Guangdong is China's most populous province and its economic powerhouse, located in the far south along the South China Sea. It encompasses the vast Pearl River Delta megacity region, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, and Dongguan. The province is the birthplace of Cantonese cuisine, culture, and language, and has been the gateway between China and the world for centuries. From the UNESCO World Heritage Danxia Mountain to the gleaming skylines of Guangzhou and Shenzhen, Guangdong offers a dizzying blend of ancient tradition and hyper-modern city life.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Guangdong.
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1
Pre-Qin Era (before 221 BC)
The Baiyue (Hundred Yue) peoples inhabited southern China's coasts and river systems. Archaeological evidence from Guangzhou's Western Han Mausoleum area shows advanced Bronze Age cultures predating Han Chinese settlement.
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2
Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)
Emperor Qin Shi Huang conquered Nanyue (present-day Guangdong and Guangxi), establishing Panyu (modern Guangzhou) as an administrative center. Canals were built to connect the Yangtze River system to the Pearl River, enabling trade.
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3
Nanyue Kingdom (204-111 BC)
After the Qin collapse, Zhao Tuo established the Kingdom of Nanyue, ruling from Panyu (Guangzhou). The Mausoleum of the Nanyue King, discovered in 1983 in Guangzhou, is one of China's most spectacular Han Dynasty archaeological sites.
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4
Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD)
Guangzhou became China's pre-eminent port for Arab, Persian, and Southeast Asian traders. The Maritime Silk Road flourished. The Huaisheng Mosque (627 AD), one of China's oldest mosques, was built in Guangzhou by Arab traders.
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5
Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD)
Guangdong's economy boomed as northern China was disrupted by Jurchen invasion. Porcelain, silk, and tea exports drove enormous maritime trade. Guangji Bridge in Chaozhou was built (1171 AD). The Song imperial court fled to Guangdong and the last Song emperor died at Yamen near Jiangmen in 1279.
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6
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD)
Portuguese traders arrived in the early 16th century and established a presence at Macau (1557). The Ming Court restricted foreign trade to the Canton (Guangzhou) system, making Guangzhou the sole legal port for Western trade. Kaiping Diaolou watchtowers were built by overseas emigrants.
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7
Qing Dynasty Canton System (1644-1842)
The Canton System (1757-1842) made Guangzhou the only legal port for Western trade with China. The Thirteen Factories (十三行) district housed foreign trading firms. Overseas Chinese diaspora from Guangdong spread across Southeast Asia and the Americas. The East India Company's trade in tea drove massive silver inflows to China.
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8
Opium Wars (1839-1842, 1856-1860)
The First Opium War began after Qing Commissioner Lin Zexu destroyed British opium stocks in Guangzhou in 1839. The resulting Treaty of Nanking ceded Hong Kong to Britain. Shamian Island in Guangzhou became a British and French concession. The Second Opium War resulted in further concessions including Kowloon.
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9
Republican Revolution (1895-1912)
Dr. Sun Yat-sen, born in Zhongshan (then Xiangshan), Guangdong, founded the revolutionary movement to overthrow the Qing Dynasty. The 1911 Xinhai Revolution succeeded, and the Republic of China was established. Sun Yat-sen's memorial hall in Guangzhou commemorates this era.
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10
Canton Commune and Republican Struggle (1920s-1930s)
Guangzhou was a key battleground between Nationalist (KMT) and Communist forces in the 1920s. The 1927 Canton Commune uprising was suppressed. During the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-45), Guangzhou fell to Japan in 1938.
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11
Reform and Opening Up (1978-present)
Guangdong became the frontline of China's economic reforms. Shenzhen was designated China's first Special Economic Zone in 1980, transforming from a fishing village to a city of 17 million. The Pearl River Delta became the world's factory floor, driving China's economic miracle.
Museums
Curated collections that tell Guangdong's story.