Guangzhou, referred to as Yangcheng and Huacheng for short, is the capital of Guangdong Province, a sub-provincial city, a national central city, a megacity, an international metropolis, an international business center, an international comprehensive transportation hub, a national comprehensive gateway city, the first batch of coastal open cities, and the seat of the Southern Theater Command.
Guangzhou is located in the south-central part of Guangdong Province, on the northern edge of the Pearl River Delta, near the South China Sea, Hong Kong and Macao. It is the south gate of China to the world, the core city of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Pan-Pearl River Delta Economic Zone, and the hub city of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Guangzhou was rated as the first-tier city in the world by the global authority GaWC. The China Import and Export Fair held in Guangzhou every year attracts a large number of merchants, a large number of foreign-funded enterprises and fortune 500 enterprises.
Guangzhou's economic development capacity ranks third in China, and it is within the scope of first-class cities in terms of headquarters economic development. Guangzhou has attracted investors from more than 30 countries and regions around the world to invest and start businesses, and maintained trade with more than 220 countries and regions around the world.
Guangzhou was rated as the fastest growing mega-city in the world by the United Nations, ranking first among China cities in 20 16 and 20 17.