Guangzhou

Guangzhou is a major city in southern China and the capital of Guangdong province. It sits on the Pearl River about 120 kilometres north-west of Hong Kong and forms part of the Pearl River Delta megalopolis, one of the world's most populous urban areas. With a metropolitan population exceeding 15 million, Guangzhou ranks among China's largest cities and serves as a key economic, trade and transportation hub. The city is a leading centre for manufacturing, particularly in electronics, automobiles, petrochemicals and textiles, and hosts significant industrial clusters in advanced sectors including hydrogen fuel cells, electric vehicles and semiconductors. Guangzhou is home to the Guangzhou Futures Exchange, which plays an important role in commodities trading, and the city's port is one of the busiest in the world, handling vast volumes of containerised cargo. The city has attracted substantial foreign investment and is headquarters to numerous multinational corporations and joint ventures, including operations by Hyundai Motor Group and Bosch. Guangzhou's strategic location, well-developed infrastructure and pro-business policies have made it a focal point for innovation in clean energy technologies, including proton exchange membrane fuel cells and hydrogen energy systems. The city has a long commercial history, having been a terminus of the ancient Maritime Silk Road and the site of the Canton Fair, China's oldest and largest trade fair, held biannually since 1957.