Guangzhou Facts: Location, History, Travel Guide Guangzhou Facts Chinese Name: 广州 (guǎng zhōu) Alias: Five-Goat City, Goat City, City of Spike, City of Flowers Location: South-central Guangdong Province , Pearl River Delta, Southern China (34°16′N, 108°54′E) Urban Land Area: 3,843.4 sq km (6,000 sq mi) Postal Code: 510000 The 16th Asian Games, 2010 Guangzhou, known as Canton, is a modern, vigorous metropolis. It is the third largest city in China and is the political, economic, sci-tech, educational and cultural hub of southern China. It is located in south-central Guangdong Province, north of the Pearl River Delta. It lies close to the South China Sea , Hong Kong and Macau . Pearl River (Zhujiang), the third longest river in China runs through the city and is navigable to the South China Sea. These geographical features bestow the name "South Gate of China" upon the city. During the Zhou Dynasty (1045 B.C.

– 256 B.C.) the Cantonese peoples suffered from famine for many years. Legend has it that one day five immortals riding five goats with rice ears each of a different color descended from heaven and blessed the area with favorable weather that produced rich harvests. Thus, this city is also known as the "Five-Goat City (Wuyangcheng)" and the "City of Spike (Suicheng)." To express their gratitude to the celestial beings, the locals erected the "Five Immortals Temple." Five Rams Sculpture Sun Yat-sen's Statue The local climate is sub-tropical. The average year-round temperature is 22℃ (71.6℉). The rainy season falls between April and August. The best time to visit the city is between October and December. Pleasant weather, abundant rain and sunlight provide ideal conditions for agriculture. Another alias of this city is the "City of Flowers" with evergreen plants and flowers blooming all year round. Detailed information of Guangzhou weather . Many historic sights including the Western Han Nanyue King's Tomb Museum , and the Bright Filial Piety Temple tell us the ancient history of the city.

Baiyunshan Scenic Area and Yuexiu Park showcase the natural scenery of the city. Shanmian Island retains some of its former grandeur in the mansions with its exotic mansions. The Guangzhou Museum of Art is one of the best in China and is definitely worth a visit. Apart from that the real highlights are the city's markets and vast bazaars. Chen Clan's Academy The city has a massive number of malls and retail stores. Grand shopping malls such as the TeeMall Plaza, the China Plaza plus the trade fairs in the Guangzhou International Building provide easy access to top-notch products from all over the world. Visitors will enjoy stroll on the Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street and Beijing Road Business Street. The city is a true shoppers'paradise. The city also has a worldwide reputation for good food. It has more restaurants and teahouses than any other city in China. Cantonese cuisine (Yuecai), one of the eight famous cuisines of China, is redolent with color, fragrance, taste and presentation. Yuecai is an absolute "must do" when dining there.

Try the famous Cantonese pastries well known for their wide range of varieties, delicate flavors and different hues. As the most important center of foreign commerce in South China, this city has hosted the China Import and Export Fair ( Canton Fair ) twice a year since 1957. Do make a reservation in advance if you decide to visit the city during the fair. Individuals touring for pleasure should be aware that hotel rates become quite expensive during that period. You can book Canton fair hotels in advance with great discount. Go to see History of the City Recommended Itineraries: Sightseeing City : 3 Days to Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Memorial Hall, Yuexiu Park, Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, Qingping Market and Shamian Island. Chinese City : birds eye view of Canton 航拍广州 - YouTube Chinese City : birds eye view of Canton 航拍广州 Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later.

Uploaded on Jun 27, 2011 航拍广州 Guangzhou, known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Guangzhou is the third-largest city in China and southern China's largest city. Category Guangzhou | China | Britannica.com Guangzhou Alternative Titles: Canton, Kuangchou, Kwangchow Related Topics John Woo Guangzhou, Wade-Giles romanization Kuang-chou, conventional Canton or Kwangchow, city, capital of Guangdong sheng (province), southern China . Its city centre lies near the head of the Pearl River (Zhu Jiang) Delta , more than 90 miles (145 km) inland from the South China Sea . Because of its position at the meeting point of inland rivers and the sea, it has long been one of China’s main commercial and trading centres. It has served as a doorway for foreign influence since the 3rd century ce and was the first Chinese port to be regularly visited by European traders, who called it Canton. The city is a historic centre of learning.

