Guangzhou is the capital and the sub-provincial city of Guangdong Province in southern mainland China. The city was formerly known internationally as Canton City or simply Canton, after a French language transliteration of the name of the province in Cantonese. It is a port on the Pearl River, and adjacent to Hong Kong and Macau. The Pearl River , the largest river in South China and the third largest in the country, goes through downtown Guangzhou. Its nickname is the "City of Five Rams", meaning never-ending prosperity.

Shenzhen has set a goal of building a garden city while enhancing its role as a regional economic center close to Hong Kong. Shenzhen is being transformed into a high tech and new technology center, industrial center within China, a regional financial center, an information center, a trading center, a transportation center and tourism destination and it is fast achieving these goals.

Hong Kong, described as a 'barren rock' over 150 years ago, has become a world-class financial, trading and business centre and, indeed, a great world city.Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China on July 1, 1997, after a century and a half of British administration. Under Hong Kong's constitutional document, the Basic Law, the existing economic, legal and social system will be maintained for 50 years. The SAR enjoys a high degree of autonomy except in defence and foreign affairs.