If you cannot stand such a quick-fixed life, just jump out of it and book a fight of China Southern Airlines to Gu Lang Yu Island – a wonderful destination for your China tours.
Gu Lang Yu Island is located just southwest of Xiamen City. Visitors can reach it by steamship from Xiamen City in about 5 minutes. Gu Lang Yu Island is renowned for its delicate natural beauty, its ancient relics, and its varied architecture. The island is on China’s list of National Scenic Spots, one of the 35 key National Scenic Spots and also ranks at the top of the 10 most scenic areas in Fujian Province.
During the Ming Dynasty, the island was called “Yuan Shan Zhou Island”. It got its present name from the huge reef surrounding it. When the tide comes in, the waves pound the reef and it sounds like the beating of a drum. Thus the island came to be named “Gu Lang Yu”. Gu in Chinese means “drum”, and “Lang” means “waves”.
During the later Ming Dynasty, the troops of national hero Zheng Chenggong were stationed here. After the Opium war in 1842, 13 countries including Great Britain, France, America, Germany and Japan established consulates, churches, hospitals, banks and schools here, turning the island into a common concession. In 1942, Japan occupied the island until the end of the war of Resistance against Japan.
Gu Lang Yu Island has about 20000 permanent residents, all of whom enjoy a comfortable, relaxing life. Only electric-powered vehicles are permitted on the island, so the environment is free from the noise and pollution of combustion engines.
Breathing the clean air, appreciating the ever-present green trees and lovely flowers, anyone here can feel like they are in heaven. With classical and romantic European-style architecture, the island truly deserves to be called the “Architecture Museum”. It is also known as the “Cradle of Musicians” and “Island of Music” because of its reputation for music appreciation.
The Island Ring Road, which circles the island, allows you to fully enjoy all the sights of this small but charming island.
At the foot of Sunlight Rock stands the Memorial Hall of Zheng Chenggong, built in honor of the hero’s feats which include expelling the Dutch colonists and reoccupying Taiwan. Wandering up the steep rock path, visitors will see many profound inscriptions left by poets, the oldest of which dates back to over 400 years. This is the main cultural sight on the hill. Continuing on, you will see the preserved training grounds of Zheng Chenggong’s troops. Near the field is a huge rock bridging two cliffs, forming a natural entrance to a cave. This is called “Old Summer Cave” (Gu Bi Shu Dong) where you can feel a pleasant cool breeze. It’s the perfect viewing spot to qppreciate the scenery of Gu Lang Yu Island. A fantastic panorama of Xiamen City, including Nanputuo Temple, Xiamen University, Hulishan Battery, etc. is within view.
If you are also interested in travelling to Gu Lang Yu Island, you can just visit chinatraveldepot.com for more information about China Tours, China Flights, and China Hotels, etc.
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