Jiangmen: The ancestral home of millions and a hub of global industrial ambition

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Known as the ancestral homeland for four million overseas Chinese, Jiangmen is a sprawling prefecture-level city in Guangdong. Beyond its deep cultural roots and historic fortified towers, this Pearl River Delta powerhouse balances a massive manufacturing sector with ambitious plans for high-tech development and sustainable economic integration.

Located on the lower reaches of the Xi and Tan rivers, Jiangmen serves as a critical node in southern China. The city encompasses a diverse geography, including three urban districts and the rural hinterland historically known as the Four Counties, or Siyi. This region holds profound significance for the Chinese diaspora, as it is the ancestral home to approximately 4 million people living across 107 countries. This heritage is physically manifested in the Kaiping diaolou, or Gold Mountain Towers, which remain a striking architectural legacy of the mass emigration era prior to World War II.

Jiangmen’s modern identity is defined by its rapid industrial and infrastructural evolution. Forced open as a treaty port in 1904, the city has transformed into a manufacturing base for industries ranging from high-speed rail and motorcycles to electronics and food products. Global corporations, including BP, Hyundai, and Panasonic, maintain a presence here. The city’s strategic importance is further underscored by the 2020 opening of the Jiangmen Station, a major hub in the West Pearl River Delta Transportation Center, which facilitates connections to the nation’s high-speed rail network.

The city’s path has not been without friction. In 2013, a proposed $6.5 billion uranium processing plant was abandoned following public protests, reflecting a local prioritization of environmental and social concerns. Today, the government emphasizes sustainable tourism and high-tech growth, as evidenced by the Jiangmen Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone. With a 2020 population of nearly 4.8 million, Jiangmen continues to navigate the complexities of being both a traditional qiao'xiang—an ancestral homeland—and a modern, globally connected economic engine in the heart of the Pearl River Delta.

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