Pearl River Delta


The Pearl River Delta Metropolitan Region is the low-lying area surrounding the Pearl River estuary, where the Pearl River flows into the South China Sea. It is one of the most densely urbanized regions in the world, and is often considered a megacity. It is now the wealthiest region in South China and one of the wealthiest in the whole of China along with the Yangtze River Delta in East China and Jingjinji in North China. The region's economy is referred to as Pearl River Delta Economic Zone. It is also part of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area.
The PRD is a megalopolis, with future development into a single mega metropolitan area, yet itself is at the southern end of a larger megalopolis running along the southern coast of China, which include metropolises such as Chaoshan, Zhangzhou-Xiamen, Quanzhou-Putian and Fuzhou. The nine largest cities of the PRD had a combined population of 57.15 million at the end of 2013, comprising 53.69% of the provincial population. According to the World Bank Group, the PRD has become the largest urban area in the world in both size and population.
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. Its dominant language is Cantonese.

Geography

The river delta, also known as the Golden Delta of Guangdong, is formed by three major rivers, the Xi Jiang, Bei Jiang, and Dong Jiang. 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 Qu 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.
The Bei Jiang enters the delta plains at Qingyuan but doesn't 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.
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.
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.
The eastern side of the PRD, dominated by foreign capital, is the most developed economically. The western areas, 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 each.
and Hong Kong
Until c. 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.

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% of all foreign investment in China was in the PRD. In 2007 its GDP rose to US$448 billion which makes its economy about the size of Taiwan's and by 2019 this figure has increased to US$2.0 trillion or about the same size as Italy. 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. 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.
The industrial cities in the Pearl River Delta has been called the "Factory of the World" or the "World's Factory" due the presence of industrial parks populated with factories from foreign investments. The target market of the delta region's exports, however, has become increasingly domestic rather than foreign. Dongguan, Zhongshan, Nanhai, and Shunde the four cities known as the Four Guangdong Dragons for its 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% of China's GDP. 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.

Significance of manufacturing

The Pearl River Delta has become the world's workshop and is a major manufacturing base for products such as electronic products, toys, garments and textiles, plastic products, and a range of other goods. Much of this output is invested by foreign entities and is geared for the export market. The Pearl River Delta Economic Zone accounts for approximately one third of China's trade value.
Private-owned enterprises have developed quickly in the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone and are playing an ever-growing role in the region's economy, particularly after year 2000 when the development environment for private-owned enterprises has been greatly relaxed.
Nearly five percent of the world's goods were produced in the Greater Pearl River Delta in 2001, with a total export value of US$289 billion. Over 70,000 Hong Kong companies have factory plants there.

Transportation

Public transport

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.

Buses, taxis and motorcycles

All cities are served by buses and taxis, while some cities may still offer motorcycle service.

Air transport

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:
Special administrative regions:
The entire PRD is fully covered by railway, high-speed rail, or intercity-rail services.
There are daily high-speed catamaran services throughout the PRD region.