And as a centre of political activity for the Chinese Nationalist leader Sun Yat-sen (Sun Zhongshan), it was one of the cradles of the Chinese Revolution of 1911–12. Area central city districts, 108 square miles (280 square km); all city districts, 1,484 square miles (3,843 square km); mun., 2,870 square miles (7,434 square km). Pop. (2007 est.) central city districts, 3,461,100; all city districts, 6,367,700; mun., 7,734,800. Nighttime view of central Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China. © konglinguang/Shutterstock.com Landscape City site Located in the south-central part of Guangdong province, Guangzhou is a regional centre in southern China. The main part of the city is situated on the north bank of the Pearl River , which branches off the Xi (West) River before meeting with the Dong (East) River and forms the northern border of the immense Pearl River Delta to the south.

Narrow street in an older part of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China. © Iamleilei/Shutterstock.com The central districts of the city lie to the south of Baiyun (“White Cloud”) Mountain, which rises to 1,253 feet (382 metres) above sea level about 4 miles (6 km) from the city centre. At the southern extension of Baiyun Mountain is Yuexiu Mountain, on which lived the earliest known inhabitants of the region. Archaeological work revealed that the site of the city during the Qin (221–206 bce) and the Han (206 bce–220 ce) dynasties was slightly north of the modern urban centre. Later the city expanded southward as river-borne silt and sand were deposited and the Pearl gradually became narrower. Similar Topics Editor Picks: Exploring 10 Types of Basketball Movies South of the Pearl is Haizhu district. It was long characterized by modern residential quarters and large industrial centres, but since the late 1980s a growing number of financial and business firms have established themselves there.

Of great significance was the completion in the early 21st century of the first phase of the Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center (Pazhou Complex) on Pazhou Island in the Pearl River. One of the largest such venues in the world, it hosts Guangzhou’s major trade shows (including the Guangzhou Trade Fair) and has spurred rapid development of Haizhu’s commerce and tourism-related service sectors. Also located in the district are the south campus of Sun Yat-sen University (founded 1924) and the Pearl River (Zhujiang) Film Studio (now called Pearl River Film Group), one of the major film producers in China. People Guangzhou is one of the most densely inhabited areas in China; most of its residents live in the central districts of the city. The local people, called Cantonese, speak the Cantonese language (Yueyu), which is distinctly different from the Mandarin spoken by most Chinese. However, with growing numbers of immigrants from northern and eastern China coming to live and work in the city, both Cantonese and Mandarin are now popularly used. Street scene in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China.

© Monika Lie/Shutterstock.com The earliest inhabitants, of Tai or Shan origin, were assimilated by the Chinese (Han) long ago. There are, however, small groups of Manchu and Chinese Muslims (Hui) in the city. A notable demographic feature is the large number of “overseas Chinese” who emigrated to Southeast Asia , the United States , Europe, and other parts of the world. Since the 1980s many of them returned and resettled in and around Guangzhou. Another phenomenon that emerged since the 1980s is the presence of a large transient population of workers from other provinces or even overseas. These workers temporarily reside in the Guangzhou area to work in factories or at other jobs before returning to their home regions. Audrey Siek of Chinese broadcaster CCTV describing the challenges that African immigrants face in … © CCTV America (A Britannica Publishing Partner) Economy Administration and society Government Guangzhou’s municipal government is part of the hierarchical structure of the Chinese government—and the parallel structure of the Chinese Communist Party—that extends from the national organization, through the provincial apparatus, to the municipal and, ultimately, neighbourhood levels.

The principal responsibilities of the Guangzhou Municipal People’s Congress, the major decision-making body, include issuing administrative orders, determining the budget, and implementing economic plans. A standing committee selected from its members recommends policy decisions and oversees the operation of municipal government. Executive authority rests with the People’s Government of Guangzhou Municipality, the officers of which are elected by the congress; it consists of a mayor, executive vice mayors, vice mayors, and numerous bureaus in charge of public security, the judicial system, and other civil, economic, social, and cultural affairs. The municipality is now divided into 10 districts (qu) and 2 county-level cities (xianjishi), each of which has a district or city mayoralty. Under a district there are police substations and street mayoralties. Neighbourhood associations have various functions, including mediating disputes, conducting literacy campaigns, supervising sanitation and welfare, and promoting family planning. Health Health conditions improved dramatically during the 20th century, especially after 1950. Epidemics have been eliminated through the control of disease-carrying pests. Guangzhou has many high-quality hospitals with modern medical equipment.

In addition, the city is a national hub of traditional Chinese medicine, centred around Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (established 1956) and its network of affiliated hospitals and clinics. Education Guangzhou is one of China’s most progressive cities in regard to education. In addition to a large number of kindergartens, primary schools, and middle schools, it has dozens of institutions of higher learning. In addition to Sun Yat-sen University and the school of Chinese medicine, these include Jinan University (1906), South China University of Technology (1952), South China Normal University (1933), Southern Medical University (1951), South China Agricultural University (1909), and Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts (1953). An ambitious project named Guangzhou University City was launched at the beginning of the 21st century, with the goal of creating a concentrated, multiple-campus college town on an island in the Pearl River south of the central city in Panyu district. Cultural life Guangzhou is a vibrant city.

