E'gui Zhou Island

E'gui Zhou Island

The last authentic Lingnan water town in Guangzhou — E'gui Zhou Island on the Zengcheng section of the Dongjiang River. Shenchong Village on the island has just over 1,000 residents who rely on boats for access. The island’s ecology remains largely undisturbed, preserving its original charm. At the entrance to the old village stands a two-story gatehouse, with a bluestone lintel inscribed with the characters for “Guangxu Year of the Dog (1898),” which dates back over a hundred years. It is said that this gatehouse was built to guard against pirates; in case of pirate invasion, the main gate would be closed first, and all able-bodied men in the village would gather on the second floor to defend against the attackers. The old village is lined up along the river, and the alleys inside the village are all paved with bluestones. In addition, the small village also preserves two private schools built in the late Qing Dynasty: the Ruchang Family School and the Rupai Family School. The attraction is located in Xintang Town.