Shamian Island, Guangzhou – Open-Air Museum

Built in 1890 during the reign of Emperor Guangxu, the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church covers an area of 839.75 square meters and can accommodate 200 people. Originally called Shamian Catholic Church, it was renamed after the Lourdes Virgin Mary statue placed in the church’s garden. The church was established to serve the French Catholic community associated with the French Consulate in Guangzhou. Located at the northeast corner of Shamian Main Street and Shamian First Street, the church complex includes the main hall, a priest’s residence, a convent, and a small garden housing the Lourdes statue. The architecture features pointed arches, spires at the corners of the tower, octagonal skylights, and buttresses that reflect the Gothic style, symbolizing the spiritual aspirations and mysterious nature of Catholicism.

Now the Guangdong Foreign Affairs Museum, this building at 20 South Shamian Street was originally the French Consulate in Guangzhou, built in 1890. The two-story structure faces south and has an eave height of 9.75 meters, with an overall height of 15 meters. The building occupies 580 square meters and has undergone restoration to revive its original exterior appearance. Inside, it retains some of the original wooden floors and wooden handrails on the staircase, giving it a strong historical ambiance. The semi-circular arch windows on the upper floors showcase the Western architectural trends of the time. As China’s first museum dedicated to foreign affairs, it offers a glimpse into Guangzhou’s rich diplomatic history.

The Christian Church of Shamian, located on the west end of Shamian Island in Guangzhou’s Liwan District, is a historic Protestant church. Known over time by various names, including the Guangzhou Foreign Church, Anglican Christ Church, Shamian Christian Church, and Shamian Protestant Church, it is now officially referred to as the Guangdong Christian Church of Shamian, or simply “Shamian Church.” Built in the late Qing Dynasty around 1865, it was one of the first completed buildings on the island, alongside the British Consulate. Initially established for worship by foreign sailors at the Guangzhou trading port, the church later became a place of worship for foreigners in general. It was managed by the Anglican Church of England’s Hong Kong and Guangdong Diocese and subsequently by the Chinese Anglican Church’s South China Diocese. In 1996, Shamian Church was designated as a National Key Cultural Relic by the State Council. Due to its historical and architectural significance, the church has become a popular spot for newlyweds to take wedding photos.

The Former Customs House, located on the eastern end of Shamian Island, is historically known as the “Customs Club” or “Red Mansion.” Built in 1908 during the 34th year of Emperor Guangxu’s reign, the building faces south and features a columnar structure reminiscent of British countryside castle architecture. The main building consists of three above-ground floors and a half-basement, with the main section located to the south and a secondary building to the north. It was once used as the Guangdong Customs office, providing housing and recreation for senior foreign customs officers. In 1996, it was listed as a National Key Cultural Relic. Following a period of vacancy after the year 2000, the building underwent restoration by the Guangzhou Customs Office in 2006 to prepare for the 2010 Asian Games, ensuring the preservation of its original architectural features.

The Former Indian Residences are located on Shamian First Street and were built in the late 19th century. Facing south, the main building covers an area of 890 square meters, with a cornice height of 9.23 meters. The roof has since been renovated into a flat structure. The second-floor facade features an arcade style with finely detailed arches, creating a rhythmic and elegant appearance. In 1996, the building was listed as a National Key Cultural Relic, preserving its architectural and historical significance.

Located at Nos. 29 and 31 of Shamian North Street, the British Ice Factory was constructed in the early 20th century. The building faces north, and the front structure is composed of brick-bearing walls with a reinforced concrete framework, while the rear portion consists solely of reinforced concrete. Exhibiting early modernist architectural style, the building is four stories tall with an additional half-basement. The cornice height reaches 17.2 meters, and the total height is 20.1 meters (excluding the 4.7-meter flagpole). Covering an area of 1,182 square meters, the structure originally served as an ice factory for the Hong Kong Dairy Company and is the only surviving industrial building on Shamian Island. It is divided into two sections: the front part served as offices and residences, while the rear was the factory. The factory area was divided into two workshops by a central courtyard, with an eastern workshop that features a spiral staircase leading to the rooftop. Although parts of the staircase have been removed, the upper spiral and rooftop structures, including a water tank, remain intact.

