Shangchuan Island

Shangchuan Island (Chinese: 上川岛; pinyin: Shàngchuāndǎo, also known as "Schangschwan", "Sancian", "Sanchão", "Chang-Chuang", "St. John's Island" or "St John Island"[1]) is the main island of Chuanshan Archipelago on the southern coast of Guangdong, China. Its name originated from São João ("Saint John" in Portuguese).[2]

Flying Sandy Beach (飞沙滩) on the eastern coast of Shangchuan Island.

Administratively, it is a part of Chuandao (川岛镇), Taishan. Located 14 km from the mainland, it is the largest island in Guangdong, after Hainan Island was carved out of the province in 1988.

The area of the island is 139.87 sqm, and has a population of 16,320.

It is known in history for having been the place of death of St. Francis Xavier. Nowadays, it is a popular tourist site in Guangdong.

History
Painting of the death of St. Francis Xavier by Francisco Goya.

Shangchuan Island was one of the first bases established by the Portuguese off the China coast, during the 16th century. They abandoned this base after the Chinese government gave consent for a permanent and official Portuguese trade base at Macau in 1557.

The Spanish (Navarre) Jesuit missionary St. Francis Xavier died on the island on December 3, 1552, as he was waiting for a ship to take him to mainland China. There is a small chapel that commemorates his death place, designed by Achille-Antoine Hermitte and completed in 1869.[3]

Geography

The island has been isolated from the mainland since the last ice age. It is located near Xiachuan Island, which lies west of Shangchuan. The two islands, together with smaller islets, form Chuanshan Archipelago.

Shangshuan Island has an area of 137.3 km² and a 217 km coastline.

  • Dalangwan
  • Shadi (沙堤), a fishing port on the southwestern coast

Economy

Shangchuan and Xiachuan have been established as a Tourism Open Integrated Experimental Zone (旅游开发综合试验区, pinyin: lǚyóu kāifā zōnghé shìyàn qū).

Feisha Beach Resort (飞沙滩旅游区) is a commercial tourist resort located on the island's eastern shore.

Transportation

Shangchuan Island is linked by ferry to Guanghai, Haiyan (Shanju) and Xiachuan Island.

See also

Notes and references
  1. "NF 49-12 CH'IH-CH'I" (in English and Chinese). Washington, D. C.: Army Map Service. 1954 – via Perry–Castañeda Library Map Collection. SHANG-CH'UAN (ST JOHN ISLAND) 上川
  2. Gunn, Geoffrey C. World trade systems of the East and the West : Nagasaki and the Asian bullion trade networks. ISBN 978-90-04-35856-0. OCLC 1007502712.
  3. Davies, Stephen; 戴偉思 (2016), "Achille-Antoine Hermitte's Surviving Building / 阿基里‧ 安當‧ 埃爾米特的倖存建築", Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch, Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch, 56: 98, JSTOR jroyaaisasocihkb.56.92

General

Maps

Francis Xavier Chapel

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