什麼是廣州

英文稱為Canton

中國城市，廣東省的省會，人口數約為3,580,000人（1991）。廣州位於珠江岸邊，離海約80哩（130公里），它是中國南方的主要港口。廣州在在西元前3世紀併入中華帝國，後來在明朝年間成為重要的城市。它是中國最早向外國人開放的海港，先有阿拉伯和印度的商人定期造訪；到了16世紀，葡萄牙人也前來探訪。英國人於17世紀抵達，接著是法國人和荷蘭人。中國在廣州禁絕英國的鴉片貿易引發了戰爭（1839～1842年）；西元1856～1861年間，廣州被英國和法國所佔領。在19世紀，國民黨在廣州倡導民族主義的觀念。日本曾於1938～1945年佔領廣州；西元1949年，為中國共產黨接管。廣州的工業發展持續成長，並隨著中國共產黨重新與西方恢復聯絡，廣州於1984年被指定為鼓勵外商投資的經濟特區之一。廣州是中國最大的城市之一，它不斷擴張的經濟更造就其持續穩定的成長。

Guangzhou

City (pop., 1991 est.: 3,580,000), capital of Guangdong province, China. located on the Zhu River about 80 mi (130 km) from the sea, it is southern China's chief port. Incorporated in the Chinese empire in the 3rd century BC, it later became an important city under the Ming dynasty. The first Chinese seaport opened to foreigners, it was regularly visited by Arab and Hindu traders, and in the 16th century, by the Portuguese. The English arrived in the late 17th century followed by the French and Dutch. Its resistance to the English opium trade led to war (1839-42), and it was occupied by the British and French in 1856-61. In the 19th century it was the seat of Nationalist ideas promoted by the Guomindang. Occupied by the Japanese 1938-45, it was taken by the Chinese communists in 1949. Its industrial growth expanded, and with Communist China's renewed ties to the West, it was designated as one of several economic investment areas for foreigners in 1984. One of China's largest cities, its expanding economy added to its continued growth.