Located on the south bank of the Pearl River, Haizhu is the only district in Guangzhou that is on an island. It covers 90.40 square kilometers and has a shoreline of 47.35 kilometers.

Haizhu district enjoys a long history dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 BC).  There are many cultural relics and ancient buildings in the area including Yungui Bridge, Pazhou Tower and Chigang Tower, all built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD). Additionally, the famous institution of higher learning, Sun Yat-sen University, is in this district.

Haizhu district is also famous for its unique ecosystem consisting of rivers, inlets, hills and gardens, all of which make it an ideal place to work and live.

At present, Haizhu district is working to develop Binjiang Road into a street featuring Lingnan Culture and providing services in entertainment and tourism. Jiangnan Dadao, Jiangnanxi Road and Baogang Dadao are centers for shopping and business services, whereas Guangzhou Da Dao Nan is slated to be a hub for collecting and distributing goods. The Pazhou area is currently engaged in exhibition activities as well as information and business services. Xingang Road, on which sits Sun Yat-sen University, will be developed into a science and technology center.

There are 18 administrative subdistricts and 265 communities within Haizhu District. In 2019, the per capita disposable income of its urban residents was 67,128 RMB, an 8.7% year-on-year increase.