The Wanshan Archipelago, formerly known as the Ladrones Islands, is a 104-island archipelago that is a part of Xiangzhou District in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China.

Administration

Most of the islands of the archipelago are in the Wanshan Marine Development Experimental Zone which consist of three towns: Guishan Town, Dangan Town and Wanshan Town. Before Chu-Hai County was created in 1953, the islands were part of Po-On County.

Geography

The islands are situated in the South China Sea, to the south of the opening of the Pearl River estuary and Hong Kong. The archipelago includes several groups of islands. The western group, located south of the Pearl River estuary and Lantau Island, was formerly known to Europeans as the Ladrones, from the Spanish for "thieves". It comprises Greater Wanshan, Guishan, and Wai Dangling Islands and the Zhizhou, Sanmen, and Aizhou groups. The eastern group, located south of Hong Kong Island, was known as the Lema Islands. Today, they are known as the Jiapeng Liedao and Dangan Liedao, respectively. The largest island, Dangan, features mountainous terrain similar to Hong Kong.

List of islands

Islands of the archipelago include: Dangan Liedao, the eastern group of Wanshan archipelago, and the eastern half of the former Lema Islands chain Jiapeng Liedao, the southern group of Wanshan archipelago, and the western half of the former Lema Islands chain Southwestern group: Central group, located south of Lantau: Northwestern group, located between Lantau and Macau:

Other geographical elements

Other geographically important points of interest:

Population

There is a small local population, mostly in small fishing villages:

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 opened a holiday resort on Dong'ao in 2014. There is also potential for petroleum extraction in the waters off the islands.

Tourist sites

Tourist sites of Wanshan Archipelago include:

Transport

Citations