The Pearl River is an extensive river system located in southern China. It serves as a primary waterway for the region, with its various tributaries flowing into the South China Sea through the Pearl River Delta. The term "Pearl River" is frequently used to describe the watersheds of the Xi (west), Bei (north), and Dong (east) rivers within Guangdong province.
Measured from the furthest reaches of the Xi River, the system spans approximately 2,400 km (1,500 mi). It ranks as China's third-longest river system after the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, and it is the country's second largest by volume. The Pearl River Basin covers an area of 453,700 km2 (175,200 mi2), draining much of the Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, as well as portions of Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, and northern Vietnam.
The river is notably recognized for flowing through the city of Guangzhou. It remains a significant geographical feature of southern China, providing essential drainage for several provinces and neighboring international territories.