Xiamen perfect for tropical retreat
Print Edition
GULANG Island-Wanshi Mountain Scenic Area is located in Xiamen, just off the coast of south China’s Fujian Province.
With its pleasant tropical climate, the island — named “gu lang,” or “drum wave” for the rhythmic sound of the waves which lap its shores — is a pleasant tourist retreat from downtown Xiamen as well as a perfect place to live for its 20,000 permanent residents.
Over 4,000 species of plants can be found on the Gulang Island. Because of its blooming flowers, green vines, tropical forests and fresh air, the island is also called the “garden on the sea.” The island is criss-crossed by winding paths and charming lanes. It’s also ringed by fine sand beaches which are perfect for sunbathing.
What’s more, with only electric-powered vehicles allowed on the island, residents and visitors can expect to leave behind the noise, pollution and chaos found on so many of China’s crowded urban streets.
The island is also famed for its exotic architecture, which includes a mix of Western and Chinese styles. After China lost the First Opium War, Xiamen became a treaty port. Representatives from countries such as Britain, France and Japan established churches, hospitals and consulates on the island.
Sunlight Rock, a symbol of Xiamen, is the highest point on the island and a good place to appreciate the surrounding scenery and the skyline of the coast.
The nation’s largest piano museum is also located on the island, which is home to more than 40 ancient pianos, with some of them dating back to the 19th century. Thanks to the area’s foreign influence, local students on the island began studying the instrument in the early 1900s at schools run by foreigners. The island’s ferry dock is also built to resemble a piano, a nod to its musical heritage.
Across the harbor from Gulang Island is the Wanshi Mountain Scenic Area, another local tourist hotspot which shares its name with the famed island. This area, composed of oddly shaped stones and rock features, covers over 26 square kilometers.
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