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How long was Guangzhou occupied by Anglo-French forces during the Second Opium War?
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Guangzhou
Nighttime view of central Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China.
During the Second Opium War, Guangzhou (then known as Canton) was occupied by Anglo-French forces from December 1857 until 1861.1
Following the outbreak of hostilities in 1856, British and French forces launched an attack on the city on December 28, 1857, and successfully captured it shortly thereafter. The occupation lasted for several years, during which time Shamian Island was established as an Anglo-French concession in 1859.231