Large tracts of parkland, many of them created since 1949, help give the city its characteristically lush appearance and provide the citizenry with a wide variety of recreational facilities. The colourful flower show held during the annual Spring Festival is a major highlight. Although the Cantonese share some aspects of the modern lifestyle of Hong Kong’s residents, they also prize their own historical and cultural roots. Throngs of people are usually found visiting the city’s many museums and monuments of historical importance, and productions of Yue opera and Chao opera and of musical performances are well attended. Guangzhou is noted for its puppet plays that feature large puppets with finely carved wooden heads. Five Goats (Wuyang) statue, symbol of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China. © Bill Perry/Shutterstock.com The library of Sun Yat-sen University has one of the largest holdings in China, including an extensive collection of vernacular-language works.

Notable historic sites include the tomb of Zhao Mei, second ruler of Nanyue, a state that was incorporated into the Xi (Western) Han dynasty (206 bce–25 ce); the restored campus of Huangpu (Whampoa) Military Academy; and the residence of Sun Yat-sen. The octagonal Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is a 3,200-seat auditorium and has a bronze statue of Sun in front of the main entrance. Bronze statue of Sun Yat-sen (Sun Zhongshan) in front of the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Guangzhou, … © iStockphoto/Thinkstock The vitality of the Cantonese people is exemplified by their passion for food. Cantonese cuisine is world-renowned, and the city’s hundreds of restaurants offer a seemingly endless variety of dishes. Many feature fresh ingredients, including locally caught seafood, that are quickly cooked, often by stir-frying. Congees (porridges made from rice or millet) and soups are often part of the meal. Some unusual local dishes include fried snake, cooked fish maw (swim bladder), fried shark’s fin, and fried chicken feet.

Modern recreational facilities have also enriched the city’s cultural life. Sports facilities, including stadiums, natatoriums, tennis courts, and a rowing centre, have added to the leisure diversions available to city residents. In addition, several new sports venues—including three gymnasiums, an aquatic centre, and an 18,000-seat indoor arena—were built when Guangzhou hosted the 2010 Asian Games . The tall, slender Canton Tower, constructed for both television broadcasting and recreational use, opened in 2010 on the south bank of the Pearl River in Haizhu district. Designed with a spiraling lattice exterior frame, the tower and its antenna have a total height of 1,969 feet (600 metres). Among its visitor facilities are restaurants and bars, a staircase that winds around the outside of its cylindrical core for more than 30 floors, and an open-air observation deck at the top of its 1,490-foot- (454-metre-) tall main structure.

Canton Tower (right) on the bank of the Pearl River (Zhu Jiang), Guangzhou, Guangdong province, … © iStockphoto/Thinkstock Canton, China | Article about Canton, China by The Free Dictionary Canton, China | Article about Canton, China by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Dictionary , Thesaurus , Wikipedia . Guangzhou (gwäng`jō`) or Canton (kăn'tŏn`, kăn`tŏn'), city (1994 est. pop. 3,113,800), capital of Guangdong prov., S China, a major deepwater port on the Pearl River delta. Economy Among the largest cities in the country, Guangzhou is the transportation, industrial, financial, and trade center of S China. It is a special economic development zone and an important trading point with Hong Kong. It has an integrated steel complex, paper mills, a long-established textile industry (silk, cotton, jute, and more recently synthetic fibers), and factories producing tractors, machinery, machine tools, newsprint, refined sugar, small appliances, tires, bicycles, sports equipment, porcelain, cement, and chemicals.

Traditional arts and crafts, principally ivory and jade carvings, are still produced. The hub of water transportation along the Pearl River, it is the southern terminus of the Guangzhou-Wuhan RR. It has a large international airport and is linked with Hong Kong by the Guangzhou-Jiulong RR. Highways completed in the 1990s connect it with cities on the coast. Guangzhou is one of the marketplaces for China's world trade; great national trade expositions, held there every spring and fall (since 1957), attract thousands of business people from all over the world. Points of Interest The city is also a cultural and educational center with several institutions of higher learning, notably Sun Yat-sen (Sun Zhongshan) Univ. and Jinan Univ. Tourist attractions include a large pagoda overlooking the river, now a museum of ceramics; the huge Temple of the Six Banyan Trees; a park, with pavilions, commemorating the 1927 conflict between the Communists and the Kuomintang Kuomintang [Chin.,=national people's party] (KMT), Chinese and Taiwanese political party.