Subdivision

NameCityTypePopulation
Area
Density
BaiyunGuangzhou Subdistrict46,7683.0815,184
BeijingGuangzhou Subdistrict53,1350.51104,186
DadongGuangzhou Subdistrict83,4911.0281,853
DatangGuangzhou Subdistrict46,1241.0643,513
DaxinGuangzhou Subdistrict0.60
DengfengGuangzhou Subdistrict92,2184.9818,517
DongfengGuangzhou Subdistrict92,2181.40
DongshanGuangzhou Subdistrict74,2992.3032,303
GuangtaGuangzhou Subdistrict68,1280.44154,836
GuangweiGuangzhou Subdistrict0.79
HongqiaoGuangzhou Subdistrict42,2581.5227,801
HualeGuangzhou Subdistrict47,1261.2836,817
HuanghuagangGuangzhou Subdistrict99,5694.4322,476
JiansheGuangzhou Subdistrict52,1100.9356,032
KuangquanGuangzhou Subdistrict90,0363.0129,912
LiuhuaGuangzhou Subdistrict17,2531.819,532
LiurongGuangzhou Subdistrict83,9960.8796,547
ShishuGuangzhou Subdistrict0.51
MeihuacunGuangzhou Subdistrict85,4001.7349,364
NonglinGuangzhou Subdistrict50,1521.0846,437
RenminGuangzhou Subdistrict69,2741.5145,876
ZhuguangGuangzhou Subdistrict56,3290.9360,568
BaihedongGuangzhou Subdistrict48,2383.1015,560
CaihongGuangzhou Subdistrict54,3481.0651,271
ChajiaoGuangzhou Subdistrict54,9184.0513,560
ChanghuaGuangzhou Subdistrict32,7781.6120,359
ChongkouGuangzhou Subdistrict48,0974.2011,451
DongjiaoGuangzhou Subdistrict35,8894.607,801
DongshaGuangzhou Subdistrict29,0137.903,672
DuobaoGuangzhou Subdistrict32,5810.8637,884
FengyuanGuangzhou Subdistrict59,3370.7876,073
HailongGuangzhou Subdistrict31,8019.493,351
HuadiGuangzhou Subdistrict39,6351.6324,315
HualinGuangzhou Subdistrict46,3090.7264,318
JinhuaGuangzhou Subdistrict54,6701.1647,129
LingnanGuangzhou Subdistrict27,5600.9030,622
LongjinGuangzhou Subdistrict43,5180.5382,109
NanyuanGuangzhou Subdistrict70,0661.8537,873
QiaozhongGuangzhou Subdistrict31,6434.4071,91
ShamianGuangzhou Subdistrict3,3970.3011,323
ShiweitangGuangzhou Subdistrict57,1925.1811,040
XicunGuangzhou Subdistrict45,0693.2713,782
ZhanqianGuangzhou Subdistrict27,4310.9628,573
ZhongnanGuangzhou Subdistrict24,7107.003,530
BinjiangGuangzhou Subdistrict72,32416.074,500
ChanggangGuangzhou Subdistrict97,9861.9649,992
ChigangGuangzhou Subdistrict114,9785.7320,065
FengyangGuangzhou Subdistrict162,6419.3017,488
GuanzhouGuangzhou Subdistrict57,86911.205,166
HaichuangGuangzhou Subdistrict62,8841.4543,368
HuazhouGuangzhou Subdistrict49,74212.204,077
JianghaiGuangzhou Subdistrict115,1575.3021,727
JiangnanzhongGuangzhou Subdistrict75,2202.3631,872
LongfengGuangzhou Subdistrict102,5612.3843,092
NanhuaxiGuangzhou Subdistrict37,9601.1034,509
NanshitouGuangzhou Subdistrict123,0434.8025,633
NanzhouGuangzhou Subdistrict84,72612.306,888
PazhouGuangzhou Subdistrict29,85110.002,985
RuibaoGuangzhou Subdistrict125,3996.3019,904
ShayuanGuangzhou Subdistrict67,3221.4446,751
SusheGuangzhou Subdistrict67,1031.6839,942
XingangGuangzhou Subdistrict111,8973.8529,064
ChangxingGuangzhou Subdistrict66,09813.215,003
ChebeiGuangzhou Subdistrict102,7875.6018,354
FenghuangGuangzhou Subdistrict19,53422.99849
HuangcunGuangzhou Subdistrict29,5016.174,781
LiedeGuangzhou Subdistrict22,5223.107,265
LinheGuangzhou Subdistrict59,7323.8015,718
LongdongGuangzhou Subdistrict70,05511.705,987
QianjinGuangzhou Subdistrict59,7004.9012,183
ShadongGuangzhou Subdistrict29,5222.1613,667
ShaheGuangzhou Subdistrict42,8141.2633,979
ShipaiGuangzhou Subdistrict177,1984.3041,208
TangxiaGuangzhou Subdistrict177,8647.4223,970
TianhenanGuangzhou Subdistrict62,9122.0830,246
TianyuanGuangzhou Subdistrict54,7694.0313,590
WushanGuangzhou Subdistrict131,79510.5912,445
XiancunGuangzhou Subdistrict51,2844.0712,600
XinghuaGuangzhou Subdistrict68,1394.2815,920
XintangGuangzhou Subdistrict41,20714.952,756
YuancunGuangzhou Subdistrict81,8315.3715,238
