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Similar Xiachuan Island, Feishatan, Castle of Xavier, Basilica of Bom Jesus, Kaiping Diaolou | ||
Shangchuan Island (Chinese: 上川岛; pinyin: Shàngchuāndǎo) also written (Schangschwan, Sancian, Sanchão, Chang-Chuang or St. John's Island) is the main island of Chuanshan Archipelago on the southern coast of China. Its name originated from São João ("Saint John" in Portuguese). It is part of the Guangdong province, in the South China Sea. Located 14 km from the mainland, it is the largest island in the province. The largest island of the province used to be Hainan Island, which was carved out of Guangdong to form a separate province in 1988.
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Map of Shangchuan Island, Taishan, Jiangmen, China
The population of the island is 16,320.
It is known in history for having been the place of death of St. Francis Xavier.
Administratively, Chuandao (川岛镇) is one of the 16 towns of Taishan county-level city.
History
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 2, 1552, as he was waiting for a ship to take him to mainland China.
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 islet, form Chuanshan Archipelago.
Shangchuan covers the main Shangshuan Island, and 12 islets. The total area of the town is 156.7 km². Shangshuan Island has an area of 137.3 km². The island has a 217 km long coastline.
Economy
Shangchuan and Xiachuan have been established as a Tourism Open Integrated Experimental Zones (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.