Sung Chiao-jen organized the party in 1912, under the nominal leadership of Sun Yat-sen, to succeed the Revolutionary Alliance. ..... Click the link for more information. ; and the Canton Tower (1,968.5 ft/600 m), a broadcast and sightseeing tower that is one of the tallest freestanding structures in the world. Museums include the Guangzhou Municipal Museum, the Sun Yat-sen Museum, and the museum of the Peasant Movement Institute. Nearby are Conghua hot springs and an important army base. History Guangzhou became a part of China in the 3d cent. B.C. Hindu and Arab merchants reached Guangzhou in the 10th cent., and the city became the first Chinese port regularly visited by European traders. In 1511, Portugal secured a trade monopoly, but it was broken by the British in the late 17th cent.; in the 18th cent. the French and Dutch were also admitted. Trading, however, was restricted until the Treaty of Nanjing (1842) following the Opium War, which opened the city to foreign trade.

Following a disturbance, French and British forces occupied Guangzhou in 1856. Later the island of Shameen (Shamian) was ceded to them for business and residential purposes, and this reclaimed sandbank with its broad avenues, gardens, and fine buildings was known for its beauty; it was restored to China in 1946. Guangzhou was the seat of the revolutionary movement under Sun Yat-sen in 1911; the Republic of China was proclaimed there. From Guangzhou the Nationalist armies of Chiang Kai-shek marched northward in the 1920s to establish a government in Nanjing. In 1927, Guangzhou was briefly the seat of one of the earliest Communist communes in China. The fall of Guangzhou to the Communist armies in late Oct., 1949, signaled the Communist takeover of all China. Under the Communist government, Guangzhou was developed as an industrial center and a modern port, with a great trade to and from Hong Kong.

Canton [Guangzhou], China (also known as: Guangzhou) China CANTON, or more correctly KWANG-CHOW FOO, is a large and populous commercial city of China, in the province of Kwang-tung, situated on the eastern bank of the Pearl River, which at canton s somewhat broader than the Thames at London Bridge, and is navigable 300 miles farther into the interior. The Pearl River has an additional course of 80 miles to the sea, the first part of which lies through a rich alluvial plain. Beyond this rises a range of hills terminating in abrupt escarpments along the course of the river. The bold shore thus formed compresses the stream at this point into a narrow pass, to which the Chinese have given the name of Hu-mun, or Tigers mouth. This the Portuguese translated into Boca Tigree, whence the designation of the "the Boque," by which it is commonly known among Europeans.

When viewed from the hills on the north, Canton appears to be little more than an expanse of reddish roods relieved by a few large trees, - two pagodas shooting up within the walls, and a five-storied tower near the northern gate, being the most conspicuous objects. These hills rise 1200 feet above the river. Little or no vegetation is seen on them; and their acclivities, covered for miles with graves and tombs, serve as the necropolis of this vast city. Three or four forts are built on the points nearest the northern walls. Facing the city on the opposite side of the river is the suburb and island of Honan. The part of Canton enclosed by walls is about six miles in circumference, and has a partition wall, running east and west, and dividing the city into two unequal parts. The northern and larger division is called the old, and the southern the new city. Including the suburbs, the city has a circuit of nearly ten miles. The houses stretch along the river for four miles, and the banks are almost entirely concealed by boats and rafts.

The walls of the city are of brick, on a foundation of sandstone and granite, are 20 feet thick, and rise to an average height of 25 feet. On the north side the wall rises to include a hill which it there meets with, and on the other three sides the city is surrounded by a ditch, which is filled by the rising tide, when, for a time, the revolting mass of filth that lies in its bed is concealed from view. There are twelve outer gates  four of which are in the partition wall, and two water gates, through which boats pass from east to west across the new city. The gates are all shut at night, and in the day time a guard is stationed at them to preserve order. The streets, amounting in all two upwards of 600, are long, straight, and very narrow. They are mostly paved and are not as dirty as those of some of the other cities in the empire; in fact, considering the habits of the people and the inattention of Government to these matters, Canton may be said to be a well-governed and comparatively cleanly city.

The houses are in general small, seldom consisting of more than two stories, the ground floor serving as a shop in which goods are exhibited for sale, and the rest of the house, with the court behind, being used as a warehouse. Here are to be found the productions of every quarter of the globe; and the merchants are in general extremely attentive and civil. The Chinese are remarkably expert men of business, and are generally of the most assiduous habits. Map of Canton [Guangzhou], c. 1876 The temples and public buildings of Canton are numerous, but none of them present features worthy of special remark. There are two pagodas near the west gate of the old city, and 124 temples, pavilions, halls, and other religious edifices within the city. One of the pagodas called the Kwangtah, or Plain Pagoda, is a Mahometan mosque, which was erected by the Arabian voyagers who were in the habit of visiting Canton about ten centuries ago. It rises in an angular tapering tower to the height of 160 feet. The other is an octagonal pagoda of nine stories.

