Guangzhou, Wade-Giles romanization Kuang-chou, Common Canton or Kwangchow, a city, the capital of Guangdong sheng (province), southern China. Its base is located near the head of the Pearl River (Zhu Jiang) Delta, more than 145 miles inland from the South China Sea. Because of its position in the meeting place of rivers and seas, it has long been one of China's largest trading centers. It has served as a gateway to foreign influence since the 3rd century CE and was the first Chinese port to be visited by European merchants, whom they called Canton. And as the center of political activity forChinese leader Sun Yat-sen (Sun Zhongshan), it was one of the centers of the Chinese revolution of 1911-12. Downtown districts, 108 square kilometers (280 square kilometers); all city districts, 1,484 square kilometers (3,843 square. Downtown districts, 3,461,100; all the districts of the city, 6,377,700; mun.,kilometers); mun., 2,870 square miles (7,434 square km). Pop. (2007 est.) 7,734,800.
Landscape
City site
Located in the south-central part
of Guangdong province, Guangzhou is a regional center in southern China. Most
of the city is located south of the northern bank of the Pearl River, which
separates it from the Xi River (West) before joining the Dong River (East) and
forming the northern boundary of the great Pearl River Delta in the south.
The downtown regions lie south of
Baiyun (“White Cloud”) Mountain, rising 1,253 feet (382 m) above sea level
about 4 miles [6 km] from the city center. Extended south of Mount Baiyun is
Mount Yuexiu, home to the first known inhabitants of the region. Archaeological
excavations have revealed that the site of the city during the time of Qin
(221-206 BCE) and the Han dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE) was located north of the
present city. Later the city grew to the south as mud in the river and sand was
added and Pearl gradually receded.
Guangzhou has a tropical (dry)
climate, common in southeastern China. From May to early October, the summer
season is long, wet, hot and humid; South and southwest winds are often
accompanied by storms (tropical storms), sometimes destructive. The July
temperature is 83 ° F (28 ° C). The dry winter season lasts from November to
early February and is short and free of snow; January temperature is 56 ° F (13
° C). The third period, from February to April, is a period of change marked by
bad weather. The average annual rainfall is about 64 inches (1,625 mm). Farmers
in the Guangzhou area enjoy a year-round growing season. Flowers can be seen
blooming all year round in Guangzhou, which gave them the nickname "flower
town" (huacheng).
City planning
The central regions of Guangzhou
extend along the southern coast and east along the Pearl River. The Old City
(designed for the Ming dynasty and now mainly in the Yuexiu region), part of
the western Liwan region, and the eastern Tianhe region are located on the
north bank. In the south bank is the Haizhu region, which was previously very
productive but has now been heavily supplied with business offices, financial
institutions, and other employment-related services. All of these districts
have been built into an important city center.
Old City Regions
Yuexiu District is a Guangzhou
commercial and financial center, as well as a site for provincial and municipal
government offices. Included are city hotels, supermarkets, and movie theaters;
traditional Chinese architecture is not found in this region, except in the
northern hills. Large buildings line the shores of Pearl in the city center and
line Haizhu Square, a large open space along the river. The original Yuexiu
site, which centered at the intersection of two Guangzhou highways -
north-south of Jiefang Lu (Liberation Avenue) and east and west Zhongshan Lu
(Sun Yat-sen Avenue) — was expanded with the 2005 installation of the former
Dongshan region in the east. The Peasant Movement Training Institute, which
flourished in the mid-1920's under the leadership of Mao Zedong, is located in
Jiefang Lu east of the intersection. Also close to the Huaisheng Mosque (built
in 627 CE), considered one of China's oldest artefacts; the Buddhist Temple of
the Banyan Trees (Liurong Si), founded in the 5th century, and its nine-story
Flac Pagoda (Huata); and, south of the intersection and west of Zhongshan Lu,
the Roman Catholic cathedral of Sacred Heart, built by the Gothic, built in the
1860s.
