Situated in the south central area of Guangdong, the city is on the east bank of the Zhujiang estuary, south of Guangzhou, north of Shenzhen and in the proximity of Hong Kong, a strategic location in the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong economic corridor.

Natural environment

Located south of the Tropic of Cancer, it has a subtropical oceanic climate. The average annual temperature is 22.8¡ãC and the average rainfall is 1,756.8 millimeters. Dongguan is a characteristic Pearl River Delta wetland, warm and rich in resources, and it is well know in the area for its rice, banana, lichee, longan, and aquatic produce.

Facing the South Sea, Dongguan has 150 square kilometers of sea area and 116 kilometers of coastline as well as 4 rivers, 5 lakes and 6 mountains.

Living environment

Of the total area of Dongguan, 27% is water, 25% forest land, and 13% plow land, while 35% of its land area has been fully developed.

Dongguan is a typical conurbation consisting of an urban core and 28 town clusters. There are 951 parks and promenades covering a total area of 2,881 hectares. The overall vegetation coverage rate is 41.23%.

Natural and cultural heritage

There are 4 natural reserves and 16 forest parks in Dongguan covering a total area of 30,000 hectares, accounting for 12.3% of the total land area. Dongguan has 3,138 old trees, including one aged more than 1,000 years and 73 more than 500 years.

Dongguan has 96 protected relic sites; they include 7 at provincial level, 84 at municipal level and 5 significantly-protected sites at national level.

A Glimpse of Dongguan's Landscape - Songshan Lake mist

The Songshan Science and Industrial Park lies around the Songshan Lake, which perfectly balances science, technology and landscape. The 8-square-kilometer lake, surrounded by green hills, has fresh and clean air as well as flocks of birds that fly and tweet all around it. When the lake is covered by mist and drizzle, it resembles a bashful young maid looking through her veil. When the drizzle leads way to the rainbow, rosy clouds glide above the water's surface. Along the lake, there is the 42 kilometer Lakeside Road, full of greenery, lychee and other fruit trees. The tree tops dance to the rhythm of the flowing breeze, releasing their sweet appealing fruity scent through the air. All along the Lakeside Road, tiny colorful flowers display their beauty on a carpet of green grass, making visitors relax and unwind. It is a natural scenic spot of unparalleled relaxation and refreshing features.

Dongguan government Web site