China's top business destinations Part I

With more than 1.3 billion inhabitants living on a territory covering more than 9.6 million square kilometres, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is east Asia’s largest country in terms of size and population. It is the world’s third largest and most populous country. The PRC borders on 14 states: Vietnam, Laos, Burma, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia and North Korea.

The PRC is mainly administered through provincial governments – with the exception of five autonomous zones, four municipalities (Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing) and five special economic zones (Shenzhen, Shantou, Zhuhai, Xiamen, Hainan island), all of which are administered directly by the central government.

Beijing – Capital and cultural hub

Beijing, also known as Peking, is the capital of the People’s Republic of China. A major metropolis located in the north of China, Beijing boasts a rich cultural and historical heritage, being one of the four ancient Chinese capitals along with Nanjing, Luoyang and Xian.

With about 17.4 million inhabitants, Beijing is China’s second most populous city after Shanghai. The capital is a major transportation hub – the focal point of many international flights to China with numerous railways, roads and motorways passing through the city. Beijing is recognised as China’s political, educational and cultural centre, whereas Shanghai and the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong have established themselves as the country’s major business hubs.

Beijing is host city of the 2008 Summer Olympics. One of the main sights is the Forbidden City, constructed in the 15th century. It was the Chinese imperial palace from the mid-Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty and is located in the middle of Beijing. Today it houses the Palace Museum. For almost five centuries, it served as the home of the Emperor and his household, as well as the ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government.

Shanghai – China’s economic powerhouse

Shanghai is China’s most populous city and one of the world’s largest urban areas, with more than 20 million people living in its extended metropolitan area. It is located on China’s central eastern coast at the mouth of the Yangtze River.

Originally a fishing and textiles town, Shanghai grew to importance in the 19th century. Capitalising on its advantageous port location, Shanghai rose to the status of a multinational hub of finance and business by the early twentieth century, attracting traders from all major nations. After being allowed economic reforms, Shanghai has since the 1990s experienced a spectacular economic renaissance evident in the presence of a plethora of international companies and major real estate developments.

The city is an emerging tourist destination renowned for its historical landmarks such as the Bund river front and the historic tenements in the Xintiandi area, its modern and ever-expanding Pudong skyline including the Oriental Pearl Tower, and its new reputation as a cosmopolitan centre of culture and design.

Today, Shanghai is an important global centre of commerce and finance. The metropolis attracts and fascinates urban planners and architects alike – as a future global city and the showcase of the world’s fastest-growing economy. In 2010, Shanghai will host the World Expo themed “better city, better life”.

Guangzhou – Southern hub for industry and business

Guangzhou is the capital of the Guangdong Province in the southern part of China. The city is also known by its former English name Canton – the language spoken and the food eaten in the region are still referred to as Cantonese.

A port on the Pearl River, Guangzhou lies in close proximity to the South China Sea and the cities of Hong Kong and Macau. Guangzhou is China’s third most populous metropolitan area, with a population officially estimated at about 9.7 million in 2008. A vast number of overseas Chinese working throughout the world hail from Guangdong province, which has profited from major investments and remittances. Overseas Chinese have in past years invested heavily in cities like Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Panyu and Taishan.