Moving to China

Guangzhou, referred to in older times as "Canton", is the capital city of Guangdong Province in southern China. The city is located at the mouth of the Pearl River, and enjoys very close proximity to Hong Kong which is about 120 km south of Guangzhou. Zhujiang (The Pearl River) runs through Guangzhou and is China's third longest river. With its sub-tropical climate, the city is always green and flowers are in bloom all-year round. Guangzhou has hence earned a reputation as the "Flower City" of China.

Guangzhou's climate does not have very distinctive seasons. Summer, which lasts from mid-April until September, is very hot and humid with plenty of tropical showers. These months count for over 80% of the annual rainfall, which stands at about 1800mm. The hottest months are July and August, with an average temperature of 30 C. The summer heat is exacerbated by the high humidity. The coolest months of the year are from December to February.

The official language in China is Mandarin, or Putonghua. In Guangzhou the local dialect is Cantonese, however many people, except perhaps some members of the older generation, can also speak Mandarin. Very few people speak English, so obtaining a basic grasp of the language will help enormously with everyday living.