2025 Gulangyu Scenic Area Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in March)

#celebrateit Gulangyu Island is known as the ”Garden of the Sea" and is an ideal honeymoon destination. Gulangyu Island is located in the southwest corner of Xiamen City, Fujian Province, across the sea from Xiamen Island, with an area of about 1.88 square kilometers and an altitude of between 35-100 meters.The terrain here is high in the southwest and low in the northeast, the whole island is mountainous, and it is rich in natural landscapes and historical and cultural heritage.Gulangyu's green space coverage rate exceeds 40%, and it is rich in plant species, including more than 90 families and more than 1,000 species of trees, shrubs, vines and ground cover plants. Historical background and cultural characteristics Gulangyu Island was formerly known as ”Yuansha Island“ and also known as ”Yuanzhouzai“. It was called ”Wulongyu“ in the Southern Song Dynasty and renamed ”Gulangyu" in the Ming Dynasty.There are many historical sites on the island, such as the stone carving of “Gulang Dongtian” carved on Nikko Rock in 1573, and the ruins of the water exercise platform where Zheng Chenggong practiced as a water master.In addition, Gulangyu became the seat of the consulates of Britain, the United States and Spain in 1842, which has a rich historical background. Recommended attractions The main attractions of Gulangyu Island include： Sun Rock: The highest point of Gulangyu Island, overlooking the whole island and Xiamen City from the top, the sunrise and sunset scenery is particularly magnificent Shuzhuang Garden: A private garden that combines the characteristics of Jiangnan gardens and the seaside. There is a piano museum with elegant scenery. Haoyue Garden: A memorial Garden with the theme of Zheng Chenggong's statue, suitable for walking and viewing Gulangshi: A reef more than two meters high. At high tide, the sound of waves hitting the reef is like a drum. It is one of the origins of Gulangyu Island's name. Gulangyu Piano Museum: It shows the first piano museum in China and is a symbol of the "Piano Island”. Sea heaven Structure: It shows a variety of styles of architecture, including the architectural characteristics of Britain, France, Japan, Spain and other countries. Travel tips Gulangyu Island prohibits the passage of motor vehicles (except for police, etc.). Visitors can stroll through the quiet alleys and enjoy a leisurely and slow life.The island retains a large number of European-style buildings from the late 19th to early 20th centuries, with a variety of styles, suitable for taking pictures and checking in.

Its was an amazing trip in xiamen we went to gulangyu island which is accessible by ferry. You can see the sunset very relaxing feeling.

Gulangyu. Surprisingly, we found a former OCBC branch in Gulangyu, Xiamen.

Gulangyu island is one of the best places in xiamen. To go there, you need to purchase your ticket in advance (the cost is around 80 rmb). You can spend the whole day in the island where you can find many spots (also each spot you need to pay) but is not expensive. The sunset was amazing, dishes was also good. The 80 rmb is only for take the ferry to go to the island. Takes 20 min go. You can enjoy the beach, hiking and so on. Definitely is a very good place that you must visit in xiamen#travel #beachlife #seascapes

#photolocation Just a short ferry ride from Xiamen, Gulangyu Island is a captivating blend of history, culture, and seaside beauty. Known for its colonial-era architecture, tranquil car-free streets, and lush gardens, this UNESCO World Heritage Site feels like stepping into another time. Stroll through narrow lanes lined with charming villas, each telling its own story of the island’s multicultural past. Travel Tips: * Book Ferry Tickets in Advance: Gulangyu is a popular destination, so it’s best to book your ferry tickets ahead of time, especially during weekends and holidays. * Explore Shuzhuang Garden: Don’t miss this stunning seaside garden, which features classical Chinese landscaping and breathtaking views of the ocean. It’s a perfect spot for photography enthusiasts.

#islands Gulangyu Island Gulanyu Xiamen — GuLang Yu Dao island Xiamen 鼓浪屿 It is also Yuanshazhou Island, which means Round shallow water. It is also Wulongyu Island, which means the island of 5 dragons. The tiny Gulanyu Island, located on the southwestern side of Xiamen, is one of the most popular attractions in the city. It is also called the "Island of Music", there is a museum of ancient pianos and a "Garden above the sea" because of the flowers in the Shuzhuang Garden. Another feature of Gulanyu is its narrow streets with European colonial mansions. About 20 thousand residents live permanently on the island. Only bicycles and electric bikes are allowed to travel around the island. In this place, you can take a good break from the hustle and bustle of Xiamen: a small island with sandy beaches and rocky outgrowths, a town with narrow streets free of cars, with museums, parks, cafes, restaurants — and piano music! The roads are well maintained, and strict environmental control is carried out. History The local beauty was appreciated by the first British consul in Xiamen in 1844: he was the first to build a villa here. At that time, arable land was still being cultivated on Gulangyu. In the next 60-80 years, a settlement gradually emerged, marked by European architectural styles, which still stands today, and not only villas were built here, but also schools, churches and shopping establishments. Japanese people also settled here — and well-to-do Chinese, because Gulangyu was not a ghetto for foreigners. Unlike Tianjin, there were no separate zones of influence of various foreign powers. Inspection 🗓️It will take a good half day to see the most important things and breathe in the local atmosphere a little. At the same time, you can use electric cars that travel along a 6-kilometer route around the island. But most of the way should be done on foot. However, Gulangyu is a place where you can stay longer. You can hardly find a more cozy place than here.

#thingstodo #china Most itineraries to Xiamen, China would feature Gulangyu, and once you go there, you can see why. While locals I spoke to said it was touristy and uninteresting, I did enjoy my time there ❤️ 🚗 ❌️ Gulangyu is an island that is just a short ferry ride away from Xiamen. It is unique in that no forms of transportation are allowed on the island, not even bicycles. Hence it is very safe and suitable for wandering tourists/pedestrians, though that also means some planning is needed since you have to get everywhere by walking. 🚢 First off, it's important to check the ferry schedule between Xiamen and Gulangyu, the ferry frequency dips in the middle of the day, and there are two types of ferries, the regular ferry and luxury ferry. The regular one is much cheaper but you would have to stand all the way. There are more seats on the luxury ferry - though if you pay for a return ticket and opt to take the regular ferry on the way back they will not give you a refund. 📸 If you're not a planner, once you hop off the ferry, just follow one of the tour groups who will most likely head to the classic photo-taking spot near the ferry called ' Most beautiful turning point' - it is a building with two roads flanking it on both sides, a slender, triangular shaped building reminiscent of the Flatiron building in New York. After that, feel free to wander further uphill to find more scenic spots, practically every corner you turn you'll find some unexpectedly charming corner. The island itself is home to many villas and mansions formerly constructed and occupied by rich businessmen and political figures/local government leaders. Many have now been converted into restaurants or homestays so you can venture into some to explore further. 🌙 And make sure you leave enough time to walk back to the ferry if you're not staying on the island! Food-wise, there is a variety of foodstalls closer to the ferry near the waterfront which are more budget-friendly. I recommend grabbing a snack first before heading out to explore the island.