Urbana’s Chinese Sister City – Haizhu District, City of Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
Guangzhou is located on the Pearl River, China’s third largest river, 80 km north of Hong Kong. Haizhu District (population 1 million) is one of several districts in the City of Guangzhou (population est. 13 million in 2019) in south-central Guangdong Province.
Legend has it that in ancient times the residents of Guangzhou were saved from famine by the arrival of the Five Immortals, who appeared in the village riding five rams bearing stalks of rice. Thus, the city is known as “Five-Goat City” or “City of Flowers.”
Initial Contact with Guangzhou
Mayor Laurel Prussing made Urbana’s initial contact with Guangzhou in 2010 when she was invited to join a delegation from Sister Cities International traveling to attend an International Water Quality Summit in China.
The Mayor received a “Memorandum on the Establishment of Friendly Relationship between the City of Urbana, Illinois, The United States of America and Haizhu District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, The People’s Republic of China” on May 18, 2012.
On May 29 - 30, 2012, Mr. Hongan Ma led a delegation from Guangzhou City to visit Urbana. The delegation met the Mayor and staff, toured the city, and enjoyed a dinner at Silver Creek Restaurant before continuing to other destinations.
Other Visits and Projects with Guangzhou
In 2013 Urbana was invited to participate in the Sino-African Initiative, a grant program funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and managed through Sister Cities International. Urbana sent a delegation to China to strengthen its Sister Cities Partnership with the Haizhu District of Guangzhou City, China, in August 2013.
The visit’s aim was to form a formal partnership and invite the Chinese to participate in the tri-lateral SAI grant project. This project was designed to bring together a city in the United States and its Chinese Sister City as partners to collaborate with an African Sister City to improve sanitation and health in the African community. Over a two year period (2012–2013), team members traveled between China and Africa as part of the project. The successful completion of the SAI grant project culminated in a closing conference and award ceremony held in Washington, DC.
In 2015, an international exchange delegation of Chinese diplomats came to Urbana. The Chinese visitors toured Urbana, the University campus, and Urbana’s public schools. They observed a Chinese culture and language class at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School.
We look forward to continuing our Sister Cities friendship with Haizhu through exchanges and other creative projects.