In the past 40 years of reform and opening-up，the social development of Guangdong has experienced the transformation from the supporting role of economic system reform to independent subject status of social construction，which has made remarkable achievements and provided fresh experience for the whole country. From the perspective of historical process，outstanding achievements and rules of experience，our research presents the three-dimensional picture of social development in Guangdong since the reform and opening-up，and also points out the more important historical role of social development in the new era.