The first state of Liwan was
located in the western part of the old city, and a large island on the Pearl
River in the west. It too was greatly expanded in 2005, when it merged with the
province of Fangcun, across the river to the southwest. The old part of the
district has retained many traditional style houses and a growing number of
high-rise modern buildings. Liwan Park is located north of the district near
Pearl River Bridge, and northeast of Lihuahua Park. Southeast of Liwan Park,
Shamian, a small island in Pearl near the southern shore of the first region,
was once a special place
The first settlers, who came from Taiwan or Shan, were associated with the Chinese (Han) in ancient times. There are, however, small groups of Manchu and Chinese Muslims (Hui) in the city. A prominent feature of the population is the large number of “Chinese overseas” migrating to Southeast Asia, the United States, Europe and other parts of the world. Beginning in the 1980's, most of them relocated to and from Guangzhou and surrounding areas. Also happening since the 1980s is the presence of a growing number of migrant workers from other provinces or even overseas. The workers stayed for a while in the Guangzhou area to work in factories or other jobs before returning to their home districts. Economics Manufacturing and tourism Since 1950 there has been a dramatic increase in the city's industries. The first focus was on light such as electronics, textiles, newsprint, processed food, and fire extinguishers. Smaller plants are designed to build consumer goods. However, increased investment in heavy industries, including those that manufacture machinery, chemicals (especially petroleum chemicals), steel and steel, and cement, and shipbuilding; in addition, car production has become important. The amount of heavy material produced now exceeds that of lightweight industries. Since the late 1970's, most of the investment in the Guangzhou region has been based in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. The result of all of this is that the city has become one of the largest industrial buildings in southern China.
Guangzhou is celebrated for its many handicrafts,
including ivory, jade, embroidery, fans, clay, and paper umbrellas. These,
together with the city's famous food and its many museums and other cultural
attractions, have made Guangzhou one of China's leading tourist destinations.
Much effort has been made to improve tourist attractions, and tourism has
become an integral part of the local economy. Trading and finance Guangzhou has
traditionally been a trading center in Guangdong, Guangxi, and in the southern
and southern provinces of China. Products such as sugar, fruit, silk, timber,
tea, and herbs were exported, and manufactured goods and industrial equipment
were exported through Guangzhou. However, since the 1980s, a growing number of
manufactured goods and services (including machinery, electrical and electronic
products) have been exported around the world. The annual China Import and
Export Fair, which began in 1957, has become a world trade center. Major
shopping malls and wholesale markets established in downtown areas include
departmental stores and specialty stores. Banks, including state and provincial
commercial centers as well as local and foreign businesses, now have branches
throughout the city. Although the city has no stock exchange (such as the one
in Shenzhen and Hong Kong), it has many trading firms.
Transportation Buses and bicycles were the main means of transportation within the city. However, there has been a significant increase in the use of cars and motorcycles, and fewer bicycles are seen. As a result, the city has a lot of congestion in China. The traffic situation has been somewhat improved by the expansion of roads, the construction of more bridges across the Pearl River, and the restrictions on motorcycle traffic at certain times of the day and in certain areas of the city center. Most importantly, the city has been building a broad railway network, many of which run through the city and one to the city of Foshan in southwestern Guangzhou. The system has played a major role in daily public transport. The Pearl River Delta is blessed with countless canals and streams; small canals are used for sampans (low-powered boats) and large canals for steamers or motor launch. Guangzhou is the center of the inland movement and is the focal point for navigation along the coast and the south coast of China. The Guangzhou Port Group, one of China's largest port facilities, has its headquarters in Huangpu, an area 19 miles (19 km) down the river and is now a city district; Xinsha, down the river by the banks of the Pearl River; and Nansha, located on the southern edge of the municipality near Hong Kong and now also a city district. All of these ports and other subsidiaries have been expanded to accommodate ships with 10,000 tons or more. Guangzhou is operated by connecting trains north of Beijing, south of Kowloon (Hong Kong), east of the coastal city of Shantou and Fujian province, and west of the port city of Zhanjiang and Guangxi province. Guangdong has one of the most developed programs in the province. Highways and highways span Guangzhou and other major cities in the province as well as Macau and Hong Kong. The city's Baiyun International Airport (opened in 2004), about 20 miles [30 km] north of the city center, is the largest in southern China. Management and Community. Government The Guangzhou municipal government is part of China's top government - and the same Chinese Communist
Party - from the national organization, through provincial resources, to the
municipality and, ultimately, to neighboring levels. The main responsibilities
of the Guangzhou Municipal People’s Congress, which is the largest
decision-making body, include issuing administrative orders, determining
budgets, and implementing economic programs. The standing committee elected
from its members commends the policy decisions and directs the functioning of
the municipal government. The executive authority rests with the Guangzhou
Municipal People's Government, whose officials are elected by the conference;
contains
of Hong Kong residents, they also reward their historical and cultural roots.
