A Dynamic City Where Tradition Meets Modernity
Guangzhou, also known as Yangcheng (City of Rams) or Huacheng (City of Flowers), is the capital of Guangdong Province, a national central city, and a megacity. It is an important central city, international business center, and comprehensive transportation hub in China as approved by the State Council. Located in southern China, downstream of the Pearl River, and bordering the South China Sea, Guangzhou serves as the headquarters of the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. It is a national logistics hub, a national comprehensive gateway city, one of the first coastal open cities in China, the southern gateway to China, and a central city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Pan-Pearl River Delta Economic Zone, as well as a hub city along the Belt and Road Initiative.
Guangzhou is one of the first batch of national historical and cultural cities and the birthplace of Cantonese culture. Since the Qin Dynasty, it has been the seat of county, prefecture, and provincial governments, serving as the political, military, economic, cultural, and educational center of South China. It has been the main port of the Maritime Silk Road since the 3rd century, the largest port in China during the Tang and Song dynasties, a world-famous oriental port, and the only foreign trade port in China during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is also the only port in the world that has remained prosperous for over 2,000 years.
Guangzhou is home to numerous traditional buildings with Lingnan characteristics, such as the Chen Clan Academy and Shawan Ancient Town. The Chen Clan Academy is the largest, most well-preserved, and most exquisitely decorated ancestral hall of the Qing Dynasty in Guangdong, known as the "Pearl of Lingnan Architectural Art."
Guangzhou is one of China's top ten gourmet cities, and there is a folk saying that "Eating in Guangzhou is a delight." Cantonese cuisine, with Guangzhou cuisine as its main body and representative, uses a wide range of ingredients, selects materials carefully, and features exquisite craftsmanship. It is light but not bland, fresh but not vulgar, tender but not raw, and oily but not greasy.
Morning tea is an important part of Guangzhou's culinary culture. For people in Guangzhou, having morning tea is not only about enjoying delicious food but also a way of socializing and relaxing. There are a wide variety of dim sum for morning tea, including shrimp dumplings, siu mai, barbecued pork buns, and chicken feet.
In addition to morning tea, Guangzhou has many other special delicacies, such as roasted meats, wonton noodles, and double-skin milk. Roasted meats include roasted goose, roasted duck, and barbecued pork, which are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a delicious flavor. Wonton noodles feature thin-skinned wontons with generous fillings and chewy noodles, paired with a savory soup base that leaves a lasting impression.
Guangzhou is home to many modern landmark buildings, such as the Canton Tower and the Guangzhou Opera House. The Canton Tower, also known as the Guangzhou New TV Tower and nicknamed "Xiaoman Yao" (Slim Waist), has a total height of 600 meters. It is the tallest tower in China and the second tallest in the world, serving as the iconic building of Guangzhou.