YuangangGuangzhou Subdistrict30,6103.239,476
ZhujiGuangzhou Subdistrict52,55210.015,249
JingtaiGuangzhou Subdistrict82,22611.407,212
SongzhouGuangzhou Subdistrict106,2749.3011,427
TongdeGuangzhou Subdistrict105,3103.6029,252
HuangshiGuangzhou Subdistrict117,3395.7120,549
TangjingGuangzhou Subdistrict89,8954.2321,251
XinshiGuangzhou Subdistrict76,1463.3621,449
YunchengGuangzhou Subdistrictnot established3.74
SanyuanliGuangzhou Subdistrict100,1496.8014,727
TongheGuangzhou Subdistrict89,36224.253,685
JingxiGuangzhou Subdistrict91,9705.5116,691
YongpingGuangzhou Subdistrict124,00014.448,587
JunheGuangzhou Subdistrict124,90919.806,308
JinshaGuangzhou Subdistrict52,65710.205,162
ShijingGuangzhou Subdistrict69,6743.485,321
BaiyunhuGuangzhou Subdistrictnot established16.00
ShimenGuangzhou Subdistrictnot established19.80
JiaheGuangzhou Subdistrict43,8484.008,769
HelongGuangzhou Subdistrictnot established6.00
RenheGuangzhou Town127,79574.101,724
TaiheGuangzhou Town208,589155.371,342
JianggaoGuangzhou Town161,34395.711,685
ZhongluotanGuangzhou Town192,322169.401,135
DashaGuangzhou Subdistrict44,64113.103,407
HuangpuGuangzhou Subdistrict64,2557.388,706
HongshanGuangzhou Subdistrict42,1277.305,770
YuzhuGuangzhou Subdistrict59,5299.116,534
WenchongGuangzhou Subdistrict46,87710.074,655
NangangGuangzhou Subdistrict76,74713.745,585
ChangzhouGuangzhou Subdistrict36,47811.503,172
SuidongGuangzhou Subdistrict45,02513.583,315
LilianGuangzhou Subdistrict42,2516.586,421
LuogangGuangzhou Subdistrict45,71780.10570
XiagangGuangzhou Subdistrict44,52814.543,062
DongquGuangzhou Subdistrict85,23554.001,578
LianheGuangzhou Subdistrict49,86751.76963
YongheGuangzhou Subdistrict55,04434.001,618
JiulongGuangzhou Town93,265175.10532
ShiqiaoGuangzhou Subdistrict168,70120.158,372
ZhongcunGuangzhou Subdistrict104,59823.414,468
ShibiGuangzhou Subdistrict32,98927.011,221
DashiGuangzhou Subdistrict116,10719.346,003
LuopuGuangzhou Subdistrict89,29425.383,518
DalongGuangzhou Subdistrict129,51524.805,222
DonghuanGuangzhou Subdistrict52,96511.004,815
QiaonanGuangzhou Subdistrict72,69517.854,072
ShatouGuangzhou Subdistrict35,20118.101,944
XiaoguweiGuangzhou Subdistrict131,47020.156,524
NancunGuangzhou Town129,07647.002,746
XinzaoGuangzhou Town27,24814.121,929
HualongGuangzhou Town53,14255.70954
ShilouGuangzhou Town90,381126.50714
ShiqiGuangzhou Town97,43471.261,367
ShawanGuangzhou Town88,69537.452,368
XinhuaGuangzhou Subdistrict381,31129.816,764
HuachengGuangzhou Subdistrictnot established26.56
XinyaGuangzhou Subdistrict20,52032.98235
XiuquanGuangzhou Subdistrictnot established54.19
TimianGuangzhou Town9,51691.20104
HuashanGuangzhou Town99,262116.40852
TanbuGuangzhou Town55,797113.33492
ChiniGuangzhou Town56,609160.03353
ShilingGuangzhou Town203,254136.311,491
HuadongGuangzhou Town118,736208.44569
NanshaGuangzhou Subdistrict112,15157.801,940
ZhujiangGuangzhou Subdistrict28,57541.50688
LongxueGuangzhou Subdistrictnot established128.90
WanqingshaGuangzhou Town44,891319.20100
HuanggeGuangzhou Town43,79176.50572
HengliGuangzhou Town30,49254.00564
DongchongGuangzhou Town147,22892.001,600
DagangGuangzhou Town125,01190.071,387
LanheGuangzhou Town73,07874.48981
JiekouGuangzhou Subdistrict96,84621.844,434
ChengjiaoGuangzhou Subdistrict79,085160.00494
JiangbuGuangzhou Subdistrict95,843127.00754
WenquanGuangzhou Town55,194210.90261
LiangkouGuangzhou Town32,829530.6061
LütianGuangzhou Town23,430393.0059
TaipingGuangzhou Town94,369210.32448
AotouGuangzhou Town111,308410.00271
LichengGuangzhou Subdistrict191,777132.271,449
ZengjiangGuangzhou Subdistrict78,07286.18905
ZhucunGuangzhou Subdistrict43,55793.90463
YongningGuangzhou Subdistrictnot established104.14
