In 1859, during the reign of Emperor Xianfeng of the Qing Dynasty, British official Burke proposed setting up a concession in Shamian. The Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, Lao Chongguang, readily agreed, promising that the Chinese side would first excavate a 30-meter-wide, 1200-meter-long canal (today's Shaji Canal) north of Shamian to separate it from the mainland. Two bridges would be built across the canal, one connecting to the west embankment and the other to Shaji Road.
Shamian boasts over 160 years of history, and the Shamian West Bridge, the stone steps, the iron cannons, and numerous Western-style buildings are the best testament to this.