Anhai
Encyclopedia
Anhai is a town
in southern Fujian
province, People's Republic of China. It is located in the far southern suburbs of Quanzhou
. and is separated by Weitou Bay (围头湾) from Kinmen
, which is controlled by the Republic of China
on Taiwan
. Administratively Anhai is part of Jinjiang City. The highest point in the town's administrative area is Mount Lingyuan (灵源山) at 305 metres (1,000.7 ft).
) as Anping (安平). The famous Song Dynasty Anping Bridge
crosses a tidal estuary to the west of town, connecting Anhai with the neighboring town of Shuitou, in Nan'an
county-level city.
Anhai was an important port during the Ming and early Qing periods; its name was often transcribed by Europeans as Gan-hai. The 19th-century researchers writing for the Hakluyt Society
thought Anhai (Gan-hai) was the port of "Tansuso" visited by Martín de Rada
, but later research identified Tansuso as
Zhongzuosuo (中左所), which is in modern Xiamen
, some 40 km to the west.
Town (China)
When referring to political divisions of China, town is the standard English translation of the Chinese 鎮 . It is a fourth-level administrative unit, i.e...
in southern Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
province, People's Republic of China. It is located in the far southern suburbs of Quanzhou
Quanzhou
Quanzhou is a prefecture-level city in Fujian province, People's Republic of China. It borders all other prefecture-level cities in Fujian but two and faces the Taiwan Strait...
. and is separated by Weitou Bay (围头湾) from Kinmen
Kinmen
Kinmen , also known as Quemoy , is a small archipelago of several islands administered by the Republic of China : Greater Kinmen, Lesser Kinmen, and some islets. Administratively, it is Kinmen County of Fujian Province, ROC. The county is claimed by the People's Republic of China as part of its...
, which is controlled by the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
on Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Administratively Anhai is part of Jinjiang City. The highest point in the town's administrative area is Mount Lingyuan (灵源山) at 305 metres (1,000.7 ft).
History
Anhai was known in the past (Song DynastySong Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
) as Anping (安平). The famous Song Dynasty Anping Bridge
Anping Bridge
Anping Bridge is a stone beam bridge in China's Fujian province. It is long. The bridge is also known as the Wuli Bridge because its length is about 5 li, where a li is about 500 meters or 0.3 miles...
crosses a tidal estuary to the west of town, connecting Anhai with the neighboring town of Shuitou, in Nan'an
Nan'an
-China:* Nan'an District , Chongqing* Nan'an, Fujian , county-level city of Quanzhou, Fujian* Nan'an, Dayu County , town in Dayu County, Shanxi* Nan'an, Wenshui County , town in Wenshui County, Shanxi-Others:...
county-level city.
Anhai was an important port during the Ming and early Qing periods; its name was often transcribed by Europeans as Gan-hai. The 19th-century researchers writing for the Hakluyt Society
Hakluyt Society
Founded in 1846, the Hakluyt Society is a registered charity based in London, England, which seeks to advance knowledge and education by the publication of scholarly editions of primary records of voyages, travels and other geographical material...
thought Anhai (Gan-hai) was the port of "Tansuso" visited by Martín de Rada
Martín de Rada
Martín de Rada was one of the first members of the Order of Saint Augustine to evangelize the Philippines, as well as one of the first Christian missionaries to visit the Ming China.-Early years:When he was twelve years old, de Rada's parents sent him and his older brother to study at the...
, but later research identified Tansuso as
Zhongzuosuo (中左所), which is in modern Xiamen
Xiamen
Xiamen , also known as Amoy , is a major city on the southeast coast of the People's Republic of China. It is administered as a sub-provincial city of Fujian province with an area of and population of 3.53 million...
, some 40 km to the west.