Shamian Island

Guangzhou is a huge city, by anyone's able to get a firm number from anyone, it is safe to say that there are something like 7-10 million people living here, making it as large as or likely larger than New York City. In fact, there are over 200 cities in China with populations of over 1 million people. The US, in contrast, has something like maybe 10 cities - 15 maybe - that have over 1 million people.


In any case, trust me when I say that Guangzhou is big. It is also sprawling - it just seems to go on and on and on. As you drive along, huge apartment buildings slide by endlessly. Thousands upon thousands of little storefronts selling all manner of items line up at street level. It's a bewildering array of sights, sounds, and smells.

We, however, are staying at the White Swan Hotel (http://www.white-swan-hotel.com/) here on Shamian Island in Guangzhou. Shamian was formerly the sole place where Westerners could interact with the locals. At night the gates would come down, locking the Westerners onto the island until morning. Here is a shot of one of the two pools at the White Swan, replete with waterfall.

As such, the island has a distinct European feel to its architecture, and is filled with huge and beautiful Banyan trees, many of which are over 100 years old. Shamian is a true oasis of relative calm in the bustle of Guangzhou. Here are some shots from the past week around the island, including some food options and one warning sign.