# Wanshan Archipelago
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{{other uses|Ladrones Islands (disambiguation)}}
{{stack begin}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Wanshan / Guishan / Dangan
| other_name =
| official_name = {{nobold|万山海洋开发试验区}}
| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|zh-hans|万山镇 / 桂山镇 / 担杆镇}}}}
| postal_code =
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| settlement_type = [Town(s)](/source/Towns_of_the_People's_Republic_of_China)
| image_skyline =
| imagesize = 250px
| image_caption =
| image_map = Sanon.png
| coordinates = {{Coord|21|59|42|N|113|45|54|E|region:CN_type:isle|display=inline,title}}
| map_caption = Ladrones Islands and [Lema Islands](/source/Lema_Islands) (bottom part of the map) on an 1878 German map
| mapsize = 250px
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [China](/source/China)
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = [Guangdong](/source/Guangdong)
| subdivision_type2 = City
| subdivision_name2 = [Zhuhai](/source/Zhuhai)
| subdivision_type3 = District
| subdivision_name3 = [Xiangzhou](/source/Xiangzhou_District%2C_Zhuhai)
| area_code =
| area_total_km2 = 86
| population_as_of =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_total = 4813
| elevation_ft =
| elevation_m =
| timezone = [China Standard](/source/China_Standard_Time)
| utc_offset = +8
| website = http://www.wanshan.gov.cn/
}}
{{Chinese |size=260
|s={{linktext|万山|群岛}} |t={{linktext|萬山|羣島}} |p=Wànshān Qúndǎo |w=Wan-shan Ch'ün-tao |order=st
|j=Maan6-saan1 Kwan4-dou2
|l=[Myriad](/source/Myriad){{efn|As with the [Greek](/source/Greek_language) {{lang|grc|{{linktext|μυρίος}}}}, the [Chinese](/source/Chinese_language) word {{lang|zh|{{linktext|萬}}}} refers variously to the exact number 10,000 and any indiscriminately large amount.}} Islands Archipelago
}}
{{stack end}}
The '''Wanshan Archipelago''', formerly known as the '''Ladrones Islands''', is a 104-[island](/source/island) [archipelago](/source/archipelago) that is a part of [Xiangzhou District](/source/Xiangzhou_District%2C_Zhuhai) in [Zhuhai](/source/Zhuhai), [Guangdong Province](/source/Guangdong_Province), [China](/source/China).
{{TOC limit|2}}
==Administration==
Most of the islands of the archipelago are in the {{ill|Wanshan Marine Development Experimental Zone|zh|珠海万山海洋开发试验区|qid=Q3974569}} ({{zh|s=万山海洋开发试验区|labels=no}}) which consist of three towns:[Zhuhai Municipality website: [https://web.archive.org/web/20110930183542/http://www.zhuhai.gov.cn/english/SurveyofRomanticZhuhai/Funtionzone/200708/t20070808_14741.htm Wanshan Ocean Development Testing Zone] (archive)] Guishan Town ({{zh|s=桂山镇|labels=no}}), Dangan Town ({{zh|s=担杆镇|labels=no}}) and Wanshan Town ({{zh|s=万山镇|labels=no}}).
Before {{ill|Chu-Hai County|zh-cn|珠海县}} was created in 1953, the islands were part of [Po-On County](/source/Bao'an_County).[{{Cite web |url=https://www.cityu.edu.hk/upress/pub/media//catalog/product/files/9789629373061_preview.pdf#page=9&o3JRPbUKi4UJ |title=Introduction: The Origins and Early Years of the County of San On |access-date=2022-09-27 |archive-date=2023-01-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117035146/https://www.cityu.edu.hk/upress/pub/media//catalog/product/files/9789629373061_preview.pdf#page=9&o3JRPbUKi4UJ |url-status=live }}][{{Cite web |url=https://news.sina.cn/sa/2004-02-16/detail-ikkntiak9509237.d.html?from=wap |title=伶仃岛上叹伶仃 深圳珠海争权属
|date=16 February 2004 |access-date=2022-09-27 |archive-date=2022-09-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927022722/https://news.sina.cn/sa/2004-02-16/detail-ikkntiak9509237.d.html?from=wap |url-status=live }}]
==Geography==
The islands are situated in the [South China Sea](/source/South_China_Sea), to the south of the opening of the [Pearl River](/source/Pearl_River_Delta) estuary and [Hong Kong](/source/Hong_Kong).