170 feet in height, and was first erected more than thirteen centuries ago. A Buddhist temple at Honan, opposite the foreign factories, and named in Chinese Hai-chwang-sze, or the Temple of the Ocean Banner, is one of the largest in Canton. Its grounds, which cover about seven acres, are surrounded by a wall, and are divided into courts, gardens, and a burial-ground, where are de posited the ashes of priests, whose bodies are burned. There are about 175 priests connected with this establishment. Besides the Hai-chwang sze the most noteworthy temples in and about the city are those of the Five Hundred Gods, and of Longevity, both in the western suburds; the tartar City Temple, and the Temple of the Five Genii. The number of priests and nuns in canton is not exactly known, but they probably exceed 2000, nine-tenths of whom are Buddhists. The temples are gloomy-looking edifices.

The areas in front of them are usually occupied by hucksters, beggars, and idlers, who are occasionally driven off to make room for the mat sheds, in which the theatrical performances got up by the wealthy inhabitants are acted. The principal hall, where the idol sits enshrined, is lighted only in front, and the inner apartments are inhabited by a class of men almost as senseless as the idols they serve. The residences of the high officers of government are all within the walls of the old city. The residence of the governor-general used to be in the south-west corner of the new city, but it was utterly destroyed by the bombardment in 1856. The site remained desolate until 1860, when it was taken possession of by the French authorities, who have erected a Roman Catholic Cathedral upon it. The residence of the commander-in chief is in the old city, and is said to be one of the best houses in Canton. There are four prisons in the city, all large edifices.

For the space of four or five miles opposite Canton boats and vessels are ranged parallel to each other in such close order that it resembles a floating city; and these marine dwellings are occupied by numerous families, who reside almost constantly on the water. in the middle of the river lie the Chinese junks, some of them of 600 to 1000 tons burden, which trade to the north and to the Strait Settlements. The various guilds and associations among the people and the merchants from other provinces have public halls each for its own particular use. The number of these buildings is not less tan 150. Canton was long the only seat of British trade with China, and was no doubt fixed upon by the Chinese Government for the European trade, as being the most distant from the capital Peking. Formerly only a limited number of merchants, called the hong or security merchants, were allowed to trade with foreigners. They were commonly men of large property, and were famed for integrity in their transactions. All foreign cargoes passed through the hands of these merchants, and by them also the return cargoes were furnished.

They became security for the payment of customs duties, and it was criminal for any other merchant to engage in the trade with foreigners. Accounts are kept at Canton, in common with the rest of China, in taels, mace, candarines, and cash,-ten cash being one candarine, ten candarines one mace, the mace one tael, which last is converted into English money at about 6s. 8d. the coin called cash is of base metal, cast, not coined, and very brittle. It is of small value, and varies in the market from 750 to 1000 cash for a tael. Its chief use is in making small payments among the lower classes. Spanish and other silver coins are current, and are estimated by their weight, - every merchant carrying scales and weights with him. Allthe dollars that pass through the hands of the hong merchants bear their stamp; and when they lose their weight in the course of circulation they are cut in pieces for small change. The duties are paid to Government in sycee, or pure silver, which is taken by weight.

In delivering a cargo, English weights and scale are used, which are afterwards reduced to Chinese catties and peculs. A pecul weighs 133 1/3 lb avoirdupois, and a catty 1 1/3 lb. Gold and silver are also weighed by the tael and catty, 100 taels being reckoned equal to 120 oz. 16 dwt. Troy. The foreign trade at canton was materially damaged by the opening of Shanghai and the ports on the Yang-tsze, but it is yet of very considerable importance, as the subjoined table of the total value of the foreign trade with canton between the years 1861 and 1874 inclusive is sufficient to show:- Although it is in the same parallel of latitude as Calcutta, the climate of Canton is much cooler, and is considered superior to that of most places situated between the tropics. The extreme range of the thermometer is from 38° to 100° Fahr., though these extremes are rarely reached. In ordinary years the winter minimum is about 42°, and the maximum in summer 96°.

From May to October the hot season is considered to last; during the rest of the year the weather is cool. In shallow vessels ice sometimes forms at Canton; and so rarely is snow seen that when in February 1835 a fall to the depth of two inches occurred, the citizens hardly knew its proper name. Most of the rain falls during May and June, but the amount is nothing in comparison with that which falls during a rainy season in Calcutta. July, August, and September are the regular monsoon months, the wind coming from the south-west with frequent showers, which allay the heat. In the succeeding months the northerly winds commence, with some interruptions at first, but from October to January the temperature is agreeable, the sky clear, and the air invigorating. Few large cities are more generally healthy than Canton, and epidemics rarely prevail there. Provisions and refreshments of all sorts are abundant, and in general are excellent in quality and moderate in price. It is a singular fact, that the Chinese make no use of milk, either in its natural state, or in the form of butter or cheese.

