Canton (Guangzhou) is the capital of Guangdong province, the largest political, cultural and economic urban centre in southern China. Dominating the rich plains of the Pearl River Delta, Canton is one of China's oldest urban areas and has been one of the country's main ports of entry for over 2,000 years. This sprawling megalopolis covers a total area of more than 8,500 km² (including 2,000 km² in the urban centre alone), with a population of 12 million inhabitants. Historically, four satellite cities are inseparable from its economic development: Panyu (the former name of Canton), Huadu, Zengcheng and Conghua. As if cut off from the urban hustle and bustle so close by, Shamian Island is now a unique place, a legacy of Canton's modern history. For a long time it was a concession reserved for foreigners, who stored their goods there in order to trade with China. From the end of the 19th century, Canton became more modern, as evidenced by the magnificent villas of the Xiguan district and the shopping arcades along the sidewalks of the city centre. The district was dominated by the famous Hotel Aiqun, built in 1937 and once the highest building in Canton with its thirty floors (64 m). In 1982, Canton was included in the list of 24 Chinese urban centres classified in the register of historic cities in China. Today, it is a real nightmare for motorists and its architectural treasures tend to go unnoticed in the mass of concrete and suspension bridges. And yet, Canton still breathes the intoxicating scent of commerce, the one that made it so famous in the West, not to mention the thousand other delicious scents of its local cuisine, one of its most fabulous treasures.

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Au marché aux oiseaux de Canton. Miguel POIRIER
Temple de la brillante piété filiale à Guangxiao Si. Stéphan SZEREMETA
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