Building Bridges between East and West through Education and Cultural Exchange
Album: Historic Shamian Island (Guangzhou)
Shamian Island houses some of the oldest historic European-style buildings in China from the colonial times.
Click on the first image below to view all 30 photos in full-screen display.
Guangzhou has long been the primary trading centre for Chinese exports, and in recent history has also launched the Chinese economic miracle.
Near the heart of old Canton is the tiny island of Shamian, located in the Pearl River, and separated here from the mainland by a narrow canal.
More than 150 years ago, the British and French chose this island for their trading headquarters.
Similar to such places as Singapore or Penang (Malaysia), an island provided a bit of security to a foreign power choosing to set up a business (and colonial) presence.
Two bridges linked Shamian Island to old Canton City. The British controlled one (and 4/5 of the island), while the French controlled the other.
Today, thanks to government policy, many of the original European-style buildings are preserved as heritage sites.
This was the Canton Club in the British area, built in 1868.
Interestingly, the island continues to host foreign offices. This one is the American Consulate, built in 1873.
Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel, in the French quarter, dates from 1892. Recently reopened to serve as a church, a sign at the gate lists three Sunday service times.
Other historic buildings are in various stages of maintenance and renovation.
A plaque next to the arched doorway here simply notes this was a originally built as a private residence.
The tree-lined boulevards and classic-style buildings make this an attractive site to visit.
New buildings have replaced some older ones, with much of the business now centred on tourism.
Shamian Hotel appears to be one of the popular hotels on the Island.
The European influence continues now under Chinese management.
Some refurbishing is taking place here. The goal is to attract tourism business.
Entrepreneurship, here, is alive and well. This is sugar cane, ready to be cut and sold to visitors for street candy.
The young people here are playing an ancient sport, kicking a shuttlecock.
Bronze statues in China are often fascinating statements of historic conditions and ways of life. Here, three generations of Chinese women are depicted.
Here, the old colonial guy on the right is understandably intriqued by the skill of his Chinese host as he demostrates calculations on an abacus.
And, again, there are images of Chinese set in contrast with the traditions and, even, sophistication of the foreigners.
Depicted here is a foreign couple with an adopted Chinese child. Shamian Island is the site where the paper-work is done for confirming all foreign adoptions in China.
I chatted with a few adoptive couples while here, but only shot this one photo from a distance of two couples interacting with their new children.
Shamian Island is also a favorite location for formal wedding photos. During the hour I was here, we spotted six couples.
At times, couples do choose to be photographed with traditional Chinese attire, but most often I see Western-style dress.
On the south side of the island is the larger expanse of the Pearl River.
When the city runs out of space to build their roads on existing land, the roads are simply elevated and extended beyond the land itself.
Back to the canal and close to where we started our tour of the island, we are reminded of the new reality of Chinese dominance in trade.
At one time the British used Indian Sikhs to guard this entrance to the island.
Just outside the island, the New China raises its office towers… reminding us that the “old order” does, indeed, change.