The archipelago includes several groups of islands. The western group, located south of the Pearl River estuary and [Lantau Island](/source/Lantau_Island), was formerly known to Europeans as the Ladrones, from the [Spanish](/source/Spanish_language) for "[thieves](/source/thieves)". It comprises [Greater Wanshan](/source/Dawanshan_Dao), Guishan, and Wai Dangling Islands and the Zhizhou, Sanmen, and Aizhou groups. The eastern group, located south of [Hong Kong Island](/source/Hong_Kong_Island), was known as the Lema Islands. Today, they are known as the [Jiapeng Liedao](/source/Jiapeng_Liedao) and Dangan Liedao, respectively.
The largest island, Dangan, features mountainous terrain similar to Hong Kong.
===List of islands===
{{Expand list|date=August 2008}}
[[File:Ocean Park and Erzhou Dao.JPG|thumb|Erzhou Dao, seen from [Ocean Park Hong Kong](/source/Ocean_Park_Hong_Kong).]]
thumb|Beijian Dao
Islands of the archipelago include:
Dangan Liedao ({{zh|s=担杆列岛|labels=no}}), the eastern group of Wanshan archipelago, and the eastern half of the former Lema Islands chain
* Dangan Dao ({{zh|s=担杆岛|labels=no}}), {{convert|13.2|km2}} in area and the largest of the islands; 200 permanent residents mainly along Zhangmu Bay and Hengkeng.
* Erzhou Dao ({{zh|s=二洲岛|labels=no}}), {{convert|8.15|km2}}
* Zhiwan Dao ({{zh|s=直湾岛|labels=no}}), {{Convert|4.5|km2}}
* Xidan Dao ({{zh|s=细担岛|labels=no}}), {{convert|0.85|km2}}
[Jiapeng Liedao](/source/Jiapeng_Liedao) ({{zh|s=佳蓬列岛|labels=no}}), the southern group of Wanshan archipelago, and the western half of the former Lema Islands chain
* Eyan Shi Dao ({{zh|c=枙咽石岛|labels=no}}, O-yen Shih). A {{convert|39|m}} high islet about {{cvt|1|mi}} north of Beijian Dao.[{{cite book |date=2004 |title=South China Sea. Volume 161 of Pub. (United States. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_Cavs681Ym8C&q=beijian+island+Jiapeng&pg=PA20 |publisher=ProStar Publications |page=20 |isbn=9781577856528 |access-date=2021-06-25 |archive-date=2024-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127072315/https://books.google.com/books?id=_Cavs681Ym8C&q=beijian+island+Jiapeng&pg=PA20#v=snippet&q=beijian%20island%20Jiapeng&f=false |url-status=live }}]
* Beijian Dao ({{zh|s=北尖岛|labels=no}}), {{convert|3.17|km2}}. Two peaks rising almost perpendicularly to a height of {{convert|300|m}} on the southwestern end of the island, are known as Asses' Ears.[{{Cite web |url=http://www.newsgd.com/pictures/scenery/200608100033.htm |title="Enjoying sunlight and sea in Zhuhai Islands" |access-date=2007-12-05 |archive-date=2007-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222085357/http://www.newsgd.com/pictures/scenery/200608100033.htm |url-status=live }}] {{convert|240|m}} high.[{{cite journal |last1=Ha |first1=Louis |last2=Waters |first2=Dan |year=2001 |title=Hong Kong's Lighthouses and the Men Who Manned Them |journal=[Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch](/source/Royal_Asiatic_Society_Hong_Kong_Branch) |volume=41 |pages=281–320 |url=https://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/203758cdeb1696e0f3fb7ceca59e88b1.pdf |issn=1991-7295 |access-date=2016-08-12 |archive-date=2020-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622201008/https://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/203758cdeb1696e0f3fb7ceca59e88b1.pdf |url-status=live }}] The {{ill|Gap Rock Lighthouse|zh|蚊尾洲燈塔}} ({{zh|t=蚊尾洲燈塔|labels=no}}) on the island was built to serve as a navigation aid to vessels sailing to Hong Kong. It was built by a Hong Kong contractor{{which|date=June 2022}} and partly funded by the Imperial [Qing](/source/Qing) Government for both construction and maintenance costs. Besides the lighthouse it had separate European and {{clarify span|Chinese|reason=Ethnicity or citizenship?|date=June 2022}} living quarters, telegraph and storage rooms.