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

Administratively, it is a part of Chuandao (川岛镇), Taishan. Located 14 kilometers (8.7 mi) from the mainland, it became the largest island in Guangdong after Hainan Island (the largest island in the country) was carved out of the province in 1988.

The area of the island is 139.87 square kilometers (54.00 sq mi), and has a population of 16,320.

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

History

Painting of the death of St. Francis Xavier by Francisco Goya.
Plan of the Chapel of the Tomb of St Francis Xavier at Shangchuan Dao, by Achille-Antoine Hermitte. Completed in 1869.

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.

Settlements on the island include:

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

Climate

Climate data for Shangchuan Island (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 27.2
(81.0)
27.9
(82.2)
29.6
(85.3)
31.9
(89.4)
35.0
(95.0)
35.4
(95.7)
37.0
(98.6)
35.9
(96.6)
35.9
(96.6)
33.1
(91.6)
31.7
(89.1)
28.2
(82.8)
37.0
(98.6)
Average high °C (°F) 18.6
(65.5)
19.6
(67.3)
22.3
(72.1)
25.9
(78.6)
29.2
(84.6)
30.8
(87.4)
31.4
(88.5)
31.5
(88.7)
30.6
(87.1)
28.0
(82.4)
24.5
(76.1)
20.3
(68.5)
26.1
(78.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 15.5
(59.9)
16.6
(61.9)
19.4
(66.9)
23.1
(73.6)
26.5
(79.7)
28.2
(82.8)
28.6
(83.5)
28.5
(83.3)
27.6
(81.7)
25.2
(77.4)
21.5
(70.7)
17.2
(63.0)
23.2
(73.7)
Average low °C (°F) 13.4
(56.1)
14.6
(58.3)
17.3
(63.1)
21.2
(70.2)
24.5
(76.1)
26.2
(79.2)
26.4
(79.5)
26.1
(79.0)
25.3
(77.5)
23.1
(73.6)
19.4
(66.9)
15.0
(59.0)
21.0
(69.9)
Record low °C (°F) 4.1
(39.4)
4.2
(39.6)
4.1
(39.4)
10.4
(50.7)
16.2
(61.2)
20.3
(68.5)
22.0
(71.6)
21.8
(71.2)
17.7
(63.9)
13.1
(55.6)
6.4
(43.5)
3.8
(38.8)
3.8
(38.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 31.5
(1.24)
37.2
(1.46)
75.5
(2.97)
165.1
(6.50)
313.1
(12.33)
451.4
(17.77)
312.4
(12.30)
393.4
(15.49)
320.2
(12.61)
118.5
(4.67)
37.8
(1.49)
32.0
(1.26)
2,288.1
(90.09)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 5.6 8.4 11.7 12.4 14.2 17.7 17.0 16.9 13.8 7.1 5.2 4.9 134.9
Average relative humidity (%) 76 82 86 87 85 85 84 85 81 75 74 71 81
Mean monthly sunshine hours 130.0 95.0 88.3 113.0 165.9 182.2 224.6 200.0 187.8 198.6 169.4 154.2 1,909
Percent possible sunshine 38 29 24 30 41 45 55 51 51 55 51 46 43
Source: China Meteorological Administration[4][5]

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
  4. 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  5. 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 28 May 2023.

Further reading

  • Guillemin, Philippe François Zéphirin (1870). Lettres sur l'erection de la chapelle de S. François Xavier dans l'île de Sancian et autres faits récents de la mission (in French). Rome: Imprimerie de la Propagande, P. Marietti.

General

Maps

Francis Xavier Chapel

21°39′55″N 112°47′44″E

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