Zhongshan, a prefecture-level city under the direct jurisdiction of Guangdong province, has 23 affiliated towns and districts.

Located at the mid-south of the Pearl River Delta, it covers a total area of 1,781 square kilometers. It borders Guangzhou on the north and is adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao SARs, with an annual average temperature of 22.5 degrees Celsius.

The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link [Photo/zs.gov.cn]

Zhongshan has nurtured numerous prominent historical figures throughout its history. On November 12, 1866, Dr. Sun Yat-sen (Sun Zhongshan), the great forerunner of China's democratic revolution, was born at Cuiheng village of Xiangshan county. In memory of him, the county of Xiangshan, which was set up in 1152, was renamed after Dr. Sun as Zhongshan in 1925.

Zhongshan boasts rich cultural heritage and is known as the cradle of modern Chinese thought liberation and enlightenment. The city is the birthplace of many historical and cultural figures, including Sun Yat-sen, Cheng Kuan-ying (Chinese reformist active in the late Qing dynasty), Xiao Youmei (Chinese music educator and composer), Lyu Wencheng (Chinese composer and musician), and Ruan Lingyu (Chinese silent film actress). Zhongshan preserves a wealth of cultural relics and historical architecture, as well as a diverse array of intangible cultural heritage and folk traditions. In 2011, the State Council of China designated Zhongshan as a National Famous Historical and Cultural City.

The city is renowned for its abundant cultural and tourism resources and has been honored as an "Excellent Tourism City of China." It currently hosts 29 national A-level tourist attractions.

The Tourism Area of Sun Yat-sen's Hometown is located in Cuiheng village in Zhongshan city, Guangdong province [Photo/zs.gov.cn]

The city is also a famous ancestral homeland for overseas Chinese. Over 800,000 overseas Chinese living in 87 countries and regions around the world can trace their ancestry to Zhongshan.

Zhongshan's investing environment is very attractive. The city boasts of a total road mileage of 1,153 kilometers with a road network extending in all directions, mainly composed of national trunk roads, local trunk roads and Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway. Within a radius of 90 km, there are five big airports in the vicinity of Zhongshan, located respectively in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macao. Railways have access to all parts of China via Guangzhou. Zhongshan has established four major ports, including Zhongshan Port in the east, Shenwan Port in the south, and Xiaolan Port and Huangpu Port in the north.

In 2023, Zhongshan achieved a regional GDP growth of 5.6 percent, ranking fourth in the province and second in the Pearl River Delta region.

Zhongshan is currently focusing on substantial advancements in transportation infrastructure. The city is actively advancing the construction of several key projects, including the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge, the Guangzhou-Zhongshan-Jiangmen Expressway, the Shenzhen-Maoming Railway, and the Nansha Port Railway. Additionally, plans are underway for the integrated development of the metro network in the western part of the Greater Bay Area.

These efforts are directed towards establishing Zhongshan as a crucial comprehensive transportation hub in the western Greater Bay Area. The city's modern, multi-dimensional, and integrated transportation system is rapidly taking shape, enhancing connectivity and fostering regional development.

Official website: http://www.zs.gov.cn/ywb/