Brief Introduction to Guangdong Province(Yue for Short)
Guangdong is located in the southern part of the south China Sea,encompassing a total 179,766 square kilometres.From north to south,the altitudes of landforms decreases.The highest mountain is the Shikengkong peak with a height of 1902 m above sea level.The mountain and hill areas cover most of Guangdong without many plains.There are many rivers such as the Zhujiang River (Pearl River),which is composed of the Xijiang River,the Beijiang River,the Dongjiang River,the Hanjiang River,the Rongjiang River and the Moyangjiang River.Guangdong has a curved coastal line of 3368.1 km and many estuaries and more than 651 offshore islets.The Tropic of Cancer runs through Guangdong,the southwest part of which and the Leizhou Peninsula are in the tropical zone ,and other parts in the subtropical zone.It is warm and rainy all the year round,the average temperature ranges from 19 to 26 centigrade degree,the average annual rainfall is more than 1500 mm,the rainy season is from April to September.Abort 130,000 years ago,the Home sapiens,the Beijing River "Mabaren",evolved into the Xijiang River "Fengkairen"about 12,000 years ago,and then to Baiyueren about 4,000 years ago.In 214 B.C.the first emperor in Qing Dynasty brought the Linnan under his control,and divided it into three parts:the Han People moved into these regions and the County.Since that time,the Han People moved into these regions and the Baiyue People became the members of Chinese nation.By now there are also many ethnic minorities such as the Miao,the Yao ,the Hui,the Man and the She in the Guangdong Province.In 1989 the population was estimated at 60,240,000.Besides,there are a large number of Guangdong people who have emigrated abroad.Guangdong Province was first set up in 1370 A.D.with Guangzhou as its capital.People in Guangdong Province have revolutionary traditions .The first page of Chinese modern history began in Guangdong (the Anti-imperialism's Opium War),which is also the starting point of Chinese Democratic Revolution.As the South Gate of China,Guangdong has been opining to the outside world for a long time.Since the adoption of opening and reforming policy in 1978,three special economic zones,Shen Zhen,Zhuhai and Shantou,have been established,Guangzhou,Zhanjiang,the Zhujiang (Pearl River) Delta areas and the whole coastal regions have been opened.More than 100 ports have also been opened.So Guangdong's transportation is convenient.Its industry is devoloping and agricultural products (rice,fruits,fishing,etc)are abundant.Its economy is developing rapidly.
The transport conditions in Guangdong Province are fairly good.So far,the water transportation has been playing a very important role.The ocean shops go from Guangzhou or Zhanjiang to South East Asia,Africa,Europe and America,and more than 40 ports in Shanghai ,Dalian,Tianjin,Qingdao,Nantong,Ningbo,Yantai,Fuzhou,Xiamen,Wenzhou,Beihai and etc.Guangdong is also one of the provinces in China where the highways have been developed into the networks all over the province.And there are four railways:Beijiang to Guangzhou,Guangzhou to Jiulong,Guangzhou to Maoming and Litang to Zhanjiang.The air transport services are developing rapidly.Besides an airport in Guangzhou,there are some other airports in Zhanjing,Shantou,Zhuhai,Shenzhen,Foshan,Huizhou,Wuhua,Meixian,Yangjiang etc.which connect with all the large cities in China.There are more than 10 international airlines.
The handicraft industry in Guangdong is in the lead in the whole country with a long history and unique features.As early as 1870s,the handicraft industry in Ganging had become well known as "guanghuo".Hardware(such as keys,knives,flashlights),umbrella,leather products,furniture (especial the carved mahogany furniture) are all well-known in the world.Among the artware,the ivory carving,gem carving,iron carving,porcelain carving and golden-wood carving are well known for their excellent design.The Guangdong embroidery and the Chaozhou embroidery,one of the four kinds of best embroideries in China ,are known for their beautiful patterns and exquisite craft.Besides,there are also Zhaoqing's inkstone,Dongguan's fireworks,Shiwan's porcelain and Xingning's folding fan.
