It is one of the national 5A-level scenic spots, and a famous tourist area, scenic spot and leisure resort in Guangzhou. It used to be called "Shicuizhou", because it is a sandbar formed by the alluvium of the Pearl River, so it is called Shamian. After the outbreak of the Second Opium War, the British and French allied forces set up a consulate in Shamian, which still retains the European style of the British and French concessions in the 19th century after a hundred years, forming a unique open-air building "museum".
In the eyes of many Cantonese people, Shamian is probably the most interesting place in Guangzhou, and the main reason for coming here is to see the architecture. There are more than 150 European-style buildings on Shamian Island, including 42 neo-baroque, quasi-Gothic, co-gallery, neoclassical and Chinese-Western style buildings, which are the most exotic European buildings in Guangzhou. The layout of Shamian Street is three horizontal and five straight, and the three east-west streets are called Shamian North Street, Shamian Street, and Shamian South Street, and the whole island is divided into 12 areas of different sizes by these roads, and the buildings are built along the main and secondary roads. It is worth mentioning that Shamian is full of verdant trees, Western-style street lamps, statues, pavilions, flower beds, wooden chairs and fountains, etc., and the greenery and environmental atmosphere of the island are very good, which attracts many young people and tourists to come for sightseeing, and many couples will also choose to take wedding photos here.
Most of the Shamian buildings were built at the end of the 19th century, with a Western-style style, and belong to the heritage buildings. Among them, the main attraction of the Soviet Consulate is located at No. 68 Shamian Street, a three-storey building with a brick and reinforced concrete structure, sitting in the north and facing south, belonging to the British Victorian style. The main building of the consulate has a small courtyard and a wall, and there are verandahs on each floor of the main façade and the east and west facades, and the second floor of the rear façade has a cantilevered balcony and a concrete bridge leading to the annex building. In addition to the eaves, railings and parapets, the façade of the whole building is decorated with high-quality clear water red bricks, without paint, and cement lime joints, so it is called the "West Red Building" on the sand surface. The Consulate General of the Netherlands in Guangzhou is also located on Shamian Island, which makes it possible for many expatriates to work or live on Shamian Island, with a strong Western-style living atmosphere.
Walking around Shamian Island, you can find that the public facilities in the concession are very complete, not only all kinds of cultural relics, but also hotels, residences, restaurants, cafes, cultural bars and other entertainment facilities on the island. For those who like to take photos, Sand Myon is definitely a free attraction worth visiting. However, it should be noted that the prices of restaurants in this area are relatively high, and the taste is not outstanding, so it is recommended to go to the shopping districts around Shamian to eat, and there is more choice.
Admission: Free
Opening Hours: Open all day
