Shamian

Shamian
Shamian viewed from Guangzhou mainland.
Chinese沙面
Literal meaningsandy surface
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinShāmiàn
Wade–GilesSha-mien
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationSāmín
Jyutpingsaa1 min2
Canton Romanizationsa1min2
IPA[sa˥min˧˥]

23°06′34″N 113°14′22″E / 23.10944°N 113.23944°E / 23.10944; 113.23944

Shamian Island in the 1870s by Lai Afong
1920s map of "Shameen", showing the location of the British and French concessions
The West Bridge, also called the "English Bridge", in 1939
Buildings on Shamian Island in 2007
Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel on Shamian Island
Former German consulate and Asiatic Petroleum Company building

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 (1859–1943). 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.