Shamian island in the Liwan District of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China. The island's name literally means "sandy surface" in Chinese.  The territory was divided into two concessions given to France and the United Kingdom by the Qing government in the 19th century. The island is a gazetted historical area that serves as a tranquil reminder of the colonial European period, with quiet pedestrian avenues flanked by trees and lined by historical buildings in various states of upkeep.