Shamian
| Shamian | |||||||||||||||||||
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Shamian viewed from Guangzhou mainland. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese | 沙面 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | sandy surface | ||||||||||||||||||
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Shamian (also romanized as Shameen or Shamin, both from its Cantonese pronunciation) is a sandbank island in the Liwan District of Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. The island's name literally means "sandy surface" in Chinese.
The territory was divided into two concessions given to France and the United Kingdom by the Qing government in the 19th century (1859 to 1943). The island is a gazetted historical area that serves as a tranquil reminder of the colonial European period, with quiet pedestrian avenues flanked by trees and lined by historical buildings in various states of upkeep. The island is the location of several hotels, a youth hostel, restaurants and tourist shops selling curios and souvenirs.
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