Shangchuan Island (, also known as "Schangschwan", "Sancian", "Sanchão", "Chang-Chuang", "St. John's Island" or "St John Island") is the main island of Chuanshan Archipelago on the southern coast of Guangdong,

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

. Its name originated from São João ("Saint John" in Portuguese). Administratively, it is a part of Chuandao (),

Taishan __NOTOC__ Taishan may refer to: *Mount Tai or Taishan (), Shandong, China *Taishan District, Tai'an (), named after the Mount Tai, a district in Tai'an, Shandong, China *Taishan, Guangdong (), a county-level city of Jiangmen, Guangdong, China **Gre ...

. Located from the mainland, it became the largest island in Guangdong after Hainan Island was carved out of the province in 1988. The area of the island is , 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

Chapel of the Tomb of St Francis Xavier at Shangchuan Dao

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 Navarre (; es, Navarra ; eu, Nafarroa ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre ( es, Comunidad Foral de Navarra, links=no ; eu, Nafarroako Foru Komunitatea, links=no ), is a foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, ...

)

Jesuit , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

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.

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 (), a fishing port on the southwestern coast

Climate

Economy

Shangchuan and

Xiachuan Xiachuan Island () (Hsiachwan Shan) is an island of the South China Sea, on the southern coast of China, part of the Guangdong province. Administration Administratively, Chuandao () is one of the 16 towns of Taishan. Geography The island is l ...

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 () is a commercial tourist resort located on the island's eastern shore.

Transportation

Shangchuan Island is linked by ferry to

Guanghai Guanghai is a Town of China, town in Taishan, Guangdong, Taishan Prefecture in Guangdong, China. External links Interactive China province map with city guides and more.Map of Guanghai Town
Towns in Guangdong Taishan, Guangdong {{Guangdo ...

, Haiyan ( Shanju) and Xiachuan Island.