Guangzhou is one of the first national historical and cultural cities and the birthplace of Guangfu culture. Since the Qin Dynasty, it has been the seat of county, state and government, and the political, military, economic, cultural, scientific and educational center of southern China.

It has been the main port of the Maritime Silk Road since the 3rd century. It was the largest port in China in the Tang and Song Dynasties and a world-famous oriental port city. It was the only foreign trade port in China during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and it was also the only port in the world that lasted for more than 2,000 years.

Guangzhou is called Guangzhou for short, also called Yangcheng. Located in the northern part of the Pearl River Delta in Guangdong, near the South China Sea, it is the confluence of Xijiang River, Beijiang River and Dongjiang River. Guangzhou is also called "Yangcheng" and "Guangzhou City". According to legend, in ancient times, five immortals rode five-color sheep, each carrying a bunch of ears of grain. The immortals dedicated the ears of grain to the residents, hoping that there would be a bumper harvest and no famine in this place.

After the fairy floated away, the five sheep left behind turned into stones. Therefore, later generations also called Guangzhou "Yangcheng", "Five Yangcheng", "Fairy City" and "Guangzhou City". From Qin and Han Dynasties to Ming and Qing Dynasties, Guangzhou has been an important port city for China's foreign trade for more than two thousand years.

It is the starting point of China's Maritime Silk Road. According to the Records of Geography of the New Tang Dynasty, in the Tang Dynasty, this maritime "Silk Road" was called "Guangzhou Tonghai Island". Its voyage started from Guangzhou, passed through the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, and went straight to Basra Port to reach the coast south of the equator in East Africa.

This is the longest ocean route in the world before16th century. By the Tang and Song Dynasties, Guangzhou had developed into a world-famous oriental port, and established the first institution in China to manage foreign trade affairs-the Municipal Ambassador; During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Guangzhou was a particularly open port. For a long time, it was the only foreign trade port city in China.