areas. The colorful flower show held during the annual Spring Festival is a
highlight. Although the Cantonese share some aspects of the modern way of life
Crowds of people are often found visiting museums and the city with numerous
carved wooden heads. Sun Yat-sen University Library has one of the largest
historical monuments, and Yue opera and Chao opera and musical productions are
well received. Guangzhou is known for its doll games featuring large dolls with
holding centers in China, including a comprehensive collection of indigenous
Academy; and the residence of Sun Yat-sen. Notable historical sites include the tomb of Zhao Mei, the second emperor of Nanyue, a country that was annexed by the Han (Western) Han
dynasty (206 BCE - 25 CE); returned campus to Huangpu (Whampoa) Military
The vitality of the Cantonese people is reflected in their love of food. Cantonese cuisine is world famous, and hundreds of restaurants in the city offer a variety of seemingly endless dishes. Many add fresh ingredients, including locally caught seafood, which is cooked quickly, usually with frying. Congees (porridges made from rice or sorghum) and soups are often part of the diet. Other unusual local dishes include fried snakes, cooked fish (swim blades), fried shark ends, and fried chicken legs. Modern recreational facilities also enrich the city's cultural life. Sports facilities, including stadiums, guest houses, tennis courts, and rowing grounds, have added to the leisure facilities available to city dwellers. In addition, several new sports facilities - including three gymnasiums, a water park, and an 18,000 seating area - were built during Guangzhou's hosting of the 2010 Asian Games. The tall, small tower of the Canton Tower, designed for television broadcasting and recreational use, opened in 2010 on the bank just south of the Pearl River in the Haizhu region.
Among its guest facilities are restaurants and bars, a
staircase around the outside of its more than 30-storey spine, and an outdoor viewing
booth on top of its 1,490-foot- (454-meter-) building. History of Guangzhou
people. During the Zhou (Western) dynasty of Zhou (West) (1146-71 BCE), the
First time The first known settlers in Guangzhou were Baiyue, Taiwan, or Shan
the name Chuting of the area. Later, the walled city of Nanwu Cheng, in the
people of the Baiyue area pledged allegiance to the northeastern state of Chu,
northern part of the modern city, was built during the spring and autumn
after the myth that the gods who rode the five goats came down from heaven and
(770-476 BCE). Between 339 and 329 BCE the city was rebuilt and expanded and
became known as Wuyang Cheng ("The City of the Five Goats") - named
saved the city from starvation. Under the Qinar empire (221-207 BCE), a small town
Zhao Tuo (137 BCE) founded the independent Nanyue state, which was annexed in
at that time (known as Panyu in the foothills of Pan and Yu in this region)
became the capital of the province of Nanhai. With the fall of Qin, General
111 BCE by the Xi Han dynasty. For the next 300 years, the Chinese occupation
of the Yue people continued, and the region was firmly entrenched in the
province called Guangzhou. During this time the city grew in wealth and people
empire. During the four centuries from the Three Empires until the
establishment of the Tang dynasty in 618 CE, when North China was conquered by
invaders, Guangzhou remained part of the Chinese empire. The city was first
named Guangzhou in 226, when the Wu Third Kingdoms (Sanguo) established a
as an important trading port in southern China. Buddhist
Under the Ngoma dynasty (960-1279) the growing
population of Guangzhou and the growth of foreign trade necessitated the
expansion of the city. A second relief wall and shelter were erected near the
demolished Pan Hill near the end of the 11th century.
Under
the Song of the Nan (Southern) Song (1127-1279), Chinese sailors and merchants
sailed to Southeast Asia, thus paving the way for Chinese migration abroad in
later years. And at the same time, the growing port city of Quanzhou
(modern-day Fujian province) has replaced Guangzhou as China's largest port in
terms of trade volume. In the late 13th and 14th centuries, many Chinese
families from Northern China migrated to the Guangdong region after the Mongol conquest.
Although the city was severely destroyed by the conquest, it also experienced a
thriving economy under the Yuan (Mongol) Empire (1206-1368), as Yuan's rulers
encouraged maritime trade and kept relations between the Chinese and the
Mongols in control. Under the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) the city was greatly
rebuilt and expanded. In 1380 the old city and the two auxiliary districts were
merged into one large walled city. In 1565 an outer wall was added to the south
to house the new trading districts on the north bank of Pearl.
