Shamian Island (Chinese: 沙面岛, pinyin: sha mian dao) in the city of Guangzhou in the Guangdong province of China, was a concession given to European and American traders operating in Guangzhou area by the Manchu government in the 18th century. At the time, the city was referred to as Canton. It literally means "sandy face" in Chinese.

It covers an area of 24,000 sq meters and today is a gazetted historical area that offers a touch of European culture and calm, in the contrast to the of hectic conglomeration of Guangzhou's new construction and fast pace. Avenues flanked by trees, lined by historical mansions makes it a among the most romantic and popular places to visit. There are prominent hotels, a youth hostel, restaurants and shops selling curios and souvenirs.

Also of interest are the bronze statues scattered around the island depicting life of previous occupants of the island. One, surprisingly titled, "A gentleman, a lady and a darn woman" shows a Western couple and a Chinese lady darning cloth. Others depict modern day phenomena, including a series of statues depicting Chinese women throughout history. The statue of a modern day Chinese girl is one in shorts talking on her mobile phone.

A metro station is located within five minutes walking distance from the island.

Modern day

Since the 2000s, Shamian Island has become famous for the proliferation of Westerners coming to adopt Chinese babies, most of them female. The White Swan Hotel is famous for it elegance, but also for being the waystation for babies being adopted and taken to the United States and Europe. One reason for the popularity is that the American consulate is on Shamian, making it convenient to file paperwork and handle bureacratic matters.

External links

• China Daily on Shamian (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-01/17/content_299805.htm)