Pearl River Delta 珠江三角洲 Delta do Rio das Pérolas
Megalopolis
Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area
2014 satellite view of the Pearl River Delta from the NASA Earth Observatory
Detailed map of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area
Provinces	Guangdong Hong Kong Macau
Major Cities	Guangzhou Shenzhen Zhuhai Foshan Dongguan Zhongshan Jiangmen Huizhou Zhaoqing Hong Kong Macau
Government
• Governor of Guangdong	Wang Weizhong
• Chief Executive of Hong Kong	John Lee
• Chief Executive of Macau	Ho Iat Seng
Area
• Total	55,800 km2 (21,500 sq mi)
Population  (2020)
• Total	86,100,000
• Density	1,500/km2 (4,000/sq mi)
Languages
•	Cantonese and other varieties of Yue Chinese, Mandarin Chinese, English, Portuguese, Macanese Patois, and numerous other languages
GDP [1]
• Total	CN¥ 13.0 trillion US$ 1.9 trillion (nominal)
• Per capita	CN¥ 150,600 US$ 22,400 (nominal)
Time zone	UTC+8 (CST, HKT, MST)

The Pearl River Delta Metropolitan Region^[a] is the low-lying area surrounding the Pearl River estuary, where the Pearl River flows into the South China Sea. Referred to as the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area in official documents, the region is one of the most densely populated and urbanized regions in the world, and is considered a megacity by numerous scholars.^[2] It is currently the wealthiest region in Southern China and one of the wealthiest regions in China along with the Yangtze River Delta in Eastern China and Jingjinji in Northern China. Most of the region is part of the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone, which is a special economic zone of China.

The region is a megalopolis, and is at the southern end of a larger megalopolis running along the southern coast of China, which include metropolises such as Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Macao. The nine largest cities of the PRD had a combined population of 86 million in 2022, the PRD has become the largest urban area in the world in both size and population.^[3] The region's traditional language is Cantonese; in the late 20th century and the 21st century, due to the high inflow of migrant workers coming from other regions, Mandarin has gradually become a lingua franca.

The west side of this region, along with Chaoshan, was also the source of much Chinese emigration from the 19th to the mid 20th centuries, including to the Western world, where they formed many Chinatowns. Today, much of the Chinese diaspora in the US, Canada, Australia, Latin America, and much of Southeast Asia traces their ancestry to the west side of this region.

Geology

Geography

The river delta, also known as the Golden Delta of Guangdong,^[4] is formed by three major rivers, the Xi Jiang (West River), Bei Jiang (North River), and Dong Jiang (East River). The flat lands of the delta are criss-crossed by a network of tributaries and distributaries of the Pearl River. The Pearl River Delta is actually two alluvial deltas, separated by the core branch of the Pearl River. The Bei Jiang and Xi Jiang converge to flow into the South China Sea and Pearl River in the west, while the Dong Jiang only flows into the Pearl River proper in the east.

The Xi Jiang begins exhibiting delta-like characteristics as far west as Zhaoqing, although this city is not usually considered a part of the PRD region. After passing through the Lingyang Gorge and converging with the Bei Jiang, the Xi Jiang opens up and flows as far east as Nansha District and as far west as Xinhui. Major distributaries of the Xi include Donghui Shuidao, Jiya Shuidao, Hutiaomen Shuidao, Yinzhou Hu, and the main branch of the Xi Jiang. Jiangmen and Zhongshan are the major cities found in the western section of the delta.^{[citation needed]}

The Bei Jiang enters the delta plains at Qingyuan but does not begin to split until near Sanshui. From here the two main distributaries are Tanzhou Shuidao and Shunde Shuidao which form multiple mouths along the west side of the Pearl River's estuary. Two other distributaries, Lubao Yong and Xinan Yong, split from the Bei further north and converge with the Liuxi He to form the main branch of the Pearl River just north of Guangzhou. The other major city in the north section of the delta is Foshan.^{[citation needed]}

The Dong Jiang flows through Huizhou into the delta. It begins diverging northeast of Dongguan into many distributaries, including the Dongguan Shuidao. Distributuares enter the Pearl River as far north as Luogang and as far south as Hu Men (Tiger Gate).

Saltwater crocodiles were present within the Pearl River estuary during antiquity.

