Huangpu District

History

During the Canton trade, Changzhou was known as "Dane's Island" and used by Danish crews for repairs and burials. It lay on the eastern side of the Huangpu or "Whampoa" anchorage, named for Huangpu Island (now Pazhou in Haizhu District). The Whampoa Military Academy was founded on Changzhou in 1924.

Huangpu district played an important role in China's economic development. Originally called "Guangzhou Development District", it was one of the first economic and technological development districts in China.

On 12 February 2014, Luogang District was dissolved by China's central government and its area added to Huangpu.

According to historical records, the family of one of the first two Chinese to immigrate to Germany in 1821/22 originally came from Huangpu. In an 1822 essay for the magazine Isis, Lorenz Oken described the two Chinese immigrants as "Aßing von Heong San, Aho von Wong Bu". As Rainer Schwarz argues, "Wong Bu" refers to the old transliteration "Whampoa", which means the family of Aho (whose actual name appears to have been FENG Yaxue) originated from the area that is today Huangpu District.

The new Huangpu district covers an area of 480.56 square kilometers.

Population

As of the end of 2021, Whampoa District had a resident population of 1,197,900, with a population density of 2,474 people per square kilometer. The total household population was 636,600, an increase of 36,300 over the previous year, or a year-on-year increase of 6.1%. The birth rate of the household population was 17.6 per thousand, the death rate was 3.8 per thousand, and the natural population growth rate was 13.8 per thousand.

Administrative divisions

In September 2017, Huangpu District and Guangzhou Development District were deeply integrated. On September 18, 2018, Luogang Street was abolished and new Luogang Street and Changling Street were established; Lilian Street and East District Street were abolished and Yunpu Street was established.On March 7, 2019, Nine Dragons Town was abolished and Xinlong Town, Nine Buddhas Street and Longhu Street were established; on March 27, Yunpu Street was put up for establishment; on March 28, Changling Street was established; on March 30, the new Luogang Street was established.

Economy

Huangpu District is the major innovation carrier for the Greater Bay Area which aims to make Guangzhou China's national core city and an integrated gateway. It will cultivate as a technological, educational, and cultural center, and develop as an international metropolis [1].

According to the unified accounting results of Guangzhou's regional gross domestic product (GDP), Huangpu District realized a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 431.517 billion yuan in 2023, with a year-on-year growth of 1.2%. Among them, the added value of primary industry was 534 million yuan, an increase of 10.1% year-on-year; the added value of secondary industry was 232.594 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 2.0%; the added value of tertiary industry was 198.390 billion yuan, an increase of 5.5% year-on-year; the structure of the three industries was adjusted to 0.1 : 53.9 : 46.0, with the proportion of the tertiary industry increasing by 3.8 percentage points compared with that of the previous year. The annual per capita GDP was 357,500 yuan, an increase of 0.2% year-on-year, higher than the city's average level of 195,900 yuan, 2.2 times the city's average level.

A series of innovative reforms were introduced, establishing national-level import trade promotion zones and enhancing the business ecosystem. This led to over 400 signed projects with investments exceeding 350 billion yuan, reinforcing Guangzhou's appeal to domestic and international investors.

In the first half of 2025, Guangzhou's Huangpu District continued to play a central role as a hub for technological innovation and advanced manufacturing in the Greater Bay Area. In manufacturing, Huangpu accelerated the development of key sectors such as high-end equipment, semiconductors, and new materials. Industry leaders including GAC AION, GE, Sany, SMIC, and Foxconn have established strong operations in the district, contributing to a robust ecosystem in smart vehicles, intelligent manufacturing, and green energy. The district has introduced a "Manufacturing First" policy suite to promote digital transformation and sustainability in its industrial base.

In 2023, Huangpu District in Guangzhou reported total research and experimental development (R&D) expenditure of RMB 29.383 billion, with R&D intensity (R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP) reaching 6.81 percent, ranking highest among all Guangzhou districts. In 2024, Huangpu District recorded a gross domestic product (GDP) of 433.89 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 2.2% in real terms according to unified GDP accounting results for Guangzhou.

