# Gaoyao, Zhaoqing

Gaoyao, alternately romanized as Koyiu, is an urban district of Zhaoqing in western Guangdong, China. Its population in 2020 was 741,591.

## Name

Gaoyao (lit. 'high and wanting') is a former name of the Lingyang Gorge on the Xi River. It was originally the name of the surrounding land but came to be used for the area's seat of government. Gaoyao is the pinyin romanization of the Chinese name, based on its Mandarin pronunciation; the former Chinese Postal Map spelling was based on the local Cantonese pronunciation of the same name. Gaoyao has also sometimes been romanized as Kaou Yaou.

## Geography

Gaoyao is located on the southern bank of the Xi River, opposite central Zhaoqing. Both are about 100 kilometers (62 mi) away from Guangzhou, the provincial capital.

## Climate

Climate data for Gaoyao, elevation 60 m (200 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 28.3 (82.9) | 31.4 (88.5) | 32.4 (90.3) | 34.4 (93.9) | 34.9 (94.8) | 37.9 (100.2) | 38.5 (101.3) | 38.1 (100.6) | 36.9 (98.4) | 35.8 (96.4) | 33.1 (91.6) | 30.0 (86.0) | 38.5 (101.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 18.9 (66.0) | 20.9 (69.6) | 23.5 (74.3) | 27.9 (82.2) | 31.3 (88.3) | 33.2 (91.8) | 34.2 (93.6) | 33.9 (93.0) | 32.3 (90.1) | 29.6 (85.3) | 25.6 (78.1) | 20.8 (69.4) | 27.7 (81.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 13.9 (57.0) | 16.0 (60.8) | 19.2 (66.6) | 23.4 (74.1) | 26.5 (79.7) | 28.2 (82.8) | 28.9 (84.0) | 28.6 (83.5) | 27.2 (81.0) | 24.2 (75.6) | 19.9 (67.8) | 15.2 (59.4) | 22.6 (72.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 10.6 (51.1) | 12.7 (54.9) | 16.1 (61.0) | 20.3 (68.5) | 23.3 (73.9) | 25.1 (77.2) | 25.6 (78.1) | 25.3 (77.5) | 23.9 (75.0) | 20.3 (68.5) | 16.0 (60.8) | 11.5 (52.7) | 19.2 (66.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 3.1 (37.6) | 3.9 (39.0) | 6.1 (43.0) | 10.7 (51.3) | 16.8 (62.2) | 20.4 (68.7) | 22.9 (73.2) | 22.6 (72.7) | 18.8 (65.8) | 13.4 (56.1) | 5.3 (41.5) | 1.7 (35.1) | 1.7 (35.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 51.8 (2.04) | 43.9 (1.73) | 76.2 (3.00) | 130.3 (5.13) | 189.2 (7.45) | 212.3 (8.36) | 189.1 (7.44) | 188.8 (7.43) | 150.6 (5.93) | 56.6 (2.23) | 41.9 (1.65) | 37.8 (1.49) | 1,368.5 (53.88) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 7.9 | 10.3 | 14.8 | 14.9 | 18.0 | 19.7 | 16.8 | 16.0 | 11.8 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 146.6 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 78 | 79 | 81 | 80 | 81 | 81 | 79 | 80 | 79 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 79 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 99.7 | 75.9 | 58.2 | 77.2 | 124.5 | 147.0 | 191.8 | 183.8 | 173.3 | 182.9 | 156.3 | 140.5 | 1,611.1 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 30 | 24 | 16 | 20 | 30 | 36 | 46 | 46 | 47 | 51 | 48 | 42 | 36 |
| Source: China Meteorological Administration ||||||||||||||

## History

Gaoyao was a county of the Qin and Han and its eponymous county seat was the principal settlement of the area. Under the Sui, the administration relocated across the river to Duanzhou, which was renamed Zhaoqing under the Song. Gaoyao continued as a separate county in Zhaoqing Commandery. It was promoted to a county-level city in 1993 and later to urban district status.

## Culture and people

* Gaoyao is closely connected with the Duanzhou District of Zhaoqing City, geographically as well as culturally. The two urban districts are connected by two road bridges and a railway bridge.
* Gaoyao is also a known hometown for many Overseas Chinese. There is a large community from Gaoyao in Sydney, Australia.
Notable figures include:
* Liang Han Chao (梁寒操): historian, educator, and also founder of Kwangtung cultural and history periodical.
* Herbert Chow Ciu Lung (周小龍): founder of chickeeduck clothing, also a Hong Kong social activist.
* Joshua Wong Chi-fung (黃之鋒): Hong Kong male politician
* Fong Lai Ying (方麗盈): Hong Kong experienced female singer

## Tourism

Places of interest include the Red Mansion and Gaoyao Xuegong Pavilion. There are also three pagodas that can be seen in Gaoyao.

### Image gallery
## Administrative divisions

Gaoyao has jurisdiction over one subdistrict and several towns:
| Name | Chinese (S) | Hanyu Pinyin | Population (2010) | Area (km$^2$) |
| Nan'an Subdistrict | 南岸街道 | Nán'àn Jiēdào | 81,886 | 36.5 |
| Hetai town | 河台镇 | Hétái Zhèn | 33,660 | 150 |
| Lecheng town | 乐城镇 | Lèchéng Zhèn | 24,337 | 94 |
| Shuinan town | 水南镇 | Shuǐnán Zhèn | 11,598 | 126 |
| Lubu town (Lukpo) | 禄步镇 | Lùbù Zhèn | 63,488 | 254 |
| Xiaoxiang town | 小湘镇 | Xiǎoxiāng Zhèn | 30,964 | 200 |
| Dawan town | 大湾镇 | Dàwān Zhèn | 34,535 | 108 |
| Xinqiao town | 新桥镇 | Xīnqiáo Zhèn | 39,265 | 41.8 |
| Baizhu town | 白诸镇 | Báizhū Zhèn | 36,977 | 128 |
| Liantang town | 莲塘镇 | Liántáng Zhèn | 58,429 | 125 |
| Huodao town | 活道镇 | Huódào Zhèn | 41,358 | 228 |
| Jiaotang town | 蛟塘镇 | Jiāotáng Zhèn | 33,060 | 130 |
| Huilong town | 回龙镇 | Huílóng Zhèn | 25,426 | 124.25 |
| Baitu town | 白土镇 | Báitǔ Zhèn | 71,430 | 108.4 |
| Jindu town | 金渡镇 | Jīndù Zhèn | 43,623 | 101.23 |
| Jinli town | 金利镇 | Jīnlì Zhèn | 93,792 | 141.3 |
| Xiangang town | 蚬岗镇 | Xiǎngǎng Zhèn | 29,292 | 96.6 |