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Guangzhou

Q: Why is Guangzhou also known as Canton?

Guangzhou 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.

Q: In which part of China is Guangzhou located?

Guangzhou is located in the south-central part of Guangdong province. It is a regional center in southern China.

Q: What language is spoken in Guangzhou?

The local people of Guangzhou, called Cantonese, speak the Cantonese language (Yueyu), which is distinctly different from the Mandarin language spoken by most Chinese.

Q: What is the climate in Guangzhou?

Guangzhou has a subtropical monsoon (wet-dry) climate, which is typical of southeastern China. From May through early October, the summer season is long, wet, hot, and humid, and south and southwest winds are often accompanied by typhoons. The July mean temperature is 83 °F (28 °C) and the January mean temperature is 56 °F (13 °C).

China

Also known as: Canton, Kuangchou, Kwangchow

Written by Zhong Gong-fu, Ping-chia Kuo•All

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Dec 6, 2024 • Article History

Wade-Giles romanization:: Kuang-chou

Also spelled:: Kwangchow

Conventional:: Canton

See all related content

Why is Guangzhou also known as Canton?

In which part of China is Guangzhou located?

What language is spoken in Guangzhou?

What is the climate in Guangzhou?

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Guangzhou, 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. ...(100 of 4570 words)

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