A historical European oasis in Guangzhou

Shamian Island is my favourite place in Guangzhou and it was my safe haven during my 6 months living there, it was an oasis of calm in such a chaotic city. The Island was divided into concessions given to France and the UK in the 19th century and foreigners lived and worked on the island to help support the export of Chinese products. The island is separated from the mainland by a small river and this created a self contained zone that allowed western nations to establish trade missions without ‘being present’ on the mainland. Ultimately America, France, Holland, Italy, Germany, Portugal, japan and the UK had a presence on the island in big stone mansions along the water.

The buildings now house cafes, restaurants and shops and has become a surreal tourist destination, the buildings lining the street were built in the style of their respective western powers so it feels like you could be in Paris, London or Amsterdam. The buildings are grand and imposing as each nation tried to outdo the other with their architectural styles, leaving tree lined boulevards lined with buildings that stand out against the Chinese city that has developed around them.

You can reach the island via the Huangsha metro station and then walking over an overpass, also many bus routes have stops just outside the bridge that links the island to greater Guangzhou.

I’d really recommend this to anyone living in or visiting Guangzhou who is overwhelmed by the sheer scale and pace of the city, I used to love taking a book or my laptop to the Starbucks and just enjoying the peace.

#timetotravel #trip #guangzhou #europe #chinatravel #history

Post by Jamie Daniel Ali | Sep 10, 2023