Kwangchowan

region, China

Also known as: Kouang-Tchéou-Wan

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Last updated

June 30, 2026

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Kwangchowan was a territory in southeastern China, located on the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong province. France leased this area from 1898 to 1946. The capital of Kwangchowan was Fort Bayard, and its total area was approximately 325 square miles (845 square kilometers).1

The Leizhou Peninsula itself juts out from southern China and is separated from Hainan Island by the Hainan Strait. While the peninsula is known for its undulating terrain and volcanic cones, Kwangchowan specifically refers to the leased territory on its eastern coast, which included bays and islands. This region was returned to China by France in 1946 after being occupied by the Japanese during World War II.2

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Leizhou Peninsula
Usually referred to as Kwangchowan, it was called Kouang-Tchéou-Wan by the French. Its capital was at Zhanjiang, renamed Fort Bayard by the French. Occupied by the Japanese in World War II, it was returned to China by France in 1946.
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Usually referred to as Kwangchowan, it was called Kouang-Tchéou-Wan by the French. Its capital was at Zhanjiang, renamed Fort Bayard by the French. Occupied by the Japanese in World War II, it was returned to China by France in 1946.
Read More