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Amoy

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Amoy is the English name of the coastal city Xiamen (廈門 or 厦门) in Fujian Province in southern China. The word is used to refer to both the city and its language.

The word "Amoy" is based on the name Xiamen spoken in Min-nan, the local dialect.

Amoy was the port of trade first used by Europeans in 1541. It was China's main port in the 19th century for exporting tea. As a result, its language had a major influence on how Chinese terminology was translated into English and other European languages. For example, the words "Amoy", "tea" (茶), cumshaw (感謝), "ketchup", "satay" originated from Amoy. Amoy (Ximen) is now a special economic zone of China. Amoy (Xiamen) is also famous for its natural scenery.

Amoy was one of the five Chinese treaty ports opened by the Treaty of Nanjing (signed in 1842) at the end of the First Opium War between Britain and China. The other ports were Guangzhou, Fuzhou, Ningbo and Shanghai.

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