The Belt and Road Initiative is often viewed as a state-driven strategy serving China’s national interests. This article shifts the focus to the local and historical dimensions of connectivity by examining India–China interactions along the Maritime Silk Road, using Guangdong Province as a case study. It traces the region’s enduring ties with India from the third century BCE to the present, shaped by trade, religion, colonial disruptions, and modern revitalization. These connections have contributed to the development of cities like Guangzhou, Foshan, and Shaoguan, embedding Indian elements into their cultural and urban landscapes. The study argues that such longstanding people-to-people exchanges reveal a persistent drive for transregional connectivity that goes beyond state-centric narratives.