[{{Cite web |url=https://www.arch.hku.hk/research_project/the-gap-rock-lighthouse/ |title=The Gap Rock Lighthouse | HKU Faculty of Architecture |access-date=2019-11-18 |archive-date=2021-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620154651/https://www.arch.hku.hk/research_project/the-gap-rock-lighthouse/ |url-status=live }}] It came into operation in 1892 under Hong Kong control (island still under Chinese sovereignty) staffed by British lighthouse keeper and {{clarify span|Chinese|reason=Ethnicity or citizenship?|date=June 2022}} assistants. The lighthouse lenses and windows were damaged by typhoons in [1893](/source/1890s_Pacific_typhoon_seasons) and [1905](/source/1902%E2%80%931919_Pacific_typhoon_seasons), the keepers eventually abandoned the site, civil war in China left it in ruins by the 1930s and 1940s. Taken over in {{clarify span|1949|reason=Wasn't the [Wanshan Archipelago Campaign](/source/Wanshan_Archipelago_Campaign) fought in mid-1950?|date=June 2022}} by the [Communists in Beijing](/source/Chinese_communists), lighthouse was restored in 1986 with solar panels and fully automated.[{{Cite web |url=http://www.hkengineer.org.hk/program/home/articlelist.php?cat=article&volid=188 |title=A brief history of the Gap Rock Lighthouse |access-date=2016-08-12 |archive-date=2016-08-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812111636/http://www.hkengineer.org.hk/program/home/articlelist.php?cat=article&volid=188 |url-status=live }}][{{Cite web |url=http://www.hkmemory.hk/collections/lighthouses/history/index.html |title=History of Hong Kong Lighthouses: Gap Rock Lighthouse |access-date=2016-08-12 |archive-date=2016-08-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813092930/http://www.hkmemory.hk/collections/lighthouses/history/index.html |url-status=live }}][{{Cite web |url=http://gwulo.com/node/9314 |title=Gwulo: Gap Rock Lighthouse |access-date=2016-08-12 |archive-date=2016-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820223337/http://gwulo.com/node/9314 |url-status=live }}] {{cn span|date=June 2022|A small helipad was added in by the Chinese.{{when|date=June 2022}}}}
thumb|Dong'ao Dao
Southwestern group:
* [Dawanshan Dao](/source/Dawanshan_Dao) ({{zh|s=大万山岛|labels=no}}), {{convert|8.07|km2}}. The seat of Wanshan Town ({{zh|s=万山镇|labels=no}}) of Zhuhai is located on the island
* [Xiaowanshan Dao](/source/Xiaowanshan_Dao) ({{zh|s=小万山岛|labels=no}}), {{convert|4.35|km2}}.[Zhuhai Municipality website: [http://www.zhuhai.gov.cn/yjzh/mlzh/lsyg/zhjz/201203/t20120322_281097.html Xiaowanshan Dao] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130628084931/http://www.zhuhai.gov.cn/yjzh/mlzh/lsyg/zhjz/201203/t20120322_281097.html |date=2013-06-28 }} {{in lang|zh}}]
* Baili Dao ({{zh|s=白沥岛|labels=no}}), {{convert|7.94|km2}}
* Dong'ao Dao ({{zh|s=东澳岛|labels=no}}), {{convert|4.62|km2}} in area with population of 500. [Club Med](/source/Club_Med) opened a holiday resort on the island in 2014.[{{cite news |last=Elliott |first=Mark |date=24 June 2014 |title=Club Med opens beach resort in China |url=https://www.traveldailymedia.com/club-med-opens-beach-resort-in-china/ |newspaper=Travel Daily |access-date=1 October 2019 |archive-date=1 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001063634/https://www.traveldailymedia.com/club-med-opens-beach-resort-in-china/ |url-status=live }}]
* Heng Zhou ({{zh|s=横洲|labels=no}}), {{convert|0.54|km2}}
* Zhu Zhou ({{zh|s=竹洲|l=Bamboo Island|labels=no}}), {{convert|1.66|km2}}
* Gui Zhou ({{zh|s=贵洲|labels=no}}), {{convert|0.32|km2}}
* Dalie Dao ({{zh|s=大烈岛|labels=no}}), {{convert|0.36|km2}}
* Huangmao Dao ({{zh|s=黄茅岛|labels=no}}), {{convert|1.08|km2}}
[[File:Shek Kwu Chau and Wai Lingding Island 1.jpg|thumb|[Shek Kwu Chau](/source/Shek_Kwu_Chau) (left), an island of [Hong Kong](/source/Hong_Kong) and Wai Lingding Dao (right), part of the "Central group" of Wanshan Archipelago.]]