Location and demographics

As well as the delta itself, the term Pearl River Delta refers to the dense network of cities that covers nine prefectures of the province of Guangdong, namely Dongguan, Foshan, Guangzhou, Huizhou, Jiangmen, Shenzhen, Zhaoqing, Zhongshan and Zhuhai and the SARs of Hong Kong and Macau. The 2010/2011 State of the World Cities report, published by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, estimates the population of the delta region at 120 million people; it is rapidly urbanising.^[5]

The eastern side of the PRD (Shenzhen, Dongguan), dominated by foreign capital, is the most developed economically. The western areas (Foshan, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Jiangmen), dominated by local private capital, are open for development. New transport links between Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai in the PRD are expected to open up new areas for development, further integrate the cities, and facilitate trade within the region. The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge, and the proposed Shenzhen–Zhongshan Bridge, currently in the planning phase, will be amongst the longest bridges in the world with a total length of approximately 50 km (31 mi) each.

Until 1985, the PRD had been mainly dominated by farms and small rural villages, but after the economy was reformed and opened, a flood of investment turned it into the land's economic powerhouse. The PRD's startling growth was fueled by foreign investment coming largely from Hong Kong manufacturers that moved their operations into the PRD. In 2003, Hong Kong companies employed 11 million workers in their PRD operations. Lately there have been extreme labour shortages in the region due to runaway economic growth which caused wages to rise by about 20 to 30 percent in the past two years.^[6]

Economy

The Pearl River Delta has been one of the most economically dynamic regions of the People's Republic of China since the launch of China's reform programme in 1979. With annual gross domestic product growth of 13.45 percent over three decades since 1978, it is 3.5 percentage points higher than the national average. Since 1978 almost 30 percent of all foreign investment in China was in the PRD.^[7] In 2007 its GDP rose to US$448 billion which makes its economy about the size of Taiwan's^[8] and by 2019 this figure has increased to US$2.0 trillion ^[9] or about the same size as Canada. The abundance of employment opportunities created a pool of wealthy, middle-income, professional consumers with an annual per capita income that puts them among China's wealthiest.^[10] Since the onset of China's reform program, the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone has been the fastest growing portion of the fastest growing province in the fastest growing large economy in the world.^[11]

The industrial cities in the Pearl River Delta have been called the "Factory of the World" or the "World's Factory" due to the presence of industrial parks populated with factories from foreign investments.^[12][13] However, the target market of the delta region's exports has become increasingly domestic rather than foreign.^[14] Dongguan, Zhongshan, Nanhai, and Shunde are the four cities known as the Four Guangdong Dragons for their high growth rates and rapid development from late the 1980s to the 2000s.

Although the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone encompasses only 0.4 percent of the land area and only 3.2 percent of the 2000 census population of mainland China, it accounted for 8.7 percent of GDP, 35.8 percent of total trade, and 29.2 percent of utilised foreign capital in 2001. By 2016 the Pearl River Delta accounted for 9.1 percent of China's GDP.^[15] These figures show the remarkable level of economic development to which the Pearl River Delta has been subjected in order to become an 'Economic Zone', as well as the international orientation of the region's economy. This orientation has attracted numerous investors from all over the world who use the Greater Pearl River Delta region as a platform for serving global and Chinese markets.

As of 2008, the Central Government has introduced new labor laws, environmental and other regulations to reduce pollution, industrial disputes, produce safer working conditions and protect the environment. The costs of producing low margin and commodity goods have increased. This is on top of the rising cost for energy, food, transport and the appreciation of the Renminbi against the falling US Dollar. Some manufacturers will need to cut costs by moving up the value chain or moving to more undeveloped regions.^[16]

Significance of PRD

The Pearl River Delta established itself as the factory location of choice for global companies that were headquartered in Hong Kong in the 1980s. The industrial output of the Pearl River Delta was generated in the main by state-owned enterprises. Meanwhile the industrial output of collective-owned enterprises diminished over time, with private enterprises and joint ventures increasing their share of the Pearl River Delta's industrial output to 37.5 percent by the mid-1990s.^[17]

Today urban areas with the assistance of the municipal governments in the Pearl River Delta are attempting to rebrand industrial output as originating from "the world's tech lab" or "design studio". The Pearl River Delta has become the world's workshop and is a major manufacturing base for products such as electronics, garments and textiles,^[18] plastic products, and a range of other goods.

Private-owned enterprises have developed quickly in the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone and are playing an increasing role in the region's economy, particularly after year 2000 when the development environment for private-owned enterprises has been greatly relaxed.

