Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong Province and the center of politics, economy, science and technology, education and culture of the Province. Under its jurisdiction are ten districts - Dongshan, Liwan, Yuexiu, Haizhu, Tianhe, Fangcun, Baiyun, Huangpu, Panyu and Huadu, and 2 county-level cities of Zengcheng and Chonghua. Guangzhou covers a land area of 7,344.4 square kilometers with the household registered population of 7,251,900 (permanent residents total 10.15 million), and a daily floating population of 3 million on the average.

Located in the mid-south of Guangdong, Guangzhou is a regional center in south China in terms of its status as a transportation and telecommunication hub and trading port, known as the southern gateway to China. Guangzhou is a cultural city with a history of more than 2000 years.In the 9th century BC, it was called "Chu Ting" . As early as 226 A.D., Sun Quan -king of the Kingdom of Wu in the period of the Three Kingdoms (220-280) divided Jiaozhou District into two administrative regions, one was still named Jiaozhou and the other Guanghzou, hence name "Guangzhou". A legend has it that in ancient times five celestials riding on five rams holding ears of paddy rice in their months descended on to Guangzhou and gave the rice to the local residents and then they left behind the five rams that afterwards turned into stones. As a result, Guangzhou was also named the City of Ram, City of Ears. It is also called the City of Flowers as flowers can be seen all year round.

As one of the major hometowns of overseas Chinese in the country, Guangzhou has more than 1.06 million of folks residing abroad, and 880,000 compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao. 1.59 million of returned overseas Chinese, their family members and the relatives of compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao reside in Guangzhou. Guangzhou is endowed with various natural resources and some 52 kinds of minerals can be found here. Out of the total 8.129 billion cubic meters of water reserves, 409,000 KW equivalent of water reserve can be utilized for power generation. Guangzhou has thousands of floras and 210 kinds of wildlife. Its mainstay grain crop is paddy rice with two crops a year. Flowers, vegetables and fruit are the main cash crops here. Furthermore, Guangzhou is a home of fruit yielding some 500 varieties. Litchi, banana, oranges and pineapples are known as the four kinds fine fruit in Guangdong. In addition, Guangzhou is well known for its flowers and potted landscape, such as salisb (michealia),sweet hibiscus, banana-shrub£¬jasmine, gladiolus, chrysanthemum, kumquat, among others. In 2003, a flower-auction with the largest size and most advanced facilities in Asia was set up in Guangzhou.

Guangzhou is adorned with hills and streams and attractions of historical relics. It has 156 locations which are listed as units for historical and cultural relics preservation by the national and provincial and municipal governments. The site of shipyard in the Qin Dynasty (221 BC - 206 BC) excavated in the downtown and the imperial garden of Nan Yue in the West Han Dynasty (206 BC - 25) are recognized as China's Top 10 new excavations and are shortlisted in the application for being included on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Favorable attractions include Chen Clan Temple, Yuntai Garden (at the foot of Mount Baiyun), Five Rams Stone Sculpture and Zhenhai Tower in Yuexiu Park, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Huanghuagang Park (Cemetery of 72 Martyrs), Hill Lianhua, the downtown bank along the Pearl River, CITIC Plaza (waterfall), Guangzhou Olympic Sports Center, Guangzhou New Gymnasium, Guangzhou Arts Museum, Guangzhou Shangxiajiu Shopping Street, Beijing Road Shopping Street, Six Banyan Temple, Hong Xiuquan's (1814-1864) Residence, Bao Mo Garden, Xiangjiang Safari Park and Chimelong Night Zoo. Out of them, Mount Baiyun, Hill Yuexiu, the Pearl River, Chen Clan Temple , Huanghuagang Park, Axis Line of New City, Olympic Sports Center and Hill Lianhua in Panyu are listed as the Top 8 Attractions in the City of Guangzhou in the new century.

Editor: Donald