South-East Asia Trading Station - Advice needed!

[Argonor]

I am planning to start building a modelled (modular) board for a trading station with a harbour. Think 'China Station' as seen in the Pulp Figures gallery - a turning/starting point for pulp adventures that can be used over and over again.

I want a small harbour/port, not necessarily big enough for tramp steamers, but sampans and junks should be able to reach the wharfs.

I also want a river (river pirates), but now the question is: How should I layout the topography?

Should the river estuary be at/in the port, or should the river go past the settlement (maybe through), with the port established in a bay round a point/outside a delta?

As stated, the board will be modular, probably 2x4 modules, so it is the one or two boards nearest the coast that is my concern, here.

Suggestions, examples, and even sketches are most welcome.

I'm not going to build any vegetation or structures into the board, as I want to be able to use it for other coastal purposes (such as pirate games, and I have an idea for some 'Bayou'/mangrove stuff (Seminoles and National Guard, anyone?)), so I also need to plan the modular sections very carefully, to make it possible to change the layout if needed.

The project will not start before somewhen after Christmas, maybe not even until Spring, but I need to start planning/saving up for stuff needed, and I would like to have a clear idea of the basic layout as soon as possible, as I can then start buying/making/painting some buildings and minis on a small scale for the project as a now and then relief from my big zombie project that starts tomorrow (am picking up the minis today), and will probably run until Christmas or so.

I expect to be using some of the buildings seen on this thread: http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=32386.0 - but suggestions of other sources for Chinese architecture is most welcome, too! 

Ainsty will be another source of a LOT of things for this, especially their Trader Town:
http://ainstycastings.co.uk/index.php/cPath/34/osCsid/36fd00198a415bbf20150cb2e4a1a399
and their Trade Goods:
http://ainstycastings.co.uk/index.php/cPath/47 .