Zhanjiang
From ChinaTravelGuide
South China (华南) » Guangdong (广东) » Zhanjiang (湛江)
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[edit] Overview
Zhanjiang is a prefecture-level city in Guangdong province, in southeast China.
[edit] History
Zhanjiang was a small fishing port when it was occupied by the French in 1898. The next year, the French forced the Chinese to lease Zhanjiang to them for 99 years as the territory of Kwang-Chou-Wan. The French wanted to develop the port, which they called Fort Bayard, to serve southern China, in parts of which France had exclusive rights to railway and mineral development. Their efforts, however, were hindered by the poverty of the surrounding land. The French retained control of the region until 1943, when the Japanese occupied the area during World War II. At the end of the war the region returned briefly under French rule before being formally returned to China in 1946 by the general De Gaulle, then French head of state.
Until the introduction of Pinyin spelling, it was often known in the west as "Tsamkong" due to the Cantonese pronunciation of the name.
[edit] Map
Click here to open Zhanjiang map.
[edit] Weather
