Nantou, Shenzhen (historical)

Nantou (also transliterated as Nantau or Nam Tau) (南頭) is an area at the back of Nantau Peninsula in Guangdong, China.

It was formerly a walled city facing Tai Shan Bay for coastal defense in Bao'an County and now is the capital city of the Nanshan District in Shenzhen. It was also the administrative centre in the area surrounding including Hong Kong. The city was on the sea route in South China and regarded as the gatekeeper of Pearl River and Guangzhou.

The walled city is also known as Nam Tau Shing (南頭城), walled city of Nantau. The inhabitant of Nantau extended south along Tai Shan Wan to Chan Uk Wai (陳屋圍), including Kwan Hau (關口) and Shek Kiu Tau (石橋頭).

History

History of Nantau can be dated back to 331. It was known as Tung Kwun (東官) as it is the capital city of prefecture of Tung Kwun. It is also known as Po On (寶安), Tuen Mun (屯門) and San On (新安) in the course of history. The current walled city was built in 1394, when Ming revived the coastal defense after the fall of Mongolian rule. It remains the administrative centre afterward. Nantau guadually lost its prestige as the completion of Kowloon-Canton Railway made the market town of Shenzhen east of Nantau more prosperous. The capital city of Bao'an County was moved to Shenzhen finally in 1953.