ZhengguoGuangzhou Town40,387236.40170
ShitanGuangzhou Town121,674184.00661
XintangGuangzhou Town391,28785.094,598
ZhongxinGuangzhou Town78,293236.00331
PaitanGuangzhou Town58,337289.50201
XiaolouGuangzhou Town33,725136.00247
XiancunGuangzhou Townnot established56.65
HuangbeiShenzhen Subdistrict113,3827.5015,117
GuiyuanShenzhen Subdistrict82,69410.907,586
DongmenShenzhen Subdistrict90,4542.1043,073
CuizhuShenzhen Subdistrict110,4593.4532,017
DongxiaoShenzhen Subdistrict100,7793.4828,959
NanhuShenzhen Subdistrict90,5002.6334,410
SungangShenzhen Subdistrict64,0044.0315,881
DonghuShenzhen Subdistrict84,55629.052,910
LiantangShenzhen Subdistrict85,56913.106,531
QingshuiheShenzhen Subdistrict101,02413.627,417
ShatouShenzhen Subdistrict226,06118.9011,960
NanyuanShenzhen Subdistrict108,3983.0036,132
YuanlingShenzhen Subdistrict88,2613.6724,049
HuafuShenzhen Subdistrict70,8345.7512,318
FutianShenzhen Subdistrict234,86112.2519,172
XiangmihuShenzhen Subdistrict89,4719.988,965
LianhuaShenzhen Subdistrict168,3929.6017,540
MeilinShenzhen Subdistrict168,50634.304,912
HuaqiangbeiShenzhen Subdistrict54,0672.9018,643
FubaoShenzhen Subdistrict106,8113.7528,482
NantouShenzhen Subdistrict163,23716.809,716
NanshanShenzhen Subdistrict152,31223.906,372
ShaheShenzhen Subdistrict121,35022.325,436
XiliShenzhen Subdistrict187,83249.163,820
ShekouShenzhen Subdistrict87,30412.297,103
ZhaoshangShenzhen Subdistrict79,65018.364,338
YuehaiShenzhen Subdistrict157,80714.4010,958
TaoyuanShenzhen Subdistrict138,85340.003,471
Xin'anShenzhen Subdistrict410,05630.9013,270
XixiangShenzhen Subdistrict580,736106.005,478
SonggangShenzhen Subdistrict398,15364.006,221
ShajingShenzhen Subdistrict529,04160.008,817
FuyongShenzhen Subdistrict472,79266.207,141
ShiyanShenzhen Subdistrict248,13964.603,841
HangchengShenzhen Subdistrictnot established
FuhaiShenzhen Subdistrictnot established
XinqiaoShenzhen Subdistrictnot established
YanluoShenzhen Subdistrictnot established
GuangmingShenzhen Subdistrict66,54955.801,192
GongmingShenzhen Subdistrict414,358100.304,131
XinhuShenzhen Subdistrictnot established
FenghuangShenzhen Subdistrictnot established
YutangShenzhen Subdistrictnot established
MatianShenzhen Subdistrictnot established
LonghuaShenzhen Subdistrict367,52124.8014,819
MinzhiShenzhen Subdistrict281,65230.699,177
DalangShenzhen Subdistrict277,68937.207,464
GuanlanShenzhen Subdistrict452,59834.6013,080
GuanhuShenzhen Subdistrictnot established
FuchengShenzhen Subdistrictnot established
LongchengShenzhen Subdistrict260,69677.683,356
LonggangShenzhen Subdistrict215,27364.843,320
HenggangShenzhen Subdistrict94,80140.402,346
BujiShenzhen Subdistrict359,77030.5811,764
BantianShenzhen Subdistrict221,76728.517,778
NanwanShenzhen Subdistrict197,43124.687,999
PinghuShenzhen Subdistrict228,21741.805,459
PingdiShenzhen Subdistrict94,76553.141,783
BaolongShenzhen Subdistrictnot established
JihuaShenzhen Subdistrictnot established
YuanshanShenzhen Subdistrictnot established
PingshanShenzhen Subdistrict205,999127.221,619
KengziShenzhen Subdistrict94,80140.402,346
BilingShenzhen Subdistrictnot established
MaluanShenzhen Subdistrictnot established
ShijingShenzhen Subdistrictnot established
LongtianShenzhen Subdistrictnot established
DapengShenzhen Subdistrict46,86782.81565
KuichongShenzhen Subdistrict61,105103.90588
Nan'aoShenzhen Subdistrict18,588115.06161
HaishanShenzhen Subdistrict61,8585.5211,206
YantianShenzhen Subdistrict80,64117.84,530
MeishaShenzhen Subdistrict18,06316.831,073
ShatoujiaoShenzhen Subdistrict48,7986.917,061
MeihuaZhuhai Subdistrict91,1729.809,303
GongbeiZhuhai Subdistrict105,13010.0010,513
JidaZhuhai Subdistrict81,08811.706,930