In 2001 nearly five percent of the world's goods were produced in the Greater Pearl River Delta, with a total export value of US$289 billion. Over 70,000 Hong Kong companies had factory plants in the Greater Pearl River Delta.^[16]

Container shipping

In the Pearl River Delta an extensive system of container feeder shipping has been established. This system of containerization also serves ports within the same region. The container port of Shenzhen has surpassed Hong Kong as major hub with Guangzhou serving as another significant container shipping hub for the Pearl River Delta.^[19]

Transportation

Urban rail transport

PRD is served by six different metro systems throughout the metropolitan area consisting of Guangzhou Metro, Shenzhen Metro, MTR, FMetro, Macau Light Rail Transit and Dongguan Rail Transit. In addition, the Pearl River Delta Metropolitan Region intercity railway provides regional transit between cities of the PRD.

Railway and intercity-rail transport

The entire PRD is fully covered by railway, high-speed rail, or intercity-rail services.

• Major stations
  • Guangzhou railway station
  • Guangzhou East railway station
  • Guangzhou South railway station
  • Guangzhou North railway station
  • Shenzhen railway station
  • Shenzhen North railway station
  • Shenzhen East railway station
  • Futian railway station
  • Hong Kong station and Central station
  • Hong Kong West Kowloon railway station
  • Hung Hom station
  • Zhongshan railway station
  • Zhongshan North railway station
  • Zhuhai railway station
  • Zhuhai North railway station
  • Dongguan railway station
  • Dongguan East railway station
  • Foshan railway station
  • Foshan East railway station
  • Jiangmen railway station
  • Humen railway station
  • Huizhou railway station
  • Zhaoqing railway station

Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Bay Area Rail Transit Network

Buses, taxis and motorcycles

All cities are served by buses and taxis, while some cities may still offer motorcycle service. The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge provides a road connection across the Pearl River between Hong Kong, Macau, and Zhuhai, and is regularly traversed by buses and other public transit.

River transport

There are daily high-speed catamaran services throughout the PRD region.

• Guangzhou Ferry
• Cotai Jet
• New World First Ferry
• TurboJET
• Star Ferry
• Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry
• Discovery Bay Transportation Services
• Park Island Transport
• Fortune Ferry
• Macao Dragon Company
• Coral Sea Ferry
• Chuen Kee Ferry
• Tsui Wah Ferry

Air transport

The PRD is covered by seven civilian airports, with five in mainland China and two in special administrative regions. Two of the mainland airports have international flights.

Mainland China:

• Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
• Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport
• Zhuhai Jinwan Airport
• Foshan Shadi Airport
• Huizhou Pingtan Airport

Special administrative regions:

• Hong Kong International Airport
• Macau International Airport

Another new airport in the mainland — Pearl River Delta International Airport — located in Gaoming District, Foshan — is under construction.

