall.  With various colorful flowers blooming all the year round, Guangzhou boasts the reputation of the ‘City of Flowers’.

 

Guangzhou is a city with a long history of over 2,200 years and great cultural heritage.  As the starting point of the ancient ‘Marine Silk Road’, Guangzhou has been recognized as an important port in the world since 1,000 years ago.

 

Guangzhou is the center for international trade and economic cooperation in South China.  The Chinese Export Commodities Fair has been held biannually in Guangzhou since 1957.  The city's overall economic power ranks 3^rd in China.  In 2006, its GDP totaled 78.8 billion US dollars, increasing by 14.7% over the previous year.

 

Guangzhou has signed sister city agreement with 20 cities in the world, which are (in chronological sequence) Fukuoka in Japan, Los Angeles in the USA, Manila in the Philippines, Vancouver in Canada, Sydney in Australia, Bari in Italy, Lyon in France, Frankfurt in Germany, Auckland in New Zealand, Kwangju in South Korea, Linkoping in Sweden, Durban in South Africa, Bristol and Birmingham in the UK, Ekaterinburg in Russia, Arequipa in Peru, Surabaya in Indonesia, Vilnius in Lithuania, Hambantota in Sri Lanka and Recife in Brazil.