Among the delicacies of a Chinese market are to be seen horse-flesh, dogs, cats, hawks, owls, and edible birds-nests. The business between foreigners and natives at Canton is generally transacted in a jargon known as "Pigeon English," the Chinese being extremely ready in acquiring a sufficient smattering of English words to render themselves intelligible. The intercourse between China and Europe by the way of the Cape of Good Hope began in 1517, when Emmanuel, king of Portugal, sent an ambassador, accompanied by a fleet of eight ships, to Peking, on which occasion the sanction of the emperor to establish a trade at Canton was obtained. It was in 1596, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, that the English first attempted to open an intercourse with China, but ineffectually, for the two ships which were dispatched on this mission were lost in the outward voyage, and it was not till about 1634 English ships visited Canton. Unfortunately at this time a misunderstanding having occurred with the Chinese authorities owing to the treachery of the Portuguese, a rupture and a battle took place, and it was with difficulty that peace was again restored.

In 1673 China was again visited by an English ship which was subsequently refused admission into Japan, and in 1677 a factory was established at Amoy. But during an irruption of the Tatars three years later this building was destroyed, and it was not till 1685 that the emperor permitted any trade with Europeans at that port. Upon the union of the two East India Companies in London, an imperial edict was issued, restricting the foreign commerce to the ort of Canton. Tea was first imported in England about the year 1667, and in 1689 a customs duty of 5s. per lb was for the first time imposed. From this date to 1834 the east India Company held a monopoly of the trade at Canton, and during this period the prosperity of the port increased and multiplied, notwithstanding the obstructions which were constantly thrown in the way of the "Barbarians" by the Chinese Government. The termination of the Companys monopoly brought no alteration in the conduct of the native authorities, whose oppressions became before long so unbearable that in 1839 war was declared on the part of Great Britain.

In 1841, while the forces under Sir Hugh (afterwards Lord) Gough were preparing to capture Canton, Capt Elliot entered into negotiations with the Chinese, and consented to receive a pecuniary ransom in lieu of occupying the city. Meanwhile the war was carried on in central China, and finally resulted in the conclusion of the Nanking Treaty in August 1842, under the terms of which four additional ports, viz., Shanghai, Ningpo, Fuh-chow Foo, and Amoy, were thrown open to foreign trade, and foreigners were granted permission to enter the city of Canton, from which they had hitherto been excluded. This latter provision of the treaty, however, the Chinese refused to carry out; and after endless disputes about this and other improper acts of the Chinese Government, war was again declared in 1856, the immediate cause of which was an insult offered to the British flag by the capture of certain Chinese onboard the "Arrow," a small craft trading under English colors.

The outbreak of hostilities was followed by the pillage and destruction of the foreign "factories," in Decembe4r 1856, by a Chinese mob, and twelve months later Canton was taken by assault by a force under Sir Charles Straubenzee, which had been sent out from England for the purpose. From this time until October 1861, the city was occupied by an English and French garrison, and the administration of affairs was entrusted too an allied commission, consisting of two English officers and one French officer, acting under the English general. Since the withdrawal of this garrison, the city of Canton has been freely open to foreigners of all nationalities, and the English consul at the present time has his residence in the Yamun formerly occupied by the allied commissioners, within the city walls.

On the conclusion of peace it became necessary to provide a foreign settlement for the merchants whose "factories" had been destroyed, and after some consultation it was determined to fill in an appropriate as the British settlement an extensive mud flat lying to the westward of the old factory site, and known as Sha-mien, or "The Sand Flats." This site having been leased, it was converted into an artificial island by building a massive embankment of granite in an irregular oval form. Between the northern face of the site and the Chinese suburb, a canal of 100 feet in width was constructed, thus forming an island of about 2850 feet in length and 950 feet in greatest breadth. The expense of making this settlement was 325,000 Mexican dollars, four-fifths of which were defrayed by the British Government, and one-fifth by the French Government. The British portion of the new settlement was laid out in eighty-two lots; and so bright appeared the prospect of trade the time of their sale that 9000 dollars upwards was paid in more than one instance for a lot, with a river frontage, measuring 12,645 square feet.

