Guangdong fact file

As one of China's first provinces to "open up", Guangdong has become a popular destination for overseas talent.

Since 2008, Guangdong has employed 31,000 foreign professionals, of whom 27,000 are returnees, and 129 are well-known experts, including Nobel Prize winners and academics.

The province boasts the biggest number of foreign experts in the Chinese mainland. They mainly work in manufacturing, high-tech, education, scientific research and development, and the commercial and service industries. The majority come from the United States, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom.