Shamian, formerly known as shicuizhou. The sandbar formed by the alluvial deposits of the Pearl River is called the sand surface. Shamian island is a characteristic island with European style buildings. In ancient song, yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, Shamian was an important place for trade and sightseeing at home and abroad. After the Opium War, it became a British and French concession. More than ten countries have opened consulates here, more than 40 foreign banks and nine foreign banks. Shamian has become a microcosm of modern history and concession history of China. Hundred years of ups and downs, great changes. Shamian is an important historical epitome in the modern history of Guangzhou. Different historical periods present different charms. In history, Shamian was the gateway of Guangzhou's maritime traffic, and an important place for China's foreign trade and sightseeing. From the 1960s to the 1940s, when western architectural thoughts were active, more than 160 buildings of various architectural genres were built on the sand surface in more than a dozen countries, which can be called the Grand View Garden of European architecture. After the founding of new China, the new era of Guangzhou Shamian has taken on a new look. Although it has been baptized by the long history, its style is still in full bloom, and it has become the most European island in southern China. (Xinhua News Agency)