The night scence of Guangzhou

Guangzhou, bordering on the South China Sea and adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao, covers an area of more than 7,400 square km with a population of 16 million. As the capital city of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou is widely known as the "southern gate" of China.

It's also known as the "flower city," with lush trees and flowers blooming throughout the year. Three rivers intersect in Guangzhou and flow together into the sea. The city is a scene of dazzling coastal beauty.

Ready for new development

Guangzhou has a history of more than 2,200 years and was once part of the Maritime Silk Road. The China Import and Export Fair held biannually in Guangzhou, also known as the Canton Fair, is the barometer of China's foreign trade and an important link connecting trade between China and other countries.

Entering the 21st century, the world has once more marveled at Guangzhou's achievements. Over the past decade, urban construction has reached new heights as economic output surpassed 1 trillion yuan ($160.52 billion). As host of the 2010 Asian Games, Guangzhou amazed the world with its charm and beauty. Today, 232 of the world's top 500 corporations have offices in Guangzhou and 44 countries have established consulates in the city. The First Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation attracted the participation of over 600 urban policymakers and administrators from 60 countries and regions. Being one of the country's top five cities, Guangzhou has been the face of China on the world stage.

The city also has well-developed transportation networks. Located in the center of the Pearl River Delta, Guangzhou has advanced airport, harbor and railway facilities and is one of China's Internet gateways. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is connected to more than 1,000 cities at home and abroad and handles 40 million passengers each year. Annual cargo handling capacity in the Guangzhou Port ranks fifth in the world, and its container handling capacity ranks seventh. Guangzhou South Railway Station is Asia's largest railway station. Airport, harbor, high-speed railway networks, intercity rail networks, urban rail networks and urban greenway networks form the city's multi-faceted transportation network.

The city has a wide industrial platform, too. Automobile, shipbuilding, petrochemical, manufacturing of key equipment as well as pharmacy and bioengineering make up Guangzhou's industrial base, and the city has charged with new innovations in these areas.

Guangzhou has no shortage of talent. Ninety-seven percent of the province's scientific research institutes and universities are located in Guangzhou. So far, 30,000 overseas Chinese students have returned to work in the city, which is also home to 100,000 expatriates. All of this helps promote the city's development.

Guangzhou is the cultural center of south China. Cultural events such as Chinese Golden Bell Award for Music, Guangzhou International Art Fair, China International Cartoon and Animation Festival, Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival, China International Performing Arts Fair, China (Guangzhou) International Choir Festival and Guangzhou International Design Week have attracted artists from all over the world, highlighting the cultural charm of Guangzhou as an international metropolis.