CuixiangZhuhai Subdistrict106,66128.003,809
ShishanZhuhai Subdistrict56,9568.206,945
XiangwanZhuhai Subdistrict48,48232.401,496
QianshanZhuhai Subdistrict184,73853.003,485
WanziZhuhai Subdistrict26,64530.50873
NanpingZhuhai Town70,93460.701,168
TangjiawanZhuhai Town109,152130.00839
HengqinZhuhai Town6,914476.0014
GuishanZhuhai Town1,74518.0096
Dan'ganZhuhai Town1,86040.0046
WanshanZhuhai Town1,20823.0052
BaitengZhuhai Subdistrictnot established17.00
Jing'anZhuhai Town172,732142.001,086
BaijiaoZhuhai Town104,568184.00568
GanwuZhuhai Town57,352190.60300
DoumenZhuhai Town46,549105.77440
LianzhouZhuhai Town34,68188.60391
SanzaoZhuhai Town82,22196.00856
HongqiZhuhai Town67,631150.00450
PingshaZhuhai Town67,149197.00340
NanshuiZhuhai Town36,962100.00369
ZumiaoFoshan Subdistrict416,80031.6013,189
ShiwanzhenFoshan Subdistrict286,22626.6210,752
ZhangchaFoshan Subdistrict241,14926.509,099
NanzhuangFoshan Town156,90276.702,045
GuichengFoshan Subdistrict542,77584.166,449
LishuiFoshan Town273,91475.383,633
JiujiangFoshan Town170,17994.751,796
DanzaoFoshan Town154,955143.501,079
DaliFoshan Town614,83795.906,411
ShishanFoshan Town610,514330.601,846
XiqiaoFoshan Town221,670176.631,254
DaliangFoshan Subdistrict404,30980.195,041
RongguiFoshan Subdistrict449,68780.175,609
LeliuFoshan Subdistrict252,36490.842,778
LunjiaoFoshan Subdistrict184,47959.213,115
BeijiaoFoshan Town270,31092.412,925
LecongFoshan Town259,79577.553350
Jun'anFoshan Town141,73679.361,785
XingtanFoshan Town144,537122.071184
ChencunFoshan Town135,68650.922,664
LongjiangFoshan Town221,88173.783,007
XinanFoshan Subdistrict283,819178.001,594
YundonghaiFoshan Subdistrict29,95356.00534
LubaoFoshan Town40,626105.00386
DatangFoshan Town46,70498.23475
LepingFoshan Town134,508198.50677
BainiFoshan Town64,42566.46969
NanshanFoshan Town22,610115.62195
HechengFoshan Subdistrict278,454178.581,559
YangheFoshan Town53,224246.27216
GengheFoshan Town46,528365.00127
MingchengFoshan Town41,838186.50224
GuanchengDongguanSubdistrict162,11613.512,008
DongchengDongguanSubdistrict492,875110.04,480
NanchengDongguanSubdistrict289,25559.04,902.62
WanjiangDongguanSubdistrict244,76550.54,846
ShilongDongguanTown141,85011.312,553
GaobuDongguanTown217,43630.07,247
ZhongtangDongguanTown139,56360.02,326
MachongDongguanTown118,06274.01,595
WangniudunDongguanTown84,78631.52,685
HongmeiDongguanTown58,11433.01,761
ShijieDongguanTown246,96036.06,860
DaojiaoDongguanTown143,10763.02,271
ShatianDongguanTown177,482107.01,658
HoujieDongguanTown438,283126.03,478
HumenDongguanTown638,657178.53,577
Chang'anDongguanTown664,23097.86,791
DalingshanDongguanTown279,414110.02,540
DalangDongguanTown310,889118.02,634
HuangjiangDongguanTown231,39998.02,361
LiaobuDongguanTown418,57887.54,783
FenggangDongguanTown318,97182.53,866
TangxiaDongguanTown482,067128.03,766
QingxiDongguanTown312,639143.02,186
ZhangmutouDongguanTown132,816118.81,117
XiegangDongguanTown99,387103.0964
ChangpingDongguanTown386,378108.03,577
QiaotouDongguanTown166,77456.02,978
QishiDongguanTown121,69351.02,386
HengliDongguanTown204,83050.04,096
DongkengDongguanTown138,81927.55,047
ChashanDongguanTown156,52251.03,069
ShipaiDongguanTown160,20256.02,860
ShiqiZhongshanSubdistrict206,36222.59,171
DongquZhongshanSubdistrict153,47773.12,099
NanquZhongshanSubdistrict64,54825.12,571
XiquZhongshanSubdistrict97,86449.11,993
THIDZ ZhongshanSubdistrict229,997158.71,449
WuguishanZhongshanSubdistrict48,019101.2474
HuangpuZhongshanTown145,01788.31,642
NantouZhongshanTown130,71225.75,086
DongfengZhongshanTown123,56256.22,198
FushaZhongshanTown57,57035.41,626
XiaolanZhongshanTown315,62671.94,389
DongshengZhongshanTown118,05276.71,539