Meanwhile, the pattern of foreign trade changed
as the Arab world came to an end with the arrival of Europeans. The Portuguese
sent their first ambassador to Guangzhou in the early 1500's, followed by the
Dutch and the British in the 17th century. Guangzhou later came under the rule
of the Qing dynasty (Manchu) (1644-1911 / 12). Recognizing the importance of
the city, in 1746 the government made it the capital of the Viceroyalty of
Guangdong and Guxixi. The British East India Company established a “factory”
(residence for foreign merchants and business offices) in Guangzhou in 1685,
and the annual commercial operations began in 1699. During the 18th century,
the French, Dutch, Americans and other foreigners also began to trade relations
with the city; the so-called "13 factories" (shisan hang or shisan
yiguan) were located to the east. Trade went from bad to worse until the
conflict broke out in the 1820's. Foreigners find trade restrictions (by
licensed Chinese traders known as cohongs [gonghangs]) very tedious, and
Chinese authorities have refused to open normal communication relations. The
Chinese seized and exterminated a large quantity of illegal opium brought by
the British in 1839, and in retaliation the British invaded Chinese positions
in the Pearl River Delta. The first Opium War (1839-42) ended in China's
disgraceful conquest, and the city saved only its destruction by paying a great
ransom.
The Treaty of Nanjing (1842) with the United
Kingdom negotiated at the end of the war which provided Guangzhou with the
opening of a treaty. In 1844 the French and Americans received similar
treaties. However, feelings of dissent were rampant in Guangdong province, and
the city refused to open its gates until 1857. The coolie trade (sending
Chinese contractors overseas) and the use of foreign flags to protect criminals
from crime caused a number of problems. The second Opium War (Arrow War) broke
out between China and Britain and France in 1856. Guangzhou was annexed by
Anglo-French troops until 1861, and Shamian Island was an Anglo-French treaty
in 1859. During the crisis of foreign imperialism, Guangzhou was shocked by the
massive anti -ynastic outbreak of Taiping Rebelli (1850-64), whose leader, Hong
Xiuquan, was born in the northern city of Huaxian city (now in the province of
Huadu). Many Hong followers formed secret societies that kept his ideals of
life alive even after the rebellion failed. Over the next 50 years the Manchu
conflict formed one of the twin armies that captured Guangzhou; another was the
rise of nationalism. From the late 1840s, Hong Kong and Shanghai gradually
replaced Guangzhou as a major foreign trade center.
A modern city Guangzhou came under the
influence of his most respected son, Sun Yat-sen, from 1895 to 1925.
The Guangzhou Revolution of 1911 paved the way
for the successful Chinese Revolution of 1911-12. Guangzhou became the center
of military action against the military authorities between 1916 and 1925 and
Guomindang). In addition to finalizing his Three People’s Principles, Sun
served as the headquarters of the Sun's Nationalist Party (Kuomintang, or
reorganized the party in 1924 to revive the Nationalist revolution. All sorts
the newly formed Chinese Communist Party, and Soviet advisers. Chiang Kai-shek
of people came to Guangzhou - right and left members of Kuomintang, members of
(Jiang Jieshi),
Mao Zedong, and Zhou Enlai began their
operations in Guangzhou under Sun rule. Chiang gained power when he overthrew
the rebellion of Guangzhou Merchants ’Volunteers and defeated the unfaithful
local military commanders (1924). With
. In 1927 a communist-led state fund tried to
establish a working class government in the city, but Chiang was overthrown.
government, but was actually controlled by independent leaders, who criticized
the Chiang dictatorship and threatened to break away from the Nationalist
government in Nanjing. In 1937, during the war with the Japanese, Guangzhou
became the prime target of Japanese air raids. Restoration did not begin until the communist government took office in 1949.
In 1921, during the Republican era, Guangzhou
was officially designated an independent city under Nationalist rule, with Sun
Yat-sen's son the first mayor of Guangzhou. Initially, under the new communist
regime, he retained his position as a municipality under the national
government, but in 1954 the city was placed under the jurisdiction of Guangdong
province. Another major administrative change took place in 2005, when some
urban districts were merged and many of the former urban areas became urban
districts under a much larger municipality. The revival of Guangzhou had begun
in the 1920's but was interrupted by Japan. It reappeared after 1949,
especially since the late 1950's, when heavy industries were introduced. The
city grew into one of China's largest trading centers. Guangzhou has benefited
greatly from China's adoption of economic reform policies since the early
1980s, particularly through the establishment of special economic zones in
nearby Shenzhen and Zhuhai. Guangzhou had a period of sustainable economic
growth that continued in the early 21st century and was marked by massive
architecture and infrastructure development. During this time, the city has
once again emerged as a financial and economic center in southern China.
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