Sanyi
Detail of a 1797 map, with added highlighting on the Guangzhou area, including the Sanyi[1]
Chinese	三邑
Literal meaning	Three counties
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin sānyì Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Sāmyāp Jyutping saam1 jap1
Alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	南番順
Simplified Chinese	南番顺
Literal meaning	Nanhai Panyu Shunde
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Nánpānshùn Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Nàahmpūnseuhn Jyutping naam4 pun1 seon6

Sanyi (Chinese: 三邑; pinyin: sānyì; Jyutping: saam1 jap1; lit. 'Three counties') or Nanpanshun (Chinese: 南番順; pinyin: Nánpānshùn; Jyutping: naam4 pun1 seon6; lit. 'Nanhai Panyu Shunde'), also known by Cantonese romanizations such as Sam Yup and Nam Pun Shun, refers to the three districts (former counties) of Nanhai, Panyu and Shunde surrounding Guangzhou and Foshan in Guangdong, China.

Geography

The former counties and the corresponding modern districts are

Nanhai

Modern Nanhai and Chancheng in Foshan and a small part of Liwan in Guangzhou

Panyu

Modern Panyu, Yuexiu, large part of Liwan, Haizhu, Huangpu, Baiyun and large part of Nansha, all in Guangzhou

Shunde

Modern Shunde, Foshan

Dialects

The area gave rise to the Yuehai dialects, the most prominent of which is Cantonese (Guangzhou/Guangfu dialect). Standard Cantonese is based on the Yuehai dialects belongs to the Yue branch of Chinese, Cantonese speakers easily understand throughout Chinese part of Lingnan area.

Emigration

Most of the Chinese immigrants to the United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century came from eight districts in the Pearl River Delta, including the three districts of Sanyi, together with the four districts of Siyi to the southwest^[2][3] and the district of Zhongshan.^[4]: 19

See also

• Siyi
• Yue Chinese

References