Cities

Macau Enping Taishan Zhuhai Hong Kong Kaiping Zhongshan Shenzhen Jiangmen Heshan Foshan Zhaoqing Dongguan Huizhou Guangzhou Sihui Pearl River Delta (Guangdong)
City	Romanization	Stats	Information & Subdivisions	City Map	Image
Guangzhou 广州 / 廣州	Pinyin: Guǎngzhōu Canton: Guong2zau1 Yale: Gwóngjāu Jyutping: Gwong2zau1	Population: 12,700,800 Area: 7,434 km2 Density: 1,708.47/km2	Also known to many English speakers as Canton, Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong province. It is a port on the Pearl River, navigable to the South China Sea, and is cultural and political center of the Pearl River Delta. Districts: Yuexiu, Liwan, Haizhu, Tianhe, Baiyun, Huangpu, Panyu, Huadu, Nansha, Zengcheng, Conghua New Area: Nansha
Shenzhen 深圳	Pinyin: Shēnzhèn Canton: Sem1zen3 Yale: Sāmjan Jyutping: Sam1zan3	Population: 10,357,938 Area: 1,991 km2 Density: 5,202.37/km2	Shenzhen is a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in China. It has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the world due to its proximity to Hong Kong. It also has one of the busiest ports in the world. Districts: Futian, Luohu, Nanshan, Yantian, Bao'an, Longgang, Pingshan, Longhua, Guangming New District: Dapeng
Zhuhai 珠海	Pinyin: Zhūhǎi Canton: Ju6hoi2 Yale: Jyūhói Jyutping: Zyu1hoi2	Population: 1,560,229 Area: 1,724 km2 Density: 905.00/km2	Zhuhai plays a similar role to Shenzhen and became the first of the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in China. Since the late 1970s it has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the Pearl River Delta due to its proximity to Macau. Districts: Xiangzhou, Doumen, Jinwan New Area: Hengqin
Foshan 佛山	Pinyin: Fóshān Canton: Fed6san1 Yale: Fahtsāan Jyutping: Fat6saan1	Population: 7,194,311 Area: 3,848 km2 Density: 1,869.62/km2	Foshan is an old town dated back many centuries. It was famous for its porcelain industry. It is now the third largest city in Guangdong'. The city is relatively affluent when compared to other Chinese cities, and it is home to many large private enterprises. Foshan recently has seen a transformation brought by China's booming economy. City administration is considered especially progressive in seeking foreign direct investment especially in Nanhai District which has closes ties with Guangzhou to form a Guangzhou-Foshan metro in the near future. Districts: Chancheng, Nanhai, Shunde, Sanshui, Gaoming
Dongguan 东莞 / 東莞	Pinyin: Dōngguǎn Canton: Dung1gun2 Yale: Dūnggún Jyutping: Dung1gun2	Population: 8,220,237 Area: 2,465 km2 Density: 3,334.78/km2	Dongguan borders the provincial capital of Guangzhou to the north, Huizhou to the northeast, Shenzhen to the south, and the Pearl River to the west. It is also home to the world's largest shopping mall, South China Mall. Subdistricts: Dongcheng, Guancheng, Nancheng, Wanjiang Towns: Chang'an, Changping, Chashan, Dalang, Dalingshan, Daojiao, Dongkeng, Fenggang, Gaobu, Hengli, Hongmei, Houjie, Huangjiang, Humen, Liaobu, Machong, Qiaotou, Qingxi, Qishi, Shatian, Shijie, Shilong, Shipai, Tangxia, Wangniudun, Xiegang, Zhangmutou, Zhongtang
Zhongshan 中山	Pinyin: Zhōngshān Canton: Zung1san1 Yale: Jūngsāan Jyutping: Zung1saan1	Population: 3,120,884 Area: 1,783 km2 Density: 1,750.35/km2	Zhongshan is a mid-size city named after Sun Yat-sen (who had the alternate name Sun Zhongshan), who is widely considered to be the "Father of modern China" and was born in Zhongshan's Cuiheng village in 1866. Zhongshan serves as a midway point between Guangzhou and Macau. Zhongshan is known in China for making lamps. Subdistricts: Dongqu, Nanqu, Shiqi, Xiqu, Wuguishan Subdistrict, ZTHIDZ (Zhongshangang) Towns: Banfu, Dachong, Dongfeng, Dongsheng, Fusha, Gangkou, Guzhen, Henglan,l Huangpu, Nanlang, Nantou, Minzhong, Sanjiao, Sanxiang, Shaxi, Shenwan, Tanzhou, Xiaolan New Area: Cuiheng
Jiangmen 江门 / 江門	Pinyin: Jiāngmén Canton: Gong1mun4 Yale: Gōngmùhn Jyutping: Gong1mun4	Population: 4,448,871 Area: 9,443 km2 Density: 471.12/km2	Jiangmen Port is the second largest river port in Guangdong province. The local government plans to develop a harbour industrial zone with heavy industries such as petrochemical and machinery industries. The port of Jiangmen was known as Kong-Moon when it was forced to open to western trade in 1902. One legacy of this period is a historic waterfront district lined with buildings in the treaty port style. The city has an ongoing renewal project which has restored many of these buildings. Districts: Jianghai, Pengjiang, Xinhui County-level Cities: Enping, Taishan, Kaiping, Heshan
Huizhou 惠州	Pinyin: Hùizhōu Canton: Wei6zeo1 Yale: Waihjāu Jyutping: Wai6zau1	Population: 4,597,002 Area: 10,922 km2 Density: 420.89/km2	Huizhou is the most eastern city in the Pearl River Delta region. Huizhou is known for its West Lake scenery. Huizhou gained benefit from the Chinese economic reform of the late 1980s. The blossoming real estate market attracted capital investment from Hong Kong and Taiwan. In the provincial economic development strategy, Huizhou is regarded as a site for a world-class petrochemical industry, as well as a hub for developing information technology, and expanding exports and trade. Districts: Huicheng, Huiyang Counties: Boluo, Huidong, Longmen
Zhaoqing 肇庆 / 肇慶	Pinyin: Zhàoqìng Canton: Xiu6 hing3 Yale: Siuhhing Jyutping: Siu6 hing3	Population: 3,918,085 Area: 14,891 km2 Density: 263.11/km2	Zhaoqing is the most western city in the Pearl River Delta region. It is well known for being a regional tourist hub, a medium-sized provincial "college town" as well as an up-and-coming manufacturing center. Residents from Guangzhou, Shenzhen and other nearby cities, as well as people from Hong Kong and Macau, are known to visit the city on weekend getaways and excursions. Districts: Duanzhou, Dinghu, Gaoyao Counties: Guangning, Huaiji, Fengkai, Deqing County-level City: Sihui
Hong Kong 香港	Pinyin: Xiānggǎng Canton: Hêng1gong2 Yale: Hēunggóng Jyutping: Hoeng1gong2	Population: 7,061,200 Area: 1,104 km2 Density: 6,396.01/km2	Hong Kong Island was first occupied by British forces in 1841, and then formally ceded from China under the Treaty of Nanjing at the end of the war. Hong Kong remained a crown colony of the United Kingdom until 1997 when it was returned to China. Hong Kong is known as one of the world's leading financial capitals also a major business and cultural hub. Districts: Central and Western, Eastern, Southern, Wan Chai, Kowloon City, Kwun Tong, Sham Shui Po, Wong Tai Sin, Yau Tsim Mong, Islands, Kwai Tsing, North, Sai Kung, Sha Tin, Tai Po, Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun, Yuen Long
Macau 澳门 / 澳門	Pinyin: Àomén Canton: Ou3mun4 Yale: Oumùhn Jyutping: Ou3mun4-2	Population: 544,600 Area: 30 km2 Density: 18,153.33/km2	Macau was the first Portuguese settlement in China in 1557. Macau remained a colony of Portugal until 1999 when it was returned to China. Macau has developed into a notable tourist industry that boasts a wide range of hotels, resorts, stadiums, restaurants and casinos. This makes it one of the richest cities in the world. Freguesia: Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Santo António, São Lázaro, Sé, São Lourenço, Nossa Senhora do Carmo, São Francisco Xavier Zone: Cotai