The local culture in Guangdong is also well developed.The main dialects are Guangzhou dialects ,Hakka dialects and Chao zhou dialects.There are Guangdong local music,Yue opera,Chaozhou opera and Guangdong Han opera.The Lingnan architecture,Guangdong cooking and folk custom are all fascinating.Guangdong is a place with beautiful mountains and rivers,moderate climate and many scenic spots.The Luofu Mountain,the Danxia mountain,the Dinghu Mountain and the Xiqiao Mountain are the four famous mountains in Guangdong Province.There are also many wonderful attractions for tourism and holidays all over the province.
Guangzhou,capital of Guangdong Province,is one of China's main industrial centers,covering an area of 7,434 square kilometers,and with a population of over 6 million.
Guangzhou stands at the confluence of the East River,West River and North River,with its land sloping from north-east to south-west,and an alluvial plain in the south and south-west parts.It adjoins the South China Sea,and is crisscross with rivers and streams.It has south subtropical marine climate with an annual average temperature of 21.8 degree Celsius,rainfall of 1694 millimeters,and a frost-free period of 345 days.It's abundant in agricultural and aquatic resources.Its mineral resources include coal,salt,copper,iron,zinc,lead and limestone.
Guangzhou's industry covers machinery,shipbuilding,textiles,sugar-refinery,household electrical appliances,computers,petrochemicals,light industrial products for daily use,rubber products and garments.The Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone situated in Huangpu has already taken shape.Guangzhou has advanced agriculture,abounding in rice,sugarcanes,fruits,freshwater fish and oil crops.
Guangzhou is communication hub of Guangdong Province,with railways and highways radiating in all directions,and convenient inland-water,coastal and ocean transport.Huangpu is the biggest seaport in the South,ranking fifth in volume of freight handled in China.Its airport stands also in the forefront in passenger transport.
Guangzhou is South China's biggest national-and-foreign-oriented city with flourishing commerce,and China's chief foreign trade center as well.It's also China's famous historical and cultural city.The city with long summer and no winter is always green with flowers in bloom all the year round,hence reputed as "Flower City".Its scenic spots and historical sites include Guangxiao Temple,Liurong Temple and White Clouds Mountain scenic area etc.
Efforts are being made to build Guangzhou into an international metropolis functioning primarily as the biggest financial,high-tech and light industrial,as well as communication and transport center in South China.
Location:located in the south part of China,at the mouth of the Pearl River
Neighboring Areas:Hunan,Jiangxi,Fujian,and Hainan provinces; Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,Hong Kong and Macao
Population:6.66 million
Urban Population:3.95 million
Area:7,434 sq km
Nationalities:Han,Li,Yao,Zhuang,Miao,Hui,Manchu and She
History:with a history of 2,200 years,regarded as the the earilest among the international trade port cities in the world; built as Chuting by the Chu people on the middle reaches of the Yangtse River in the 9th century B.C.; established as Nanhai Prefecture in the Qin dynasty and became Nanyue Kingdom in the Western Han dynasty; the starting point of the Silk Road on the sea which links China with the Arabian and western countries in trading; the China's only foreign trade port at sea before the Qing dynasty.
Climatic Features:subtropical humid monsoon climate,hot and rainy
Average Temperature:21.7degC annually with the highest of 38.7 and lowest of 0degC
Rainfall:annual precipitation 1982.7 mm,with rainfall concentrated in spring and autumn
Mountains:Western Hills,which belong to the Taihang Range; Mt.Jundushan,in the north,which is part of the Mt.Yanshan
Rivers:Pearl River (West River,North River,East River),Nanhai,Liuhua Lake,Li Lake,Dongshan Lake
Products:paddy rice,potato,wheat,corn,jowar,silk,sugarcane,earthnut and hemp
Tropical or Subtropical Fruits:banana,cirtrus,lichee,and pineapple
Local Highlights:Yue Drama
Famous Guangdong Folk Music:Bubugao and Xiyangyang
Handcraft:Ivory Carving,Sandalwood Fan