The depression in trade, however, which soon followed acted as a bar to building, and it was not until the British consulate was erected in 1865 that he merchants began to occupy the settlement in any numbers. The British consulate occupies six lots, with an area of 75,870 square feet in the center of the site, overlooking the river, and is enclosed with a substantial wall. A ground-rent of 15,000 cash (about 0 pounds) mow (a third of an acre) is annually paid by the owners of lots to the Chinese Governments. The Sha-mien settlement possesses many advantages. It is close to the western suburb of Canton, where reside all the wholesaler dealers as well as the principal merchants and brokers; it faces the broad channel known as the Macao Passage, up which the cool breezes in summer are wafted almost uninterruptedly, and the river opposite to it affords a safe and commodious anchorage for steamers up to 1000 tons burden. Steamers only are allowed to come up to Canton, sailing vessels being restricted to the anchorage at Whampoa. See CHINA . (R. K.

D.) The above article was written by Robert Kennaway Douglas, Keeper of Oriental Printed Books and MSS. at the British Museum; Professor of Chinese, King's College, London; China Consular Service, 1858; Assistant in charge of Chinese Library, British Museum, 1865; author of The Language and Literature of China; Confucianism and Taoism; China; A Chinese Manual; and The Life of Li Hung-Chang. Search the Encyclopedia: A Short History of Guangzhou A Short History of Guangzhou A Short History of Guangzhou Colonial concession district, Shamian Island, Guangzhou. Peter Stuckings / Getty Images By Sara Naumann Overview Always a center of trade to outsiders, the city of Guangzhou was established during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). By the year 200 AD, Indians and Romans were coming to Guangzhou and in the next five-hundred years, trade grew with many neighbors far and near from the Middle East and Southeast Asia . Europe Comes Knocking The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive buying Guangdong's silk and porcelain and in 1557 Macau was established as their base of operations in the area.

After several attempts, the British also gained a foothold into Guangzhou and in 1685, China's Imperial Qing government gave in to the pesky foreigners seeking its wares and opened Guangzhou to the West. But trade was restricted to Guangzhou and the foreigners restricted to Shamian Island. Ever Heard of Canton? A quick aside about the name: the Europeans called the area Canton which came from the Portuguese transliteration of the Chinese regional name, Guangdong. continue reading below our video Tipping Etiquette Around the World Canton referred to the region and the city where the Europeans were forced to live and trade. Today "Guangdong" refers to the province and "Guangzhou" refers to the name of the city formerly known as Canton. Enter Opium Annoyed by the trade imbalance, the British gained the upper hand over the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) by dumping opium on Guangzhou. The Chinese generated quite a habit for the stuff and by the nineteenth century, trade was heavily weighted against the Chinese. The British were feeding the Chinese addiction with cheap Indian opium and ferrying away silk, porcelain and tea.

First Opium War and the Treaty of Nanking A very large thorn in the Qing 's paw, the imperial commissioner was ordered to eradicate the opium trade and in 1839, Chinese forces seized and destroyed 20,000 chests of the drug. The British didn't take this very well and soon the First Opium War was fought and won by Western forces. The 1842 Treaty of Nanking ceded Hong Kong Island to the British. It was during these tumultuous times that thousands of Cantonese left home to seek their fortunes in the US, Canada, Southeast Asia, Australia and even South Africa. Dr. Sun In the twentieth century, Guangzhou was the seat of the Chinese Nationalist Party founded by Dr. Sun Yatsen. Dr. Sun, the first president of the Republic of China after the fall of the Qing Dynasty , was from a small village outside Guangzhou. Guangzhou Today Guangzhou today is struggling to overcome its image as Hong Kong's little sister. An economic powerhouse in southern China, Guangzhou enjoys relative wealth compared with many other parts of China and is a bustling and vibrant city.

A Tour of Old Canton (Page1) "A Tour of Old Canton " Using a late 19th century map as well as old photographs and coloured postcards, many taken over a century ago, our Spring gallery takes a nostalgic look at the old Chinese city of Canton, now known as Guangzhou. Following the 'Opium Wars', Canton was first opened to foreign trade by the Treaty of Nanking in 1842. Following a disturbance, French and British forces occupied Canton in 1856. Later Shameen Island (now known as Shamian) in the Pearl River was ceded to them for business and residential purposes, being connected to Canton by two small bridges across a canal. Shameen's attractive broad avenues, gardens, and fine buildings contrasted sharply with the crowded, narrow but busy and enthralling streets of Old Canton. Artisans, merchants and the general populace went about their daily business in the narrow crowded streets as they had done for centuries. Rickshaws and 'chair' carriers plied their trade in the cramped streets while passenger vessels, junks, sampans and houseboats crowded together in the Pearl River and adjoining canals.

