Guangdong
Guangdong is a coastal province in South China, on the north shore of the South China Sea. The provincial capital is Guangzhou. With a population of 126.84 million (as of 2021) across a total area of about 179,800 km2 (69,400 sq mi), Guangdong is China's most populous province and its 15th-largest by area, as well as the third-most populous country subdivision in the world. Guangdong's economy is the largest of any provincial-level division in China, with a GDP of CN¥13.57 trillion ($1.9 trillion in GDP nominal) in 2023, contributing approximately 10.6 percent of mainland China's economic output. It has a diversified economy, and was known as the starting point of ancient China's Maritime Silk Road. It is home to the production facilities and offices of a wide-ranging set of Chinese and foreign corporations. Guangdong has benefited from its proximity to the financial hub of Hong Kong, which it borders to the south. Guangdong also hosts the largest import and export fair in China, the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou. The Pearl River Delta Economic Zone, a Chinese megalopolis, is a core for high tech, manufacturing and international trade. In this zone are two of the four top Chinese cities and the top two Chinese prefecture-level cities by GDP: Guangzhou and Shenzhen, the first special economic zone in the country. These two are among China's most populous and important cities, and have become two of the world's most populous megacities and leading financial centres in the Asia–Pacific region. Guangdong surpassed Henan and Shandong to become China's most populous province in January 2005, registering 79.1 million permanent residents and 31 million migrants who lived in the province for at least six months of the year; the total population was 126,012,510 in the 2020 Chinese census, accounting for 8.93 percent of mainland China's population. This makes it the most populous first-level administrative subdivision of any country outside South Asia. The vast majority of the historical Guangdong Province is administered by the People's Republic of China (PRC). Pratas Island in the South China Sea is part of Cijin District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (ROC); the island was part of Guangdong before the Chinese Civil War. After the unification of Lingnan region during the Qin dynasty, immigrants from the Central Plains moved in and formed a local culture with a unique style. With the outward movement of the Guangdong people, the Cantonese, Hakka and Teochew languages, music, cuisine, opera and tea ceremony have spread throughout the nation, Southeast Asia, and other countries. Guangdong was also the birthplace of the father of modern China and the founder of the Republic of China, Sun Yat-sen. He declared a military government there in the Warlord Era. The two special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau fall within the scope of Guangdong's cultural influence, and its culture still has profound influences on the Chinese in Singapore and Malaysia, with the vast majority of the Chinese diaspora in the two countries claiming ancestry from Guangdong. Guangdong is also one of the leading provinces in research and education in China. It hosts 160 institutions of higher education, ranking first in the South Central China region and second among all Chinese provinces/municipalities, after Jiangsu. As of 2023, two major cities in the province ranked in the world's top 20 cities (Guangzhou 8th and Shenzhen 19th) by scientific research output.
One-Day Guangdong Tour Itinerary Recommendations
Theme:
Lingnan Culture + Bay Area Vibes + Culinary Extravaganza
Suitable for:
Short trips to Guangzhou/Shenzhen/Zhuhai, flexible with metro + high-speed rail/ferry options
Practical Tips
Tickets:
Guangdong Museum free (book 3 days ahead) | Chimelong ¥450 | Window of World ¥220
Must-Try Foods:
Guangzhou: Claypot rice, double-layer milk pudding
Shenzhen: Coconut chicken, Guangming roasted pigeon
Zhuhai: Hengqin oysters, Doumen double-shell crabs
Transport Notes:
Guangzhou-Shenzhen高铁30mins | Zhuhai island ferries need 1-day booking
Optimization Tips:
Guangzhou alternative: Yongqing Fang Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience (Cantonese porcelain/opera)
Shenzhen Dapeng route best with rental car (public transit time-consuming)
Zhuhai islands weather-dependent (typhoon alternative: New Yuanming Palace)
(Note: Each city showcases Guangdong's diversity - historic, innovative, and coastal!)
Option 1:
Guangzhou Old & New Fusion
Best for:
Culture explorers, foodies
Transport:
Metro Line 1 + bike-sharing
08:00-10:00 Chen Clan Ancestral Hall + Xiguan Mansions
Lingnan architectural marvels (carvings/sculptures), Lychee Bay arcades
10:30-12:30 Shamian Island + Sacred Heart Cathedral
European-style streets | 1 of 4 all-stone Gothic cathedrals worldwide
12:30-14:00 Century-old Dim Sum
Recommended: Panxi Restaurant (har gow + "Five Delicacies")
14:30-17:00 Guangdong Museum
Must-see: Ocean/Dinosaur Halls | APM line to Canton Tower
18:00 Pearl River Night Cruise
Tianzi Pier departure | Skyline light show
Option 2:
Shenzhen Tech & Nature
Best for:
Families, urban trendsetters
Transport:
Metro Line 11 + taxi
08:30-11:00 Window of the World/OCT Happy Valley
Eiffel Tower replica | Or "Snow Eagle" rollercoaster thrills
11:30-13:30 Creative Park Brunch
OCT Loft's Gaga Fresh (avocado toast recommended)
14:00-17:00 Dapeng Fortress + Jiaochangwei
Ming Dynasty coastal defense ruins + "Shenzhen Gulangyu" artsy B&Bs
18:00 Talent Park Night Views
Spring Bamboo Tower lights | "Bay Glory" Ferris wheel
Option 3:
Zhuhai Romantic Islands
Best for:
Couples, photographers
Transport:
Sightseeing bus/self-drive
08:00-10:30 Lovers' Road Cycling
Fisher Girl statue → Shell Opera House | Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge viewpoint
11:00-13:00 Chimelong Ocean Kingdom
Whale Shark Aquarium + 5D Castle Cinema (priority if short on time)
13:30-15:00 Hengqin Oyster Feast
Recommended: Hengqin Commune (grilled oysters + tangerine peel ribs)
15:30-18:00 Outlying Islands (Wailingding/Guishan)
1-hour speedboat to mint-blue waters + sunset windmill hills
19:00 Xiawan Night Market
Seafood BBQ + Chaoshan raw marinated dishes