The city of Guangzhou signed a memorandum with Gorgan, Iran on Dec 7, agreeing to increase cooperation.

An aerial view of Gorgan, Iran. [Photo/WeChat account GZWS411665430]

Gorgan, formerly named Astrabad, is the capital city of Iran's Golestan province and sits along the Silk Road. Located approximately 400 kilometers northeast of the country's capital Tehran, it is the economic center of Golestan. It is endowed with strong transportation infrastructure, including international airports, railways and highways.

There are several archaeological sites near Gorgan, including Tureng Tepe and Shah Tepe, both of which feature artifacts dating to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic eras.

Gorgan boasts a world-famous carpet and rug industry revolving around the Turkmen rug, made by the Turkmen people. [Photo/WeChat account GZWS411665430]