Central group, located south of [Lantau](/source/Lantau):
* Wai Lingding Dao ({{zh|s=外伶仃岛|labels=no}}), {{convert|3.7|km2}} in area and a tourist attraction with natural sites (Dangandao Provincial Nature Reserve) and temples. The seat of Dangan Town ({{zh|s=担杆镇|labels=no}}) of Zhuhai is located on the island
* Sanmen Liedao ({{zh|s=三门列岛|labels=no}})
** Hei Zhou ({{zh|s=黑洲|labels=no}})
** Henggang Dao ({{zh|s=橫崗島|labels=no}}), {{convert|0.74|km2}}
** Sanmen Dao ({{zh|s=三门岛|labels=no}}), {{convert|0.98|km2}}
** Sanmen Zhou ({{zh|s=三门洲|labels=no}})
** Yuangang Dao ({{zh|s=圆岗岛|labels=no}}), {{convert|0.016|km2}}
** Zhuwantou Dao ({{zh|s=竹湾头岛|labels=no}}), {{convert|0.33|km2}}
* Aizhou Liedao ({{zh|s=隘洲列岛|labels=no}})
** Ai Zhou ({{zh|s=隘洲|labels=no}}), {{convert|1.2|km2}}
** Ai Zhou Zi ({{zh|s=隘洲仔|l=baby Aizhou|labels=no}}), {{convert|0.6|km2}}
[[File:Island from Tian Tan Buddha.JPG|thumb|View from [Tian Tan Buddha](/source/Tian_Tan_Buddha) in Hong Kong. The closest islands are the [Soko Islands](/source/Soko_Islands), part of the territory of Hong Kong. The four most distant islands are part of the Wanshan Archipelago. From left to right: Ai Zhou, Ai Zhou Zi, Dazhi Zhou, Xiaozhi Zhou.]]
thumb|Dazhi Zhou (upper) and Xiaozhi Zhou (centre).
thumb|Ai Zhou Zi (bottom) and Ai Zhou (top).
Northwestern group, located between [Lantau](/source/Lantau) and [Macau](/source/Macau):
* Zhizhou Liedao ({{zh|s=蜘洲列岛|labels=no}})
** Dazhi Zhou ({{zh|s=大蜘洲|labels=no}}), {{convert|1.67|km2}}
** Xiaozhi Zhou ({{zh|s=小蜘洲|labels=no}}), {{convert|1.2|km2}}
* [Guishan Dao](/source/Guishan_Island_(China)) ({{zh|s=桂山岛|labels=no}}) – formerly [PLA](/source/People's_Liberation_Army) base from the 1950s. The seat of Guishan Town ({{zh|s=桂山镇|labels=no}}) of Zhuhai is located on the island
* Niutou Dao ({{zh|s=牛头岛|labels=no}}), {{convert|1.1|km2}}. Connected by a road to Guishan Dao
* Zhongxin Zhou ({{zh|s=中心洲|labels=no}}), {{convert|0.6|km2}}
* Chitou Dao ({{zh|s=赤滩岛|labels=no}}), {{convert|0.17|km|2}}
* Sanjiaoshan Dao ({{zh|s=三角山岛|labels=no}}), {{Convert|0.82|km2}}
* Qing Zhou ({{zh|s=青洲|labels=no}})
* Sanjiao Zhou
* Jishiling Pai ({{zh|s=鸡士令排|labels=no}})
* Dalu Dao ({{zh|s=大碌岛|labels=no}})
* Datou Zhou ({{zh|s=大头洲|labels=no}})
===Other geographical elements===
Other geographically important points of interest:
* Lema Channel is a major waterway in the archipelago.
* Dahengqin Dao is an island off Macau and not part of this archipelago.
* Erzhou, rising to {{convert|437.7|m}} above sea level, is the highest point in the archipelago
==Population==
There is a small local population, mostly in small fishing villages:
* Dangan
* Danganwei
* Nacun
==Economy==
The archipelago's economy is mainly fisheries (crystal prawn, peeler crab). There is a growing tourism industry with a focus on history, beaches, and the natural beauty of the islands. About 350,000 tourists visit the islands annually. [Club Med](/source/Club_Med) opened a holiday resort on Dong'ao in 2014.