South China (pinyin: Huá'nán; Jyutping: waa4 naam4) is a geographical and cultural region that covers the southernmost part of China. Its precise meaning varies with context. A notable feature of South China in comparison to the rest of China proper is that most of its citizens are not native speakers of Standard Chinese.
South China | |
|---|---|
| 華南 (Chinese) | |
 The three southernmost provinces of China—Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan—commonly defined as South China
Expanded definition of South China based on the 1945–1949 classification, including additional southern provinces
Broad concept of Southern China encompassing a wider geographical and cultural region | |
| Country |  China |
| Provinces & SARs | |
| Major cities | |
| Population | |
• Total | 195.5 million |
| Demonym | South Chinese |
| Time zone | UTC+08:00 (China Standard) |
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Definition
editSouthern China
edit"Southern China" (simplified Chinese: 中国南方; traditional Chinese: 中國南方) is geographically defined as the vast region south of the Qinling–Huaihe Line. This division is based on differences in climate, economic production, transportation, and culture. The southern region is characterized by a subtropical monsoon climate and tropical monsoon climate, with winters that are mild and rarely snowy. The climate is generally warm, rice is the primary grain crop, and historically, waterways were the main mode of transportation.
South China
edit
"South China" (simplified Chinese: 华南; traditional Chinese: 華南) specifically refers to Lingnan, meaning the region "south of the Wuling Mountains", the mountain which roughly goes near the 28th parallel north.
When Republic of China held its power in the mainland before 1949, South China was defined as comprising six provinces: Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Fujian, and Taiwan, collectively referred to as the 'Six Provinces of South China'.[citation needed]
In June 1946, the Chinese Communist Party established CCP Bureau of South China in Hong Kong.[1] During the Second Chinese Civil War, CCP Bureau of Southeast China was established, following the incorporation of Guizhou and Yunnan into that region.[citation needed]
From 1949 to 1997, there are only three provinces in South China region, which are Guangdong Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Hainan Province. After the handover of Hong Kong and Macau by United Kingdom and Portugal, these two regions are now also considered part of South China.[citation needed]
Administrative divisions
edit| GB[2] | ISO №[3] | Province | Chinese Name | Capital | Population | Density | Area | Abbreviation | Abbr. in Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuè | 44 | Guangdong Province | 广东省 Guǎngdōng Shěng Gwong2dung1 Saang2 |
Guangzhou | 104,303,132 | 579.46 | 180,000 | GD | 粤 |
| Guì | 45 | Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region | 广西壮族自治区 Guǎngxī Zhuàngzú Zìzhìqū Gwong2sai1 Zong3zuk6 Zi6zi6keoi1 |
Nanning | 46,026,629 | 195.02 | 236,000 | GX | 桂 |
| Qióng | 46 | Hainan Province | 海南省 Hǎinán Shěng Háinâm Téng |
Haikou | 8,671,518 | 255.04 | 34,000 | HI | 琼 |
| Gǎng | 91 | Hong Kong Special Administrative Region | 香港特别行政区 Xiānggǎng Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū Hoeng2gong1 Dak6bit6 Hang4zing3keoi1 |
Tamar | 7,061,200 | 6,396.01 | 1,104 | HK | 港 |
| Ào | 92 | Macau Special Administrative Region | 澳门特别行政区 Àomén Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū Ou3mun2 Dak6bit6 Han4zing3keoi1 |
Macau | 552,300 | 19,044.82 | 29 | MC | 澳 |
Cities with urban area over one million in population
editProvincial capitals in bold.
