Guangzhou Shamian historical buildings
2022-06-20
Shamian, once called shicuizhou, is named Shamian because it is a sandbank formed by the alluvial deposition of the Pearl River. Shamian is located in the southwest of Guangzhou city. It is adjacent to the Pearl River white goose pond in the South and across shajiyong in the north. It is an island facing 623 road. It has eight streets and alleys, covering an area of 0.3 square kilometers. In 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 after the 11th year of Xianfeng in the Qing Dynasty (1861). Shamian is an important commercial port of Guangzhou. Over the past century, more than ten countries have set up consulates in Shamian, nine foreign banks and more than 40 foreign banks operate in Shamian, and Guangdong Customs club and Guangzhou club have been established in Shamian. Shamian witnessed the changes of Guangzhou's modern history, leaving the footprints of great men such as Dr. Sun Yat Sen and Premier Zhou Enlai. Shamian has become the epitome of China's modern history and concession history. The European style buildings on Shamian island have formed a unique open-air building "Museum". In 1859, Britain and France in Guangzhou plotted to establish an aggressive base in Guangzhou. They took a fancy to Shamian, a favorable terrain facing the white goose pond, where they could attack and retreat. A British official named Burke came forward to negotiate with the Qing government in Guangzhou and forced the Qing government to dig a small stream (now Shaji Chung) 40 meters wide and more than 1200 meters long to the north of Shamian, which was separated from the land and made Shamian a small island. At the same time, a road was opened to the north of Shaji Chung, which was named Shaji, commonly known as Guiji (now 623 Road), and East and West bridges were built to travel to and from Shamian. They also forced the Qing government to demolish the fort along the sand surface, threw the Fangcheng gun and the foundation stone of the fort into the river, filled with gravel and earth, and built the embankment as a place for them to live and do business. This project cost more than 200000 taels of silver, and the whole ministry was funded by the Qing government. On September 3, 1861 (July 29, the 11th year of Xianfeng), Britain and France forced the Qing government to sign the "sand loaning treaty". Britain occupies 80% of the concession to the west of Shamian, about 264 mu, and the remaining 66 Mu to the East belongs to France. Both countries have a bridge connecting Chinese Mainland (the Chinese border) within their respective areas. It is stipulated that the river along the sand surface is 90 feet wide, and the 45 foot range close to the sand surface belongs to the sand concession. The customs house is a building in the French Concession and was once used as a customs house. Before liberation, the "Red Chamber" was a Guangdong Customs club. Only middle and senior officials were eligible to stay. After liberation, it was used as a dormitory for customs staff. The building was designed and built by Zhiping foreign firm and Australian architect Parney. The building faces south and is located at the east end of Shamian street. Because of its special location, unique shape and bright color, it has become a landmark building in Shamian. Because the main color is red, people call it "Red Mansion". Because the main color of the Soviet Consulate at the western end of Shamian island is also red, it is called "east red building". The former HSBC is located at the northeast corner of the junction of Shamian street and Shamian 4th Street. The building plane is a north-south rectangular shape, and the southeast and southwest are chamfered. The entrance and exit of the lower section adopts the Western gray white granite classical gable door, and a radial decorative line is drawn above the gable door. In order to be symmetrical, three windows are also made in the shape of a mountain flower gate. Large round windows are opened on the upper part of other long Wanxing windows. The wall corner is made of gray granite, and the wall between windows is covered with water brushed stone imitating granite, and horizontal lines are drawn to imitate classical stacked boulders. It used to be a place where fishermen and small boats lived. Shamian island has good greening, with more than 150 ancient trees, fresh air and good environmental sanitation. It can be called a paradise in Guangzhou. In October, 1984, in the identification of ancient and famous trees, the sand surface accounted for 102 trees, including 77 banyan trees and 25 camphor trees. There are 100 trees over 100 years old, and only two trees are 80 years old. The longest tree is one over 300 years old. (Xinhua News Agency)
Edit：Li Ling Responsible editor：Chen Jie
Source：Outlook New Era
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