The HSBC Building is located at No. 54 Shamian Main Street, positioned at the northeast corner of the intersection between Shamian Main Street and Shamian Fourth Street. The building has street-facing facades on both its west and south sides, making both its main facades. It is a four-story reinforced concrete structure with a main entrance facing southwest. Designed in the Neoclassical architectural style, the building’s cornice reaches a height of 18.7 meters, and the total height is 28.8 meters (excluding the flagpole). The main building covers an area of 1,140 square meters, with a flat rooftop and a tower. The building’s plan is rectangular, with chamfered corners at the southeast and southwest. Both the west and south facades feature symmetrical vertical sections, with the lower section adorned with classical-style granite porticos. The building was originally constructed in 1865 and rebuilt in 1920, retaining its Neoclassical design.

The Soviet Consulate, located at No. 68 Shamian Main Street, was built in 1916. During the Japanese occupation in World War II, it was used as the German consulate. Facing south, the building is a three-story brick and reinforced concrete structure with a Victorian architectural style. The main building covers an area of 628 square meters, with a front yard of 150 square meters and a backyard of 145 square meters. The cornice reaches a height of 14.85 meters, with a total height of 16.8 meters. It features a flat roof, a small courtyard in front, and an additional building at the rear, with a 5.5-meter gap between them. The front and side facades have balconies on each floor, and the rear facade features a long balcony on the second floor with a concrete bridge connecting to the auxiliary building. The facade is decorated with high-quality red bricks, with no paint applied, earning it the nickname “Western Red House” on Shamian Island.

The British Consulate is located at Nos. 44 and 46, Shamian South Street. The consulate moved to Shamian in 1886, and between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was rebuilt, becoming the largest foreign consulate on the island. Originally, the complex consisted of a central two-story main building, two two-story auxiliary buildings, and several single-story houses. The main building faced north, with the two auxiliary buildings positioned symmetrically behind it, creating a courtyard in the center. In the late 1980s, the Guangdong Provincial Foreign Affairs Office demolished the main building and constructed a new five-story building on the site. Only the eastern and western auxiliary buildings remain. The east building, facing south, is a two-story reinforced concrete structure with a central rooftop tower, covering an area of 400 square meters and reaching a total height of 15.8 meters. The west building, facing east, is also a two-story reinforced concrete structure with a terrace-style roof. The architectural style blends Baroque elements with eclecticism, covering 650 square meters and standing 14.3 meters tall.

The American Consulate is situated at No. 56, Shamian Main Street. Built in the early 20th century, it once served as the Japanese Yokohama Specie Bank. The four-story building, facing south, features a flat roof and a reinforced concrete structure. It exhibits an eclectic architectural style, with a cornice height of 13 meters and a total height of 16.8 meters. The building occupies an area of 950 square meters and has two street-facing facades. The main entrance is marked by a three-bay portico with Doric columns, featuring double-round columns in the front and flat pilasters at the rear. The facade is adorned with decorative marble inlay, and the sidewalls feature Western-style circular niches.

The building of the Banque de l’Indochine, later known as Banque d’Orient, features a unique exterior facade decorated to resemble seaside sedimentary rock, giving it a striking and imposing presence among the modern architecture of Shamian Island. The bank was originally named “Indochina Bank” or “Vietnam Bank” and was founded in 1875 with its headquarters in Paris, France, operating as a commercial bank.

Standard Chartered Bank is located at No. 49, Shamian Main Street. Built in the early 20th century, its main entrance faces northeast, with a flat roof and a three-story reinforced concrete structure. The building showcases a neoclassical architectural style, covering an area of 680 square meters, with a cornice height of 16 meters and a total height of 18 meters. The original location of the bank was at the southwest corner where Shamian Main Street and Shamian Third Street intersect. The building’s facade, predominantly in a light gray washed stone, maintains its original form. Inside, the wooden staircase, doors, windows, fireplace, ceiling, and moldings are all well-preserved, although a concrete mezzanine has been added to the first-floor hall.

The National Government Broadcasting Administration building is located at No. 73, Shamian North Street. The main entrance on the north facade features a Western-style pediment and a recessed porch, while the second floor extends outward with a bay window, creating a distinctive concave-convex appearance. The facade combines popular Western stone-like techniques with traditional Lingnan polished green brickwork. The side alleys retain the original riveted iron gates, and the iron window grilles on the first floor and balconies on the second and third floors reflect the Art Nouveau style that was popular at the time.