Clichés and stereotypes about China abound. Such views are often shaped by exposure to two things. First, movies like Gremlins and Kurt Russell's hilarious classic Big Trouble in Little China. And second, exposure to the countless "Chinatowns" that have popped up in cities around the globe. The result is that the Western experience of "Chinese culture" is disproportionately shaped by the Cantonese culture that prevails in Guangdong Province. The reason for this is quite simple. China was long closed to the outside world, but Guangdong always remained open to trade with "foreign barbarians."

It's no surprise, then, that enterprising Cantonese made up the vast majority of Chinese emigrants headed to the USA, Canada, South Africa and Australia, lured by the promise of the then-occurring gold rushes in those countries. Today, those 20 million "overseas Chinese" target their ancestral home province for investment with the result that Guangdong is now one of China's main economic engines.

Bisected by the Tropic of Cancer and endowed with thousands of kilometers of shoreline on the South China Sea, Guangdong stays hot almost all year long, but its relative dearth of beaches and mainstream tourist attractions make it an unlikely destination for leisure travelers, except for Hong Kong shoppers looking for big discounts in Shenzhen's malls and markets.

Culinary adventurers, on the other hand, will find much to please—and challenge—the palate in Guangdong cuisine, from Guangzhou dim sum treats to dishes that seem to put the greater portion of the wild kingdom on the menu.

And those looking for a steamy look at the "real China" behind those countless Chinatowns and Chinese restaurants around the world are guaranteed to find plenty of surprises, especially if willing to wander a ways off the beaten path (for example, though "Guangdong beaches" isn't a tourist industry buzz phrase, there are a few gems tucked into that long coastline).

Today, a growing proportion of Guangdong's population is made up of migrant workers, most of whom work in the booming Pearl River Delta. The main focus is business and there is little to bind people together culturally. And while some visitors may feel that major cities like Shenzhen and Guangzhou are devoid of spirit, others will appreciate the diversity engendered by the influx of people from around China—and, increasingly, from around the world. Regardless, there are plenty of Guangdong attractions worth visiting if you find yourself traveling in the area, and many are fairly well-kept secrets.

Those looking to take in some of Guangdong's history will definitely want to check out the Opium War Museum as well as the Humen Naval Battle Museum both of which are located in or around the city of Dongguan. Also of historical interest is the Dr Sun Yatsen Residence Memorial Museum in Cuiheng. The Shenzhen Museum combines history with art and features over 20,000 jade, bronze and porcelain artifacts. The Guangzhou Museum of Art is housed in a strikingly modern building and puts on special exhibitions periodically.

If you're into nature, you won't want to miss Liang's Garden, one of the most beautiful in Guangdong. The city of Zhaoqing has Seven Star Crags Park, an island bounded by lakes where you can explore grottoes and caves. Dinghu Shan provides excellent walks which will take you by a butterfly reserve, waterfalls and the enormous Qingyun Temple.

Also notable for both their beauty and relative obscurity in the world of travel is the island of Donghai, near Zhanjiang, which offers a gorgeous 28 km beach, and the Nao An island group, another little-known paradise claiming to be the "Oriental Hawaii." Finally, Huguangyan National Scenic Area, also near Zhanjiang, features one of the largest maars (volcano lakes) in the world.

History

Going way back, we can trace Guangdong's history to the Qujiang Maba people who inhabited this lush, hilly land 130,000 years ago. Though the Chinese nation came into being around 221 BC, Guangdong remained briefly outside the main sphere of Chinese influence in the north, becoming a part of the first Chinese empire in 214 BC, when it fell under the rule of the Qin. Later, in 226, it became a proper province, named "Guang."

Much later, the Tang decided that Guang would be made part of the Lingnan (Mountain South) Circuit in 627 AD along with the Guangdong. It was renamed Guangnan East Circuit in 971 which eventually gave rise to "Guangdong."

The 13th Century saw the Southern Song Dynasty retreating from Mongol conquest. Their retreat took them all the way into Guangdong where they were finally defeated at the Battle of Yamen in 1279, the largest naval battle in all of history. 

Later, Guangdong would become the site of several historically significant events. The Opium War, the Taiping Rebellion, the 1898 Reform Movement, the 1911 Revolution, the Northern Expedition (1926-1927) and the Guangzhou Uprising all took place here.

Since 1979, when Guangdong re-opened to the outside world, dramatic changes have taken place. What was once an economically underdeveloped province has now vaulted ahead of all others to become the richest province in China.

Climate

Guangdong has a steamy, subtropical climate. Summers can be swelteringly hot and wet, humidity indexes often hitting the 90 mark and above. Typhoons hit this province frequently in summer and autumn. Annual rainfall averages nearly 1500-2000 millimeters, with about 140-160 days of precipitation per year. The hottest month is July, the mean highs being in the 28º Celsius zone, and the coolest mean temperatures in January hover around 13º Celsius. The best time to travel to Guangdong is spring and autumn.