GuzhenZhongshanTown147,44052.22,824
HenglanZhongshanTown103,13575.71,362
SanjiaoZhongshanTown121,77070.11,737
MinzhongZhongshanTown108,417121.8890
NanlangZhongshanTown107,977152.4708
GangkouZhongshanTown113,74871.21,597
DachongZhongshanTown74,27640.61,829
ShenwanZhongshanTown31,39252.4599
SanxiangZhongshanTown200,19793.62,138
BanfuZhongshanTown82,41279.61,035
ShaxiZhongshanTown119,37260.91,960
TanzhouZhongshanTown219,943129.51,698
HuanshiJiangmen Subdistrict119,42334.03,512
CanghouJiangmen Subdistrict59,5655.011,913
DidongJiangmen Subdistrict76,7653.720,747
BeijieJiangmen Subdistrict58,3748.356,990
BaishaJiangmen Subdistrict109,7918.1713,438
ChaolianJiangmen Subdistrict29,39512.682,318
TangxiaJiangmen Town76,021131.1579
HetangJiangmen Town88,08532.02,752
DuruanJiangmen Town101,72780.91,257
JiangnanJiangmen Subdistrict31,7002.711,740
WaihaiJiangmen Subdistrict94,66646.02,057
LileJiangmen Subdistrict82,61249.81,658
JiaobeiJiangmen Subdistrict9,3633.72,530
JiaotouJiangmen Subdistrict35,9724.87,494
HuichengJiangmen Subdistrict385,177143.862,677
DazeJiangmen Town37,67783.50451
SiqianJiangmen Town69,93589.54781
LuokengJiangmen Town31,527117.88267
ShuangshuiJiangmen Town87,295207.44420
YamenJiangmen Town37,963289.09131
ShaduiJiangmen Town36,95796.25383
GujingJiangmen Town42,027112.31374
SanjiangJiangmen Town43,11382.43523
MuzhouJiangmen Town42,11779.79527
Da'aoJiangmen Town35,36752.56672
TaichengJiangmen Subdistrict246,844159.71,545
DajiangJiangmen Town46,67469.8668
ShuibuJiangmen Town42,578110.9383
SijiuJiangmen Town37,402260143
BaishaJiangmen Town52,462123426
SanheJiangmen Town36,215250144
ChonglouJiangmen Town32,483125259
DoushanJiangmen Town48,229121.25397
DuhuJiangmen Town42,657164.23259
ChixiJiangmen Town34,450254.2135
DuanfenJiangmen Town45,729300152
GuanghaiJiangmen Town43,465132.58327
HaiyanJiangmen Town73,212330221
WencunJiangmen Town49,565175283
ShenjingJiangmen Town52,767315.3167
BeidouJiangmen Town28,091196143
ChuandaoJiangmen Town28,272254.3111
SanbuJiangmen Subdistrict173,10032.45,342
ChangshaJiangmen Subdistrict124,829542,311
ShatangJiangmen Town24,66788280
ChachengJiangmen Town26,750 138.6193
LongshengJiangmen Town26,161126207
DashaJiangmen Town22,298215.6103
MagangJiangmen Town30,72892.3332
TangkouJiangmen Town22,62673.5307
ChikanJiangmen Town37,26061.4606
BaiheJiangmen Town17,62166.1266
XiangangJiangmen Town13,28078170
JinjiJiangmen Town16,493149.5110
YueshanJiangmen Town46,700121.12385
ChishuiJiangmen Town25,894145178
ShuikouJiangmen Town90,83533.12,744
ShapingJiangmen Subdistrict197,155503,943
LongkouJiangmen Town36,62596381
YayaoJiangmen Town38,85182.3472
GulaoJiangmen Town35,60668.12522
TaoyuanJiangmen Town25,90254479
HechengJiangmen Town32,170178180
GongheJiangmen Town41,33890.07458
ZhishanJiangmen Town32,00961.38521
ZhaiwuJiangmen Town26,254205.06128
YunxiangJiangmen Town12,45336.83338
ShuangheJiangmen Town16,575149.4110
EnchengJiangmen Subdistrict197,788162.51,217
HengbeiJiangmen Town31,694 126.5250
ShengtangJiangmen Town25,03856.65441
LiangxiJiangmen Town20,091121.75165
ShahuJiangmen Town56,217250224
NiujiangJiangmen Town23,43091257
JuntangJiangmen Town46,475100.6461
DatianJiangmen Town27,943202.36138
NajiJiangmen Town19,38426074
DahuaiJiangmen Town18,62597.2191
DongchengJiangmen Town26,12950.4518
QiaodongHuizhou Subdistrict100,37413.57-
QiaoxiHuizhou Subdistrict159,5918.8-
JiangnanHuizhou Subdistrict74,60228-
JiangbeiHuizhou Subdistrict104,49415-
LongfengHuizhou Subdistrict81,05346-
Henan'anHuizhou Subdistrict181,75545-
HuihuanHuizhou Subdistrict173,85236-
ChenjiangHuizhou Subdistrict138,69483-
ShuikouHuizhou Subdistrict137,286120-
XiaojinkouHuizhou Subdistrict105,55466.7-