| # | City | Urban area[4] | District area[4] | City proper[4] | Prov. | Census date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shenzhen | 10,358,381 | 10,358,381 | 10,358,381 | GD | 2010-11-01 |
| 2 | Guangzhou | 9,702,144 | 11,071,424 | 12,701,948 | GD | 2010-11-01 |
| 3 | Dongguan | 7,271,322 | 8,220,207 | 8,220,207 | GD | 2010-11-01 |
| 4 | Hong Kong | 7,071,576 | 7,071,576 | 7,071,576 | HK | 2011-06-30[5] |
| 5 | Foshan | 6,771,895 | 7,197,394 | 7,197,394 | GD | 2010-11-01 |
| 6 | Shantou | 3,644,017 | 5,329,024 | 5,389,328 | GD | 2010-11-01 |
| 7 | Zhongshan | 2,740,994 | 3,121,275 | 3,121,275 | GD | 2010-11-01 |
| 8 | Nanning | 2,660,833 | 3,434,303 | 6,658,742 | GX | 2010-11-01 |
| 9 | Huizhou | 1,807,858 | 2,344,634 | 4,598,402 | GD | 2010-11-01 |
| 10 | Haikou | 1,517,410 | 2,046,170 | 2,046,170 | HI | 2010-11-01 |
| 11 | Jiangmen | 1,480,023 | 1,822,614 | 4,450,703 | GD | 2010-11-01 |
| 12 | Liuzhou | 1,410,712 | 1,436,599 | 3,758,704 | GX | 2010-11-01 |
| 13 | Zhuhai | 1,369,538 | 1,562,530 | 1,562,530 | GD | 2010-11-01 |
| 14 | Zhanjiang | 1,038,762 | 1,611,868 | 6,994,832 | GD | 2010-11-01 |
| 15 | Macau | 552,503 | 552,503 | 552,503 | MO | 2011-08-12[6] |
Education
editSouth China has accumulated substantial wealth and established several prestigious universities. Notably, the University of Hong Kong was founded in 1887 in British Hong Kong, becoming the region’s first modern university and a leading institution for English-language higher education in Asia. In 1924, Sun Yat-sen University was established in Guangzhou by Sun Yat-sen, serving as a cornerstone of modern Chinese higher education in the mainland.[citation needed]
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Guangzhou was designated as the central city of South China, leading to the establishment of several key regional universities. These include South China University of Technology, known for its engineering and materials science; South China Normal University, a major center for teacher education; South China Agricultural University, specializing in tropical and subtropical agriculture; and Jinan University, one of the oldest institutions in China, with a unique focus on overseas Chinese education.[citation needed]
Following China's Reform and opening-up policy in the late 1970s, the city of Shenzhen experienced rapid economic growth and emerged as a major innovation and technology hub. In response, Shenzhen University got rapid development, and several prominent universities established branch campuses or new institutions in this city. For example, Tsinghua University launched the Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, and Peking University established the Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School. In addition, the newly founded Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) quickly gained recognition as a high-caliber research university with international faculty and strong emphasis on science and engineering.[7]
Guangdong
editGuangxi and Hainan
editHong Kong and Macau
editNamesake
edit- South China tiger (southern China)
- South China Morning Post (Hong Kong, South China)
- Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market (Wuhan, Central China)
- South China Athletic Association (Hong Kong SAR, China)
See also
edit- Lingnan
- List of regions of China
- Southern China
- South Central China — includes South China and "Central China" provincial-level subdivisions.
- Southern China
References
edit- ↑ "新中国成立初期设立六大行政区的历史原因_历史_凤凰网". news.ifeng.com. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ↑ GB/T 2260 codes for the provinces of China
- ↑ ISO 3166-2:CN (ISO 3166-2 codes for the provinces of China)
- 1 2 3 国务院人口普查办公室; 国家统计局人口和社会科技统计司, eds. (2012). 中国2010年人口普查分县资料. Beijing: China Statistics Press [China Statistics Press]. ISBN 978-7-5037-6659-6.
- ↑ Census and Statistics Department, ed. (2012). 香港2011年人口普查 – 主要報告. Hong Kong: Government Logistics Department.
- ↑ Direcção dos Serviços de Estatística e Censos, Macau (2012). 15th Macau Census (2011). Macau: Direcção dos Serviços de Estatística e Censos.
- ↑ Xiao, Jin (1 January 1998). "Education expansion in Shenzhen, China: Its interface with economic development". International Journal of Educational Development. 18 (1): 3–19. doi:10.1016/S0738-0593(97)00025-4. ISSN 0738-0593.
External links
edit
Media related to China Southeast at Wikimedia Commons- Media related to China South-Central at Wikimedia Commons
