The city of Guangzhou, located in the Southern Chinese province of Guangdong, is a cosmopolitan city situated along the banks of the Pearl River. A bustling city that successfully combines gleaming, contemporary buildings, like the CITIC Plaza and Ascott IFC Guangzhou, as well as old, narrow back streets – its colonial history, culturally diverse population and importance as a hub for trade and transport, make it one of China’s greatest cities. The city has plenty of famous sights such as White Cloud Mountain and great accommodation options, like some Guangzhou serviced apartment options, for example, to attract travellers annually.
One such sight that will definitely catch the eye of any traveller, is the mighty Pearl River. The river covers over 2,000 kilometres and is the third longest river in China. The river is created by four separate river systems that join in Guangzhou, and then empty out into the South China Sea. The section which flows through the city is the ‘Pearl River’. In ancient china, it was known as the Pearl Sea due to its massive 2000 meter-wide channel, which, over the centuries, has subsequently shrunk to a mere 180 meters.
There are several theories behind the river’s name; one is that the name is derived from a massive boulder, known as the ‘Sea Pearl’, which lies on the river bed. The boulder is so round and smooth, that it resembles a giant pearl. The second and more likely story is that the river was named so due to the luminous coloured shells that are found on the river bed, in the section that flows through Guangzhou.
In such a hectic modern day landscape, the Pearl River adds a sense of calm as it weaves it ways through the city. Ten bridges span over the river, connecting the various high-rise buildings, shopping malls and communities on each side of the banks. At night, the bridges are lit up with colourful neon lights that shine a rainbow of colours across the water. For a closer view, visitors can enjoy scenic river cruises and soak up the colorful night view.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.