Industry Sectors

The division between primary, secondary and tertiary sectors has shifted since 2015. Back then, the tertiary sector accounted for 29.1% of Huangpu District's GDP, while the secondary sector accounted for 70.6% and the primary sector for only 0.3%. In 2019, the tertiary sector accounted for 35.7% of Huangpu District's GDP, with the secondary sector accounting for 64.1% and the primary sector having fallen to 0.2%. Thus, although the share of the tertiary sector has been growing, the dominating industry in Huangpu is still the secondary industry.

The dominance of the secondary sector can also be seen from the growing industrial output. Between 2017 and 2019, total industrial output value above designated size rose from RMB 745.91 Billion to RMB 739.65 Billion. Sector-wise, the total industrial output is divided as follows:

In 2021, Huangpu District counted a total of over 1,000 national institutions including laboratories, technology innovation centers, a series of Chinese Academy of Sciences institutes and various high-end R&D centers, accounting for half of Guangzhou's total. Furthermore, it is home to nine provincial high-level innovation institutes, accounting for two-thirds of the total in Guangdong Province.

According to the GDD official overview, Huangpu is anchored by several major industrial clusters, including five 500-billion-yuan–level clusters and three 10-billion-yuan–level clusters.

Huangpu district's automotive industry achieved a total industrial output value of RMB 167.88 billion in 2019. Companies present in Huangpu include Magna, Webasto, JATCO, Honda, Xpeng Motors, Stanley Electric, and Baoneng Motor.

Huangpu district's electronics industry achieved a total industrial output value of RMB 162.41 billion in 2019. Companies present include LG, Jabil Circuit, and Skyworth. Another notable company is Guangzhou Shiyuan Electronic Technology Company Limited, an LCD controller board supplier headquartered in Huangpu. From its founding in 2005, the LCD controller board supplier has grown to occupy over 29% of global and 61% of China's domestic market share in 2019.

Huangpu district's energy industry achieved a total industrial output value of RMB 161.44 billion in 2019, drawing mainly from high-efficiency energy-saving equipment, the product considered most competitive in Huangpu district by Deloitte. Notable companies from the energy sector in Huangpu include China Southern Power Grid, Sinopec Group, Kinfa, Guangzhou Hengyun, Guangzhou Hirp Chemical, Guangdong Yuehua Power, and Guangzhou GCL Power.

Industry Clusters

Huangpu district is home to four industry clusters. First, the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City (CSGKC) focused on knowledge-intensive economy and future industries. Second, Huangpu Lingang Economic Zone focused on service industries. Third, Guangzhou Science City focused on innovation and research and development. Fourth, Guangzhou International Biotech Island focusing on biomedicine. All of them are supported through national subsidies and preferential policies.

CSGKC, also known as "Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City" or simply "Guangzhou Knowledge City", is focused on knowledge-intensive economy and future industries such as information technology, high-end equipment manufacturing, green economy, biomedicine, digital economy, new materials and artificial intelligence. It covers an area of 123 square kilometres. The area combines industrial development with supporting facilities, research and development institutes, residential areas and cultural attractions.

CSGKC is located around 35 km northeast of Guangzhou city centre and around 25 km from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. The area was started in 2010 as a greenfield master development by Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City Investment and Development Co., Ltd., a joint venture between Singapore-based CapitaLand and the district government of Huangpu. In 2018, the initiative was elevated to a bilateral state-level cooperation project between Singapore and the People's Republic of China. Since its inception, a total of 1,803 enterprises have registered in the area by 2020, with registered capital reaching US$21.35 billion and fixed asset investment reaching around US$20.35 billion.

CSGKC is home to several companies and projects. Notable among those is for instance Guangzhou CanSemi Technology, which runs the only 12-inch wafer production line in Guangdong province in the CSGKC. Another notable project is Baidu's Apollo R&D Centre, where smart vehicles are researched and tested.

GSGKC is also home to several academic institutions. First, the Sino-Singapore International Joint Research Institute jointly set up by the CSGKC Administrative Committee, South China University of Technology, Nanyang Technological University, and Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City Investment and Development Co., Ltd. The institute is staffed with Singaporian and Chinese professionals and focuses on the key industries of CSGKC detailed above. It engages in the research and development of new products and processes. In doing so, it cooperates with local companies and investors and incubates enterprises. Second, Huangpu Institute of the university of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (UCASS), which was set up in 2020.