RuhuHuizhou Town45,990173-
SandongHuizhou Town35,41067.8-
TonghuHuizhou Town35,706112.5-
LilinHuizhou Town57,47649-
Ma'anHuizhou Town55,41476-
HengliHuizhou Town44,488343-
LuzhouHuizhou Town15,890160-
TongqiaoHuizhou Town30,33531-
DanshuiHuizhou Subdistrict226,70380-
QiuchangHuizhou Subdistrict81,224109.9-
AotouHuizhou Subdistrict58,766110-
XiayongHuizhou Subdistrict19,30480.8-
YonghuHuizhou Town25,575130-
LiangjingHuizhou Town25,04372.6-
PingtanHuizhou Town32,271105-
ShatianHuizhou Town29,27685-
XinxuHuizhou Town83,283158.4-
ZhenlongHuizhou Town46,982115.3-
LuoyangHuizhou Town208,739251.62-
GongzhuangHuizhou Town46,813299.5-
BaitangHuizhou Town50,013161.4-
YangcunHuizhou Town41,958120-
MabeiHuizhou Town21,69058.6-
ShibaHuizhou Town39,149142-
TaimeiHuizhou Town34,169183.5-
LongxiHuizhou Town88,964115.84-
YuanzhouHuizhou Town146,053110-
ShiwanHuizhou Town122,80283-
LonghuaHuizhou Town26,00962-
FutianHuizhou Town38,28686.7-
ChangningHuizhou Town39,983117-
HuzhenHuizhou Town56,551117.3-
YangqiaoHuizhou Town29,86889-
GuanyingeHuizhou Town17,309143-
HengheHuizhou Town21,421232.88-
PinshanHuizhou Subdistrict236,877329.22-
DalingHuizhou Subdistrict115,762160.23-
BaihuaHuizhou Town63,904203.61-
LianghuaHuizhou Town44,122177.7-
RenshanHuizhou Town63,662183.3-
TieyonHuizhou Town34,653120-
PinghaiHuizhou Town60,323136-
JilongHuizhou Town78,77399-
HuangbuHuizhou Town83,75697.7-
DuozhuHuizhou Town63,039408.96-
AndunHuizhou Town36,297369.5-
GaotanHuizhou Town7,399193-
BaokouHuizhou Town7,565146.8-
BaipenzhuHuizhou Town12,25874-
LongchengHuizhou Subdistrict81,835115.5-
PinglingHuizhou Subdistrict36,533143-
MazhaHuizhou Town22,12854.5-
YonghanHuizhou Town47,680215-
LongtianHuizhou Town17,810195.5-
LongtanHuizhou Town22,306257-
DipaiHuizhou Town13,991211-
LonghuaHuizhou Town33,423179-
LongjiangHuizhou Town23,16754.5-
LantianHuizhou Township7,716169-
ChengdongZhaoqing Subdistrict212,71817.8-
ChengxiZhaoqing Subdistrict114,83710.3-
ChengbeiZhaoqing Subdistrict-
ChengnanZhaoqing Subdistrict-
HuanggangZhaoqing Subdistrict88,27278-
MugangZhaoqing Subdistrict63,51559.5-
KengkouZhaoqing Subdistrict22,40695.5-
GuichengZhaoqing Subdistrict29,93023.3-
Guangli SubdistrictZhaoqing Subdistrict25,77528-
Yong'anZhaoqing Town29,73280.5-
ShapuZhaoqing Town15,598105.8-
FenghuangZhaoqing Town9,110145-
LianhuaZhaoqing Town32,13967-
Nan'anZhaoqing Subdistrict81,88636.5-
HetaiZhaoqing Town33,660150-
LechengZhaoqing Town24,33794-
ShuinanZhaoqing Town11,598126-
LubuZhaoqing Town63,488254-
XiaoxiangZhaoqing Town30,964200-
DawanZhaoqing Town34,535108-
XinqiaoZhaoqing Town39,26541.8-
BaizhuZhaoqing Town36,977128-
LiantangZhaoqing Town58,429125-
HuodaoZhaoqing Town41,358228-
JiaotangZhaoqing Town33,060130-
HuilongZhaoqing Town25,426124.25-
BaituZhaoqing Town71,430108.4-
JinduZhaoqing Town43,623101.23-
JinliZhaoqing Town93,792141.3-
XiangangZhaoqing Town29,29296.6-
PaishaZhaoqing Town20,527154-
TanpuZhaoqing Town20,844132.6-
JiangtunZhaoqing Town43,155238.12-
LianheZhaoqing Town-
LuogangZhaoqing Town9,442105-
BeishiZhaoqing Town16,458230-
KengkouZhaoqing Town21,002181-
ChikengZhaoqing Town12,596181-
NanjieZhaoqing Town118,259189.3-
BinhengZhaoqing Town38,523171.33-
ShijianZhaoqing Town-
WuheZhaoqing Town17,639116.32-
HengshanZhaoqing Town34,355137.5-
MugeZhaoqing Town12,634126.05-
ShijuZhaoqing Town9,27283.56-
GushuiZhaoqing Town35,334263.7-
ZhouziZhaoqing Town13,90188.53-
HuaichengZhaoqing Town146,839262.02-
ZhagangZhaoqing Town17,66584.83-
Ao'ziZhaoqing Town32,777206.32-
WenlangZhaoqing Town16,54286.16-
GansaZhaoqing Town17,429132.21-
FenggangZhaoqing Town30,477277-
QiashuiZhaoqing Town28,193529-
LiangcunZhaoqing Town64,95288.9-
DagangZhaoqing Town59,455116-
