Panyu, Guangzhou


Panyu, formerly romanized as Punyü, is one of 11 urban districts of the prefecture-level city of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province, China. Since January 1975, Panyu County has been under Guangzhou's administration. In 1992, Panyu County was renamed to Panyu county-level city, still under Guangzhou's administration. It was subsequently renamed to Panyu District on 10 July 2000. The present district covers an area of about.

Geography

Panyu lies at the heart of the Pearl River Delta. It extends from latitudes 22.26' to 23.05', and from longitudes 113.14' to 113.42'. Facing the Lion Sea in the east and the estuary of the Pearl River in the south, its eastern border is separated from Dongguan by a strip of water, and the western border of Panyu is adjacent to the cities of Nanhai, Shunde and Zhongshan, while it abuts Haizhu District in the north. The site of the People's government of Panyu is Shiqiao which is from downtown Guangzhou and from the cities of Hong Kong and Macau, respectively. Shiqiao may have once been called "Stone Bridge town", but because of war, the characters changed, so Shiqiao was rewritten using the characters for "city" and "bridge".

History

The Chinese settlement at Panyu was established by the Qin armies under Zhao Tuo during their first failed invasion of the Baiyue in Guangdong in 214 BC. There are at least 11 separate theories on the etymology of the name. Upon the fall of the Qin, Zhao Tuo established Panyu as the capital of his kingdom of Nanyue in 204 BC. Archaeological evidence shows that it was a burgeoning commercial center: among the present material object remnants, there are those of Southeast Asian, Indian, and even African origin.
Yuexiu District, most of Baiyun and Huangpu Districts, parts of Liwan, all parts of
Haizhu District, Tianhe District as well as Panyu District were originally part of Panyu County but were ceded to Guangzhou as it expanded except Panyu District. In January 1975, Panyu County is under Guangzhou's administration. In 1992, Panyu County renamed to Panyu county-level city and still under Guangzhou's administration. It renamed to Panyu District on 10 July 2000. By 28 April 2005, the southern part of Panyu was split off as the new Nansha District. On 30 September 2012, three southern towns of Panyu—Dongchong, Dagang, and Lanhe—were removed to Nansha's jurisdiction.

Administrative divisions

Panyu district administers ten subdistricts and six towns. The district's executive and legislative headquarters, and its judiciary are based in the Shiqiao, together with the CPC and PSB branches. On 1 December 2012 three towns were transferred to Nansha District.
NameChinese Hanyu PinyinCanton RomanizationPopulation Area
Shiqiao Subdistrict市桥街道Shìqiáo Jiēdàoxi5 kiu4 gai1 dou6168,70120.15
Zhongcun Subdistrict钟村街道Zhōngcūn Jiēdàozung1 qun1 gai1 dou6104,59823.41
Shibi Subdistrict石壁街道Shíbì Jiēdàoség6 big1 gai1 dou632,98927.01
Dashi Subdistrict大石街道Dàshí Jiēdàodai6 ség6 gai1 dou6116,10719.34
Luopu Subdistrict洛浦街道Luòpǔ Jiēdàolog6 pou2 gai1 dou689,29425.38
Dalong Subdistrict大龙街道Dàlóng Jiēdàodai6 lung4 gai1 dou6129,51524.80
Donghuan Subdistrict东环街道Dōnghuán Jiēdàodung1 wan4 gai1 dou652,96511.00
Qiaonan Subdistrict桥南街道Qiáonán Jiēdàokiu4 nam4 gai1 dou672,69517.85
Shatou Subdistrict沙头街道Shātóu Jiēdàosa1 teo4 gai1 dou635,20118.10
Xiaoguwei Subdistrict小谷围街道Xiǎogǔwéi Jiēdàoxiu2 gug1 wei4 gai1 dou6131,47020.15
Nancun town南村镇Náncūn Zhènnam4 qun1 zan3129,07647.00
Xinzao town新造镇Xīnzào Zhènsen1 lung4 zou6 zan327,24814.12
Hualong town化龙镇Huàlóng Zhènfa3 lung4 zan353,14255.70
Shilou town石楼镇Shílóu Zhènség6 leo4 zan390,381126.50
Shiqi town石碁镇Shíqí Zhènség6 gei1 zen397,43471.26
Shawan town沙湾镇Shāwān Zhènsaa1 waan1 zan388,69537.45

Transfer Towns

The following towns have been abolished, some by absorption into the Development zone of the Nansha District.
Under its various Subdistricts and Towns, Panyu has 305 administration villages - i.e. 305 village governments.
There are other 'natural villages' which administratively count as being in one or another of the administration villages.

Climate

Economy

Statistics shows that in the year 1998, the GDP in the district was 33.25 billion yuan, an increase of 13% over the previous year, and the GDP per capita was 35.5 thousand Yuan, an increase of 11% compared with the previous year.
The amusement park operator Chimelong has its headquarters on the grounds of Chimelong Paradise in the district.

Transportation

serve parts of Panyu District. Line 2 was extended into the district in September 2010.
Guangzhou South railway station, the main high-speed railway station serving Guangzhou, is situated within the boundaries of Panyu District.
Panyu Public Transport operates buses in the district.

Metro

Panyu is currently serviced by seven metro lines operated by Guangzhou Metro:
The Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center includes more than ten higher education institutions.
Schools for Chinese students:
International schools:
People born in or with family links to the Panyu District:

International Relations

Panyu has a cooperational agreement with: