Guangzhou, the capital of Guang Dong province, is also known by its English name, Canton. Located on the southern part of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou is adjacent to Hong Kong and Macau, two of China's Special Administrative Regions. Guangzhou is also known as City of Flower, City of Rice Ear and City of Rams.

Covering an area of 7500 square kilometers and a permanent population of over 10 million, Guangzhou governs four old districts, six new districts and 2 country-level cities. Guangzhou forms part of the Pearl River Delta and the Pearl River flows through the city and into the South China Sea.

Guangzhou is the starting port of the ancient Chinese "Maritime Silk Road" which linked Southern China with India, South East Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Guangzhou is also China's revolutionary cradle. Famous revolutionists such as Sun Yat Sen, Mao Ze Dong and Zhou En Lai have left their marks in Guangzhou. In 1982, Guangzhou was included in the list of 24 historical and cultural famous cities in China by the state council.