Photograph looking across the water to Shamian, with a caption that reads: 'Shameen, from Fati. The island of Shameen, or "the Sand Flats," which now forms the British and French Concessions, is in the main artificial, the muddy swamps formerly owning that name having in 1859-60 been surrounded with a massive granite wall, and the interior space filled up with sand and mud so as to form a sufficiently solid area for building on. It is 2,850 feet long by 950 greatest breadth and is on two sides surrounded by a canal, crossed by bridges, the others faces being open to the river. The total cost of construction amounted to $325,000. Many handsome private building (including a neat church) occupy its area, one fifth of which is under French control; and has remained unoccupied since its first construction'.
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