Guangzhou : Ask Biography

Administration

Full name

Guangzhou

Official name

Native name

Settlement type

Sub-provincial city

Country

People's Republic of China

Province

Guangdong

Government

Type

Sub-provincial city

CPC Ctte Secretary

Lin Yuanhe

Mayor

Wan Qingliang

Geography

Total Area

2870 sq mi (7433.3 km2)

Urban Area

1484 sq mi (3843.6 km2)

Elevation

68 ft (20.7 m)

Demography

Total Population

12700800 (2010)

Density (pop.)

1708.1/km² (4425/sq mi)

Urban (pop.)

11070654

Demonym

Guangzhouese
Cantonese

Other information

Time zone

China standard time (UTC+8)

Postal code

510000

Area code

GDP

2010

- Total

CN¥1060.448 billion
(US$163.3 billion)

- Per capita

CN¥83,494
(US$12,860)

- Growth

(+) 13.0%

Licence plate prefixes

Home | City | Guangzhou

Guangzhou ( ; -cmnku̯ɑ̀ŋʈʂɤ́ʊ̯), known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about 120 km (74.6 mi) north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port. One of the five National Central Cities, it holds sub-provincial administrative status.

Guangzhou is the third largest city in China and southern China's largest city. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 12.78 million. Some estimates place the population of the entire Pearl River Delta Mega City built up area as high as 40 million including Shenzhen (10.36 million), Dongguan (8.22 million) and most parts of Foshan (7.19 million), Jiangmen (4.45 million), Zhongshan (3.12 million) and a small part of Huizhou adjoining Dongguan and Shenzhen, making it the biggest built up area in the world after Tokyo.

In 2008 Guangzhou was identified as a Beta World City by the global city index produced by GaWC.