To many Europeans unaccustomed to such a swarming mass of humanity, this could be a uniquely enthralling experience. But based on their own European ideals and standards, some were often bewildered or shocked by the scenes they encountered. Swarming coolies among the narrow streets, noisy street markets, the smell of open street sewers and reeking canals, the dirt, and the inevitable sight of beggars served to challenge many a more sensitive soul. Our Missionaries took a great number of images of Canton and of old China to send back home. Many were made into lantern slides to illustrate popular Missionary talks to appreciative and enthralled Parish audiences who knew but little of this strange foreign world. These unique images still serve to give a vivid impression of early 20th century Canton, a world now of the past. We would value your comments and feedback : pcanzarchives@knoxcollege.ac.nz We can supply copies of most of the images in this gallery upon request. Please refer to our "Hours & Charges" page.

Presbyterian Church Archives Research Centre Home Page Donald Cochrane Guangzhou Travel China: Canton City Map, Transportation, Attractions, Tours Hiking Routes Guangzhou (Canton), a prosperous metropolis full of vigor, is the capital city of Guangdong Province located along the south coastline of China. Being an excellent port on the Pearl River navigable to the South China Sea, and with fast accessibility to Hong Kong and Macau, the city serves as the political, economic, scientific, educational and cultural center in Guangdong area. Being the first cities benefited from the Reform and Opening Up policy since 1978, the city acts as the pioneer of the economic development of the country, with numerous enterprises, which offer many job opportunities and make the city a heavily populated area. Guangzhou is especially prosperous in commerce, tourism, dining, finance and real estate. For travelers, the city shows much attraction through its famous sights such as the Five Ram Statue in Yuexiu Park, Pearl River and White Cloud Mountain. Transportation Guangzhou, the south gate of China, has a satisfying transport system radiating to the whole country and even the world.

It has direct flights with Los Angeles of US, Vancouver of Canada, London of UK, Paris of France, Amsterdam of the Netherlands, Sydney and Melbourne in Australia, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur of Malaysia, Bangkok of Thailand, and many other Asian destinations. If you are already within China, a wide range of vehicles can facilitate your trip to and from the city, including the planes, trains, long-distance buses and ships. The urban transportation is generally good due to the orderly planning roads and the developed city-buses, taxis and subways. Dining Guangzhou is considered as the paradise for gourmands in south China. Its dish represents well the Cantonese Cuisine , which is one among the most famous eight Chinese cuisines. A large amount of time-honored restaurants and quality new restaurants serve various authentic local dishes, snacks and drinks. The most popular restaurants gather around the old city area, including the Dongshan District, Yuexiu District and Liwan District. Panfu Road, West Jiangnan Road and East Huifu Road are recommended food streets for tourists to feel the local eating customs such as Yam Cha (Drinking Tea), having various kinds of soup or delicious Sampan Porridge.

Shopping With the fame of the shoppers' heaven with ton of quality goods at affordable prices, the city is prosperous with various kinds of commercial streets. Shangxiajiu Road, Beijing Road and Shifu Road commercial area, full of time-honored brands and modern shopping malls, is the most traditional and popular among the locals. Yide Road is the best choice for seafood and dried food. Wende Road is the right place for curios and tourist souvenirs. For those seeking for clothes and current fashions, Baima Clothes Market, World Trade Mall and Teemall should not be missed. Nightlife The city offers wide choices of nightlife hangouts. For visitors fond of lively parties, the three bar streets are recommended, namely the Huanshi Road which is favored by foreigners and white collars, Yanjiang Road located along the Pearl River and popular among the young, and Baietan area which is developed from a village and today more like a night fair. For tourists who want to have a tranquil nighttime, to enjoy a cruise on the Pearl River or watching the enchanting night scene from the White Cloud Mountain are wonderful.

Current Local Time in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, CAN About 18 mi N of Guangzhou Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, SZX About 48 mi SE of Guangzhou Hong Kong International Airport, HKG (Hong Kong) About 70 mi SE of Guangzhou Guangzhou (Canton) Map - Map Of China Guangzhou (Canton) Map The three best-known party streets in the city are Binjiang Lu, Huanshi Lu and Bai'e Tan. Binjiang Lu Bar Street is by the bank of Read More... Best hotels around this place to see prices and availability Check In I don't know my dates Continue Hotel Quick Finder | Select the date of your stay to Follow Us ChinaFans Download our free travel guide Get access to our free travel guides of the best things to do, see and visit, the best restaurants, shops and places to go at night too! All the important basics such weather and travel tips for your first trip are in there. Print it out to carry around, save it on your phone or use it when you arrive. Just enter your details to get your free PDF Travel Guide and also add you to our free Asia Web Direct Travel Club Newsletter. Submit

Question: The city of Canton in China is now known as what?
Answer: Guangzhou