Subdivision

Pearl River mega-city

A 2011 article in British newspaper The Telegraph reported on a "Turn The Pearl River Delta Into One" project. The stated goal was to "mesh the transport, energy, water and telecommunications networks of the nine cities together."^[20] (Hong Kong and Macau were not included.) However, the Chinese government denied that such a project existed.^[21]

Pollution

The Pearl River Delta is notoriously polluted.^[22] After thirty years of rapid industrialization, the Pearl River Delta has in parts been famed for pollution. Acid rain, smog, water pollution, and electronic waste contribute to the perceived problems. In travel literature the Pearl River Delta has been titillated as among the most attractive "pollution day trips from Hong Kong".^[23]

Treatment facilities for sewage and industrial waste are failing to keep pace with the growth in population and industry in the area. A large portion of the pollution is brought about by factories run by Hong Kong manufacturers in the area. Much of the area is frequently covered with a brown smog. This has a strong effect on the pollution levels in the delta.^[24]

On 22 March 2007 the World Bank approved a $96 million loan to the PRC government to reduce water pollution in the Pearl River Delta.^[25] On December 23, 2008, it was announced that ¥48.6 billion (about $7.1 billion) will be spent on the river by mid-2010 to clean up the river's sewage problems quoted by Zhang Hu, the director of Guangzhou municipal bureau of water affairs. The city will build about 30 water treatment plants, which will treat 2.25 million tonnes of water per day. The program hopes to cut down the amount of sewage in the area by 85%, and was also of fundamental importance for the 2010 Asian Games held in Guangzhou from November 12, 2010, to November 27, 2010.^[26]

In October 2009 Greenpeace East Asia released a report, "Poisoning the Pearl River" that detailed the results of a study it conducted in which 25 samples were collected from five manufacturing facilities in the Greater Pearl River Delta. The study concluded that all the facilities sampled were discharging waste-water containing chemicals with proven or suspected hazardous properties including beryllium, copper, manganese, and heavy metals, as well as high levels of organic chemicals.^[27] These substances are associated with a long list of health problems such as cancer, endocrine disruption, renal failure and damage to the nervous system as well being known to harm the environment. Three of the five facilities sampled (Qingyuan Top Dragon Co. Ltd, Wing Fung P.C. Board Co. Ltd. and Techwise Qingyuan Circuit Co. Ltd. ) contained concentrations of chemicals which exceeded the limits set by Guangdong provincial effluent standards. These companies were then subjected to a Clean Production Audit according to Article 28 of China's Cleaner Production Promotion Law.^[28] Guangdong Environmental Protection Bureau took a stance against the companies by blacklisting them.

Pearl River Delta is a strong source of greenhouse gases as well. Although it is hard to estimate overall greenhouse gas emissions from such a large megacity, scientists have shown that Pearl River Delta exhibits one of the strongest anomalies in carbon dioxide concentration around the world. This enhancement is easily discernible from satellite observations.^[29]