Foreign economic activities

In 2021, the total import and export volume of Huangpu District reached US$48.12 billion, an increase of 17.3% year-on-year, accounting for 30.2% of the city's total import and export volume. The share of imports and exports in emerging markets continued to grow, with increased imports and exports activities mainly to ASEAN, the EU, South Korea and Mexico.

Regarding foreign investment activities, Huangpu District received US$5.625 billion in 2021, an increase of 26.6% year-on-year. There were 317 projects with contracted total foreign investment of US$3.801 billion in the tertiary sector, accounting for 67.6% of the total amount in the district, mainly concentrated in scientific R&D and experimental projects, leasing and business services, accounting for 47.5% and 24.2% of the total tertiary sector respectively.

Financial Institutions

The district is home to several different financial institutions. Among these are traditional banks (such as Guangzhou Rural Commercial Bank) and venture capitalists (such as Baidu Ventures or Korea Investment Partners). Nevertheless, banks amount to the most significant number (27 in December 2020), followed by insurers (25), financial lease (22), and others (19).

Among these institutions, the Guangdong Equity Exchange is particularly noteworthy. Being the only securities exchange in Guangdong Province, companies from all across the province are listed and displayed there. At the end of November 2020, their number totalled 19,726, with total financing and trading transactions of RMB 120.707 billion.

Transportation

Public Transportation

In terms of infrastructure, the district advanced its "rail + express" connectivity strategy. In June 2025, the northern section of Tram Line 2 officially opened, significantly enhancing access to key innovation parks. The Yongjiu Expressway was also completed, improving north-south connectivity with Baiyun and Huadu districts. Meanwhile, the landmark "Knowledge Tower" reached its structural peak, symbolizing the emergence of a new center for scientific and industrial development in Guangzhou Science City.

Metro

Huangpu is currently serviced by six lines on the Guangzhou Metro:

Line 5 - Yuzhu 13 , Dashadi, Dashadong 7 , Wenchong, Shuangsha, Miaotou, Xiayuan 13 , Baoying Dadao, Xiagang, Huangpu New Port

Line 6 - Huangbei, Jinfeng, Xiangang, Suyuan 21 , Luogang 7 , Xiangxue

Line 7 - Shenjing, Changzhou, Yufengwei 13 , Dashadong 5 , Jitang, Jiazhuang, Kefeng Lu, Luogang 6 , Shuixi 21 , Yanshan

Line 13 - Yuzhu 5 , Yufengwei 7 , Shuanggang, Nanhai God Temple, Xiayuan 5 , Nangang

Line 14 - Hongwei, Xinnan, Fengxia, Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City, Hetangxia, Wangcun, Tangcun, Zhenlongbei, Zhenlong 21

Line 21 - Shenzhoulu, Science City, Suyuan 6 , Shuixi 7 , Changping, Jinkeng, Zhenlongxi, Zhenlong 14

Education

Huangpu's education system is characterized primarily by its rapid growth and the expansion of universities and research projects.

Schools

The district features a wide range of public schools, such as the Guangzhou University-affiliated middle school (simplified Chinese: 广州大学附属中学; traditional Chinese: 廣州大學附屬中學; pinyin: Guǎngzhōu Dàxué Fùshǔ Zhōngxué; Jyutping: gwong2 zau1 daai6 hok6 fu6 suk6 zung1 hok6), which are spread over the "Huanghua Road Campus" and the "University Town Campus", as well as numerous others. Listing them would lead too far at this point, but they can be looked up under the given source.

Apart from public schools, the district also encompasses several private and international schools. Among them are for example:

Guangzhou International Primary School ZWIE (simplified Chinese: 广州市黄埔中黄外国语小学; traditional Chinese: 廣州市黃埔中黃外國語小學; pinyin: Guǎngzhōu Shì Huángpǔ Zhōnghuáng Wàiguóyǔ Xiǎoxué; Jyutping: gwong2 zau1 si5 wong4 bou3 zung1 wong4 ngoi6 gwok3 jyu5 siu2 hok6)

Guangzhou International Middle School Huangpu ZWIE (merged with Guangzhou International Primary School ZWIE in 2021 to offer consecutive 9-year education according to the International Baccalaureate standard)

