Pearl River

References

Images

Pearl River

river, China

Also known as: Canton River, Zhu River

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

Pearl River — Pearl River Ferries along the wharf of the Pearl River, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China.

The Pearl River is a river system in southern China, formed by the convergence of the Xi, Bei, and Dong rivers. This extensive delta region in Guangdong province is a densely populated area with significant agricultural and industrial development. The Pearl River itself flows south from Guangzhou and empties into the South China Sea.123

It is important to note that there is also a Pearl River located in the southern United States, which flows through Mississippi and Louisiana before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico.4

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Guangdong
Drainage
The Pearl River itself, extending southward from Guangzhou, receives the Dong River and opens into its triangular estuary that has Macau (west) and Hong Kong (east) at its mouth. Entirely rain-fed, these rivers are subject to extreme seasonal fluctuations, and they collect so much water that,…
Read More
The Pearl River itself, extending southward from Guangzhou, receives the Dong River and opens into its triangular estuary that has Macau (west) and Hong Kong (east) at its mouth. Entirely rain-fed, these rivers are subject to extreme seasonal fluctuations, and they collect so much water that,…
Read More

Guangzhou
City site
…the north bank of the Pearl River, which branches off the Xi (West) River before meeting with the Dong (East) River and forms the northern border of the immense Pearl River Delta to the south.
Read More
…the north bank of the Pearl River, which branches off the Xi (West) River before meeting with the Dong (East) River and forms the northern border of the immense Pearl River Delta to the south.
Read More

China
The Nan Mountains
…to the north and the Pearl (Zhu) River to the south. The main peaks along the watershed are above 5,000 feet, and some are more than 6,500 feet. But a large part of the land to the south of the Nan Mountains is also hilly; flatland does not exceed 10…
Read More
…to the north and the Pearl (Zhu) River to the south. The main peaks along the watershed are above 5,000 feet, and some are more than 6,500 feet. But a large part of the land to the south of the Nan Mountains is also hilly; flatland does not exceed 10…
Read More

Xi River system
Land
…the delta’s main channel, the Pearl River, just below Guangzhou (Canton). The Pearl River itself begins just below Guangzhou; Hong Kong is to the east and Macau to the west of the entrance to the Pearl River estuary, which is about 18 miles (29 km) wide.
Read More
…the delta’s main channel, the Pearl River, just below Guangzhou (Canton). The Pearl River itself begins just below Guangzhou; Hong Kong is to the east and Macau to the west of the entrance to the Pearl River estuary, which is about 18 miles (29 km) wide.
Read More