GangpingZhaoqing Town30,11653.78-
LengkengZhaoqing Town95,881160.2-
ManingZhaoqing Town38,91358-
LangangZhaoqing Town17,593210-
YongguZhaoqing Town36,709189-
ShidongZhaoqing Town54,347325-
QiaotouZhaoqing Town44,647213-
ZhongzhouZhaoqing Town77.1140,524200.4-
LianmaiZhaoqing Town32,394119-
ShuaiZhaoqing Township7,57977.11-
JiangkouZhaoqing Town65,160177-
JiangchuanZhaoqing Town8,286120.08-
BaigouZhaoqing Town12,125142.3-
DazhouZhaoqing Town12,514161.84-
YulaoZhaoqing Town18,187118-
He'erkouZhaoqing Town21,483368-
LianduZhaoqing Town24,838256-
XinghuaZhaoqing Town23,277156.3-
LuodongZhaoqing Town21,205136.83-
ChanggangZhaoqing Town20,497152.64-
PingfengZhaoqing Town16,901107.67-
NanfengZhaoqing Town71,479306-
DayukouZhaoqing Town11,279129-
DupingZhaoqing Town8,913130.54-
JinzhuangZhaoqing Town27,247127.08-
Chang'anZhaoqing Town34,867139.04-
DechengZhaoqing Subdistrict58,87817.5-
XinxuZhaoqing Town23,892138-
HuilongZhaoqing Town17,401132.2-
GuanxuZhaoqing Town30,379292-
MaxuZhaoqing Town20,214163.75-
GaoliangZhaoqing Town28,944300-
MocunZhaoqing Town28,625300-
YongfengZhaoqing Town19,924160-
WulongZhaoqing Town14,207136-
BozhiZhaoqing Town15,308115.3-
FengcunZhaoqing Town27,344160-
YuechengZhaoqing Town31,544221-
JiushiZhaoqing Town24,551152.6-
DongchengZhaoqing Subdistrict101,42846-
ChengzhongZhaoqing Subdistrict142,57784-
ZhenshanZhaoqing Subdistrict35,922100.68-
LongfuZhaoqing Town17,979103-
DedouZhaoqing Town18,35189.7-
WeizhengZhaoqing Town12,04763.9-
LuoyuanZhaoqing Town5,94526-
JingkouZhaoqing Town12,669101-
DashaZhaoqing Town46,12080-
ShigouZhaoqing Town16,170142-
HuangtianZhaoqing Town10,74389.6-
JiangguZhaoqing Town27,17782.4-
XiamaoZhaoqing Town24,579107.5-
Central and WesternHong KongDistrict251,51912.420,102
EasternHong KongDistrict588,09418.531,664
SouthernHong KongDistrict278,65538.87,083
Wan ChaiHong KongDistrict152,6089.815,788
Sham Shui PoHong KongDistrict380,8559.339,095
Kowloon CityHong KongDistrict377,35110.036,178
Kwun TongHong KongDistrict622,15211.252,123
Wong Tai SinHong KongDistrict420,1839.345,540
Yau Tsim MongHong KongDistrict307,8786.940,136
Kwai TsingHong KongDistrict511,16723.322,421
NorthHong KongDistrict304,134136.62,055
Sai KungHong KongDistrict436,627129.63,135
Sha TinHong KongDistrict630,27368.78,842
Tai PoHong KongDistrict296,853136.12,156
Tsuen WanHong KongDistrict304,63761.74,679
Tuen MunHong KongDistrict487,54682.86,057
Yuen LongHong KongDistrict578,529138.43,858
IslandsHong KongDistrict141,327175.1783
Nossa Senhora de FátimaMacauFreguesia211,8003.266,187
Santo AntónioMacauFreguesia120,6001.1109,636
São LázaroMacauFreguesia31,9000.653,166
MacauFreguesia46,1003.413,558
São LourençoMacauFreguesia47,2001.047,200
Nossa Senhora do CarmoMacauFreguesia78,0007.610,263
São Francisco XavierMacauFreguesia4,0007.6526
CotaiMacauFreguesian/a5.8n/a

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."
However, the Chinese government denied that such a project existed.

Pollution

The Pearl River Delta is notoriously polluted, with sewage and industrial waste treatment facilities 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.
Pollution is a great risk to the Chinese white dolphins that inhabit the area.
On March 22, 2007 the World Bank approved a $96 million loan to the PRC government to reduce water pollution in the Pearl River Delta. On December 23, 2008 it was announced that ¥48.6 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.
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. 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 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. 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.