Shamian Island - An Oasis in Guangzhou

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Having spent two whole days shopping in the hustle and bustle of commercial Guangzhou, my feet were killing me, I was desperately needing a break. Therefore, I hopped off at Huangsha Station and spent my afternoon at Shamian Island.

Shamian Island 沙面岛 is a sandbank (well, not a true island) in the Liwan District of Guangzhou. In Chinese, it literally means "sandy surface". The island is merely a kilometre long and a third of a kilometre wide. It’s separated from the rest of the mainland by the Pearl River on the southern side (the Bund) and a canal on the other. It is connected to the city by a series of bridges.

One of the bridges that leads to the island

The canal

Shamian Island serves as a transquil reminder of Guangzhou’s colonial history. It became a British and French concession after they won in the Opium Wars during the 19th century, umm... Qing Dynasty that was.

The island is now a gazetted historical area, with quiet pedestrian avenues flanked by trees and lined by historical buildings in various states of upkeep. Traffic is restricted and the main thoroughfare is pedestrianized, which made Shamian a great place to explore on foot. The island houses several hotels, a youth hostel, restaurants and souvenir shops.

Strolling along the boulevards, you will be confronted with an abundance of bronze statues scattering on the pavement, commenmorating Shamian's colonial past as well as its cosmopolitan present.

Some give particular insight into China's changing social world.

Gosh, note the British "Royal Mail". Nostalgic; reminded me of my olden days in London. During those days, the term "internet" has yet to be invented, tele-communications would cost a bomb, so the most economical way to maintain relationship/contact was to send a letter, all thanks to Royal Mail.

Picturesque boulevards comfortable to walk along.

Lush yet tidy parks. You will find locals playing badminton, meditating, reading...

An architectural testament to bygone days

Most of the old buildings have been converted to shops and restaurants with pleasant terraces.


Unfortunately, some empty buildings seem abandoned, with their walls starting to crack and peel and their pillars being eaten by termites.

The mood here is romantic; perhaps because it’s so quiet and green, or because of the very relaxed atmosphere, or maybe all of this. Many couples choose this area as the setting for their pre-wedding photos.

Tourists need coffee as well as air-conditioning. Here is the place. While most of Guangzhou is battling along at breakneck pace, Shamian is merely ambling.

I wandered around looking at lovely buildings, snapping away, admiring the bronze statues, then sat down for a cup of coffee.

Verdict : absolutely enchanting.