North Anglia International School Guangzhou (simplified Chinese: Nord Anglia 广州外籍人员子女学校; traditional Chinese: Nord Anglia 廣州外籍人員子女學校; pinyin: Nord Anglia Guǎngzhōu Wàijí Rényuán Zǐnǚ Xuéxiào; Jyutping: Nord Anglia gwong2 zau1 ngoi6 zik6 jan4 jyun4 zi2 neoi5 hok6 haau6)

American International School of Guangzhou (simplified Chinese: 广州美国人国际学校; traditional Chinese: 廣州美國人國際學校; pinyin: Guǎngzhōu Měiguórén Guójì Xuéxiào; Jyutping: gwong2 zau1 mei5 gwok3 jan4 gwok3 zai3 hok6 haau6). Its middle and high school campus is located in the Guangzhou Science City (科学城; 科學城; Kēxuéchéng; fo1 hok6 sing4), in the former Luogang District.

ISA Science City International School (simplified Chinese: 广州科学城爱莎外籍人员子女学校; traditional Chinese: 廣州科學城愛莎外籍人員子女學校; pinyin: Guǎngzhōu Kēxuéchéng Àishā Wàijí Rényuán Zǐnǚ Xuéxiào; Jyutping: gwong2 zau1 fo1 hok6 sing4 ngoi3 saa1 ngoi6 zik6 jan4 jyun4 zi2 neoi5 hok6 haau6). An International Baccalaureate candidate school, It offers education from early childhood (starting from age two) to grade 12.

Universities

Throughout Guangdong Province, there are a large number of universities and colleges with a wide variety of orientations, of which about 30 are in the capital city of Guangzhou. Of the universities represented in Guangzhou, some have campuses in Huangpu, such as Guangzhou University, which maintains a research campus there. Foreign universities are also represented. For instance, the University of Birmingham maintains a research centre in Huangpu District.

In addition, there are ambitions to construct several universities in Huangpu. The district's "Vision 2035" plans to build its own Huangpu University (黄埔大学; 黃埔大學; Huángpǔ Dàxué; wong4 bou3 daai6 hok6) between 2021 and 2025. It also aims to form Guangzhou Jiaotong University (广州交通大学; 廣州交通大學; Guǎngzhōu Jiāotōng Dàxué; gwong2 zau1 gaau1 tung1 daai6 hok6) by merging several universities. On its website, the district government further specifies that the university, when completed, should cover a total area of over 780,000 square meters and provide space for teaching and offices. It is also expected to function as a new research center.

Huangpu is home to several research institutes that support research and development in the district. Some of them are operated by Huangpu's local universities, others affiliated with universities from other cities or countries. As detailed above, Guangzhou University and the University of Birmingham both maintain research institutes in Huangpu District, whilst the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City is home to the Sino-Singapore International Joint Research Institute and the Huangpu Institute of the university of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

In the future, according to the district's official website, there are plans to expand research institutions. For example, the Huangpu Research Institute of Guangzhou University has been under expansion since the end of 2021 and is expected to include its own academic exchange centre, offices and laboratories in the future. Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) plans to build a specific research institute in Huangpu in 2022. Both the research institute of Guangdong University and Guangzhou University are part of the comprehensive development plan of the specially launched "Science and Education Innovation Zone" (2020–2023) of CSGKC.

Large Talent Pool

Guangdong's 80% universities and 70% R&D agencies are located in Guangzhou, with over 500,000 graduates each year, providing a sufficient talent reserve for Huangpu.

The District has teams led by Nobel Prize Winners, and professional teams led by academicians Zhong Nanshan, Wang Xiaodong, Shi Yigong, etc. So far, over 100 academicians and 1,000 high-caliber talents have joined the District, making it a destination for talents in China.

Culture

Culturally, Huangpu District integrates with the customs and traditions of southern China and, in particular, with those of the surrounding southern Chinese province of Guangdong. Huangpu was first settled during the Neolithic period, and a number of cultural artifacts have survived to the present day, such as traditional Lingan buildings and gardens.

Boluodan Temple Fair, also known as the Nanhai God Temple Fair, has been held since the Song dynasty. It is a local temple fair in memory of the God Zhurong and to celebrate his birthday. As the only folk custom worshiping a sea god in China, Boluodan Temple Fair was selected among the third batch of Chinese intangible cultural heritage in 2011.