Shaoguan is a prefecture-level city in the north ofGuangdong province, China, bordering Hunan to the northwest and Jiangxito the northeast. Its built-up or metro area made up of Zhenjiang and Wujiang urban districts was home to 688,229 inhabitants. The downtown part of Shaoguan is located on a peninsula between the Wu and Zhen Rivers. The rivers are maintained at a constant level by a dam about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) downstream from the city. The city has about 20 kilometres (12 mi) of tree-lined riverside esplanades along the banks of the rivers. There are seven bridges crossing the three rivers.
In 1589, Matteo Ricci relocated his mission house – the first ever Jesuit mission in mainland China – to Shaoguan.