Wanzai, Small Hengqin and Great Hengqin islands
Wanzai, Small Hengqin and Great Hengqin islands
灣仔、小橫琴島和大橫琴島 Wānzǎi、Xiǎohéngqín Dǎo Hé Dàhéngqín Dǎo Lapa, Dom João e Montanha | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates: 22°06′N 113°31′E / 22.100°N 113.517°E | |
| Region | Zhuhai / Macau (leased lands) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (China Standard / Macau Standard) |
| Postal code | 519031 |
Wanzai, Small Hengqin and Great Hengqin (Portuguese names: Lapa, Dom João and Montanha) are three islands located to the west of the Macau Peninsula and the Macau islands of Taipa and Coloane that were under Portuguese influence. They were inhabited by a small Chinese population in its early history.
Two of them have since been combined via land reclamation to form the current Hengqin island.
The water channels between Small Hengqin, Great Hengqin, Taipa, and Coloane used to be known as Shizimen Channel (literally "cross gate") in Chinese, due to the plus sign-shaped arrangement of water channels between the four islands. A number of maritime battle occurred over the area in the past, but the water channel now disappeared due to land reclamation connecting Small Hengqin with Great Hengqin and connecting Taipa with Coloane. However the name "Shizimen" is still retained as a district name on the merged Hengqin island.