Zhan Shichai () (20 December 1841 – 5 November 1893) was a Chinese man who toured the world as "Chang the Chinese Giant" in the 19th century; his stage name was "Chang Woo Gow". Zhan was born in

Fuzhou Fuzhou is the capital of Fujian, China. The city lies between the Min River (Fujian), Min River estuary to the south and the city of Ningde to the north. Together, Fuzhou and Ningde make up the Eastern Min, Mindong linguistic and cultural regi ...

Fujian Fujian is a provinces of China, province in East China, southeastern China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capital is Fuzhou and its largest prefe ...

Province, in 1841. His height was claimed to be over , but there are no authoritative records. He left Qing China in 1865 to travel to

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

where he appeared on stage, later travelling around Europe, and to the U.S. and Australia as "Chang the Chinese Giant". Zhan received a good education in various countries, and developed a good understanding of ten languages. In America, he earned a salary of $500 a month (equivalent to $ a month today). Zhan's first wife, Kin Foo, accompanied him on his trip across Europe, and she performed alongside her husband until she fell ill and died while traveling to Australia in 1871. The following year, Zhan later married Catherine Santley, a

Liverpudlian Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

whom he met in

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

, Australia. They had two children: Edwin, born in 1877 in

Shanghai Shanghai, Shanghainese: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the ...

, and Ernest, born in 1879 in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

. In 1878, Zhan retired from the stage and settled in

Bournemouth Bournemouth ( ) is a coastal resort town in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority area, in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. At the 2021 census, the built-up area had a population of 196,455, making it the largest ...

, where he opened a Chinese teahouse and a store selling Chinese imports. Zhan died in Bournemouth in 1893 at 51 years of age, four months after his wife. His coffin was long.The Gentle Giant
based on an article in the London evening newspaper "The Star" for 9 November 1893

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zhan, Shi Chai 1840s births 1893 deaths People from Fuzhou People with gigantism Qing dynasty people

See also

References