When you just come to China for a wonderful China Tours, you must go to the South-east Coast of China. It is very worthy for people to relax and enjoy. Book a China Flight to visit Xiamen, Fujian Province, and spend your vocation in Gu Lang Yu.
Gulangyu ”Drum Wave Islet” is a car free island off the coast of Xiamen, Fujian province in southern China, about 2km2 in area. It is home to about 20,000 people and is a very popular tourist destination.
Visitors can reach it by ferry from Xiamen Island in about 5 minutes. Gulangyu Island is renowned for its beaches and winding lanes and its varied architecture. The island is on China’s list of National Scenic Spots and also ranks at the top of the list of the ten most-scenic areas in Fujian Province.
Xiamen (formerly known as Amoy) became a treat port resulting from China’s loss in the First Opium War and the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, hence the predominantly Victorian-era style architecture throughout Gulangyu Island, where 13 countries including Great Britain, France and Japan established consulates, churches, and hospitals. Gulangyu was officially designated an International Settlement in 1903. In 1942, Japan occupied the island until the end of the War of Resistance against Japan. The Amoy dialect of Hokkien is spoken on the island.
As a place of residence for Westerners during Xiamen’s colonial past, Gulangyu is famous for its architecture and for hosting China’s only piano museum, giving it the nickname of “Piano Island” or “The Town of Pianos” or “The Island of Music”. There are over 200 pianos on this island. The Chinese name also has musical roots, as gu lang means drum waves so-called because of the sound generated by the ocean waves hitting the reefs. Yu means “islet”.
In addition, there is a museum dedicated to Koxinga, Haidi Shijie Marine World, a subtropical garden containing plants introduced by overseas Chinese, as well as Xiamen Museum, formerly the Eight Diagrams Tower. The island of Gulangyu is a pedestrian only destination, where the only vehicles on the islands are several fire trucks and electric tourist buggies. The narrow streets on the island, together with the architecture of various styles around the world, give the island a unique appearance.
Gulangyu is unique in China as a “Traffic Free Island”. It is connected to the main Xiamen island only by ferry. Neither cars nor bicycles are allowed, and the peaceful island provides an alternative to the hectic life in Xiamen City across the river, although the recent introduction of electric tourist buggies is felt to be damaging the island’s charm. Freight is pulled on wheeled buggies up the often steep lanes by strong teams of men.
It is really wonderful to visit Xiamen in August, September and October. Visit chinatraveldepot.com for more information for your China Tours.
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