Guangzhou (also known as Canton, and less commonly as Kwangchow), nicknamed the City of Flowers, is the capital and largest city of Guangdong province in South China. Guangzhou is one of the birthplaces of China's ancient "maritime Silk Road". Located on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong and north of Macau, Guangzhou serves as an important national transportation hub and trading port. One of the five National Central Cities, it holds sub-provincial administrative status.

Guangzhou or Guang Prefecture (光州) was a zhou (prefecture) in imperial China, centering on modern Huangchuan County, Henan, China. It was created in the 6th century by the Liang dynasty and existed (intermittently) until 1913 after the establishment of the Repulic.