BULLET TRAIN TO GUANGZHOU

The city of Panyu was already on this location back in 200 BC. Arab and Persian merchants arrived in Guangzhou in 8^th century. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive by sea in 15th century and the city was known as Canton to its 19^th century foreign residents. Today Guangzhou is 4^th largest city in China, with 11 million inhabitants (in 2010) and this is excluding millions of migrant workers. It is well connected with Shenzhen and traveling by bullet train will take you only 1 or 1.5 hour to get there. I unfortunately spend only one weekend in the city and can share just few of highlights.

Shamian Island

SHENZHEN – HISTORY IN THE MAKING?

Shenzhen started out as a collection of farming and fishing villages along China-Hong Kong border. In 1979 it was designated 1st of China’s Special Economic Zone. The plan was to create a sealed off enclave to experiment with market reforms before implementing them in other parts of the country.

Xin’an Ancient City

There has been town on this territory since 4^th century, but much of it has been demolished and replaced by 8-story residential buildings. The Ming Dynasty wall and gates still remain, as well as the temple outside the gates and few other structures within. The flavor of old town still remains and one can feel it while walking along its narrow streets.

HOW TO ACCOMMODATE 15 MILLION

According to last National Population Census of China (2010), Shenzhen is 5th largest city in the country with urban population within administrative city limits – 10.4 million. This data includes only long-term residents and excludes suburban and rural populations. Shenzhen is home to millions of migrants and it is largest migrant city in China, so population statistics are controversial and even 15 million, indicated in other sources, could potentially be an underestimate.

Dominant Mode of Transportation