Did you know that Double Island has another name? It is also known as Mayu Island. It is located in Shantou Guangdong. Double Island has a rich history. It is full of stories waiting to be told.
Welcome to Double Island. We are about to uncover its secrets. This island has played many roles over the centuries. Are you ready to discover them?
Once upon a time Double Island was called Mǎyǔ. This name meant Horse Isle. People thought it looked like a horse coming out of the water. Later the name changed to Mǎyǔ. This means Mother Isle. In imperial times it had another name. It was called the mountain for letting chickens go. Fishermen would bring chickens to the island’s Mazu temple. Then they would let them go free.
Double Island’s location is very strategic. It sits in the estuary of Shantou port. This made it “the key to customs”. It controlled who could come and go.
In the 19th century Shantou became a treaty port. Foreign powers wanted to trade here. Double Island became home to the British and American consulates. Imagine the flags flying high. It was also home to a customs house. This controlled the flow of goods.
Double Island has not one but two Mazu temples. This is very unusual. Mazu is the goddess of the sea. She protects fishermen and sailors. The first temple was built during the Yuan dynasty. Fishermen brought incense from a famous temple in Fujian. The temple was destroyed but rebuilt during the Qing dynasty. Later donors from Hong Kong helped to renovate it. The second Mazu temple was built during the Qing dynasty as well. A Mr. Wu from Quanzhou built it. He had come to Shantou for business.
There is also a Dragon King temple on Double Island. It was built in the early Qing dynasty. These temples show the island’s deep connection to the sea. They also show its importance to the local people.
Before the Qing dynasty Double Island was part of Chaoyang County. Later it came under the control of Nan’ao’s Chenghai Xiezuo Battalion. But the people living there were still under Chaoyang’s administration. In 1853 the Chinese government built a customs house on Double Island. It was called Xinguan or Changguan.
Under the Treaty of Tianjin Shantou opened as a treaty port in 1858. The United States established a consulate on Double Island in 1860. Britain soon followed. George W. Caine was the first British consul. The British customs house became a symbol of the treaty port. It was designated a protected monument of Shantou in 1994.
In 1860 an American missionary reported that about twenty foreigners lived on Double Island. About 2000 Chinese people lived there too. The island was the only safe place for foreigners to live.
Today Double Island is a tourist destination. After 1949 it was a restricted military zone. But it reopened to the public in 1979. Near the Dragon King temple there is a beach for swimming.
In 1995 the Shantou Bay Bridge was constructed. Some of the bridge’s piers are located on Double Island. This shows how the island continues to play a role in modern life.
Near the island’s dock there is a special stone. Locals call it the stone with the mark of the mother. It is said to be a vestige left by Mazu. She left it when she became a spirit. Then she disappeared into the ocean.
Double Island is more than just a piece of land. It is a place full of history culture and legends. Its strategic location and religious significance have shaped its identity. It is a key to understanding the story of Shantou. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty and history.