Given China's agrarian past, the fertile river deltas of its main rivers – Yangtze, Xi and Gui, have always been at the center of its economy.  Today, much of China’s industrial growth comes from manufacturing related activities which is fueled by foreign direct investments and exports. Chinese Manufacturing attracts more than 70% of all FDI and it is occurring mainly in two regions.
 
Although YRD only covers only 1% of China’s total land area and 7% of China’s population, its GDP accounted for more than one-fifth of the whole Chinese economy. YRD is a very important economic powerhouse of the Chinese mainland, accounting for about one-fourth of China’s total industrial output.

Shanghai being China’s financial and logistics center is the main city in the YRD; but Zhejiang and Jiangsu are increasingly becoming important manufacturing areas. YRD’s manufacturing industry is developing rapidly; with about 80,000 foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) in the region with have brought in investments exceeding $150 billions.

YRD is more focused on heavy industries such as machinery, automobiles, and other raw materials like steel, textile, and chemicals. Within the YRD region, while Jiangsu and Zhejiang are major producers of garments, textiles and machinery, Shanghai produces the largest share of chemicals and automotives. YRD is also one of the largest and most sophisticated consumer markets in China.
 

The Pearl River Delta (PRD) Economic Zone is Guangdong’s economic hub, accounting for 80% of its GDP. This economic zone is closest to Hong Kong and Macau, and covers cities like Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Jiangmen and Donguan.

PRD has a strong private sector. Production by private sector (non-state-owned and non-state-holding enterprises) accounted for 83% of province's total industrial output which excels in manufacturing and assembly of light consumer goods. In recent years, Guangdong's is moving towards heavy, new and high technology industries. FIEs are also playing an important role in this region where they account for about 65% of the gross industrial output and 64% of exports.

Major products include electrical appliances such as television sets, electrical fans and refrigerators, and other consumer products like garments, bicycles, toys, shoes and electronics.  Exports of most of these products rank the highest in China.
Guangdong is the largest consumer base in China, partly rising income levels and lots of tourists.