Where is the Pearl River Delta?

The Pearl River Delta is in the Guangdong province of China. It is the area adjoining the Pearl River estuary where the Pearl River pours into the South China Sea. The area is very popular for its incredible infrastructure and thriving economy. It hosts a lot of major electronic and garment manufacturing industries. The Pearl River Delta was named the world largest megacity by the World Bank, superseding Tokyo. The region has nine zones which include Zhongshan, Zhao Qing, Foshan, Foshan, Guangzhou, Jiangmen, Shenzhen, Foshan, Dongguan, Huizhou, and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao.

Geography

The Pearl River Delta is made up of cities located along the Pearl River estuary, where it flows into the South China Sea. The zone occupies an area of around 70,000 square miles. The Pearl River Delta climate is a humid sub-tropical climate with an average annual temperature of 23°C. The area experiences heavy rainfall during the monsoon months between April and September with annual rainfall of about 1,700 millimeters and an annual sunshine amount between 1,900 and 2,300 hours. The different features found in the Pearl River Delta are wetlands, estuary, lowland, plain, dry land, and upland hill. The Pearl River Delta comprises Guangzhou which is the provincial capital city, as well as Shenzhen and Zhuhai which are the Special Economic Zones.

Population

Located in Southeastern China along the Pearl River estuary, the Pearl River Delta is highly populated and has a very high rate of urbanization. So far, the Pearl Delta is the highest populated area the world with an estimated population of over 1000 million people. The population in this region also includes immigrants from other parts of the country and the world. A large number of people have moved to the region due to the availability of jobs which can be attributed to the robust economy.

Economy

The Pearl River Delta has the fastest growing economy in China and the world. The region has a large number of manufacturing industries. The east part of the Pearl River Delta major on manufacturing electronics whereas the west part of the region focuses on household appliance production. The exports from the region are about 40% of the total export in China. The foreign direct investment in the region was 20.8% of the total national investment three years ago and has continued to rise. The growing economy in the area has lead to the rise of an affluent group of residents who have supported the growth of the consumer market.

Pollution

Rapid industrialization coupled with dense population has in a great way lead to environmental pollution in Pearl River Delta. Smog coming from the manufacturing industries in the area has lead to air pollution, which has led to severe negative effects on animal and human health. Effluence flowing from manufacturing processes often flows into the Pearl River contaminating it with harmful chemicals. Domestic sewerage has also contributed further to the pollution of the river. The World Bank has supported the clean-up of the river by providing finances of $7.1 billion dollars given to the region for that purpose.