Guangzhou (Chinese: 广州; Mandarin pronunciation: [kwɑ̀ŋʈʂóʊ̯]), known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about 120 km (75 mi) north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port. One of the five National Central Cities, it holds sub-provincial administrative status.

Guangzhou is the third largest city in China and southern China's largest city. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 12.78 million. Some estimates place the population of the entire Pearl River Delta Mega City built up area as high as 40 million including Shenzhen (10.36 million), Dongguan (8.22 million) and most parts of Foshan (7.19 million), Jiangmen (4.45 million), Zhongshan (3.12 million) and a small part of Huizhou adjoining Dongguan and Shenzhen, with an area of about 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 sq mi) (about the size of US state of New Jersey). In 2008 Guangzhou was identified as a Beta World City by the global city index produced by GaWC.

Zhang Linpeng (Chinese: 张琳芃; Pinyin: Zhāng Línpéng; born 9 May 1989) is a Chinese international footballer currently playing for Guangzhou Evergrande as a defender in the Chinese Super League. He is known by the nickname Zhangmos (Chinese：张莫斯) or Zhang Ramos (Chinese：张·拉莫斯) for his playing style and looking similar to Spanish footballer Sergio Ramos.

A highly promising youngster, Zhang Linpeng would quickly attract the interests of the Genbao Football Academy where he would graduate into the clubs senior team Shanghai East Asia at the beginning of the 2006 league season. With the club in the third tier Zhang would quickly make an impression within the team when he was part of the squad that won promotion to the second tier at the end of the 2007 league season. Within the second tier Zhang would play a major part in ensuring the club remained in the division and by the 2009 Chinese League One season the club finished fourth and just missed out on premotion. His performance for his club would then see him receive an unexpected call-up to the Chinese national team where he impressed many by scoring within his debut against Jordan. This would then see Zhang become the most sought after player within China before he transferred to top tier Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande for a fee of ¥12 million in November 2010. With Guangzhou he would go on to make his league debut against Dalian Shide on April 2, 2011 in a 1-0 victory. Throughout the season Zhang would be used as a squad player as Guangzhou would win their first ever league title at the end of the 2011 Chinese Super League season.

Gao Lin (Chinese: 郜林; pinyin: Gào Lín; born 14 February 1986 in Zhengzhou, Henan) is a Chinese football player who currently plays for Guangzhou F.C. as a striker in the Chinese Super League. He is also a member of Chinese national team and is known by the nickname Gaolinsmann (Chinese: 郜林斯曼).

Gao Lin started his professional football career with Shanghai Shenhua in 2005 where he made his league debut on August 21, 2005 in a 1-0 victory against Liaoning Zhongyu where he came on a substitute for Xie Hui. While his height and heading ability were quickly utilized Gao was unable to establish himself as an immediate first team regular within the team throughout the subsequent seasons and often found himself playing on the flanks. It was only once Xie left Shanghai Shenhua at the end of the 2007 league season before Gao started to really establish himself as a regular first team member, playing as striker once more in the 2008 season he would score eight goals in twenty one league appearances to help guide Shanghai to a runners-up position at the end of the season.