Guangzhou is one of the major birthplaces of China’s ancient “maritime Silk Road”. Located on the Pearl River, about 120 km (75 mi) north-northwest of Hong Kong and 145 km (90 mi) north of Macau, Guangzhou serves as an important national transportation hub and trading port. It is one of the fiveNational Central Cities.
Guangzhou is the third largest Chinese city, after Beijing and Shanghai, and the largest city in South Central China. In 2014 the city’s administrative area was estimated to have a population of 13,080,500.