Gulangyu Island in Xiamen
Gulangyu Island Facts
Visit Gulangyu Island is just like a time travelling to the past, and few things have changed on the island since foreigners settled in Xiamen (Amoy) to do business. There are no cars on the island, and you can hike up the hill, bask on the beach, walk along the esplanade, admire colonial buildings, visit museums and taste the delicious local food.
Chinese Name: 厦门鼓浪屿
Type: Points of Interest & Landmarks, Sights & Landmarks, Island, World Heritage Site
Address: No.6 Lujiao Road, Siming District, Xiamen 361002, China
Best Seasons: March ~ May and September ~ October
Recommended Visiting Hours: about 1-2 hours
Opening Hours: All day
Ticket: CNY 30
Why is Gulangyu Island So Special?
Besides the island’s historic significance as an international port, Gulangyu is a great place to escape from city traffic and highrise, though Xiamen has consistently been voted as one of the most livable cities in China, and Gulangyu Island has been recognized as one of Fujian Province’s most scenic places.
Brief Introduction of Gulangyu Island
Gulangyu is directly off the southeastern coast of China, and the quaint tourist attraction is part of the bustling city of Xiamen. The island is famous for its natural beauty, colonial style architecture and a myriad of interesting museums. Gulangyu Island is located just southwest of Xiamen City. Visitors can reach it by steamship from Xiamen City in about 5 minutes. This scenic area 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 and also ranks at the top of the list of the ten most-scenic areas in Fujian Province. In July 2017, it was listed as a world heritage site by the UNESCO.
History of Gulangyu Island
Gulangyu Island had been the colony of western countries for nearly a hundred years since the First Opium War (A.D. 1840 – 1842). Since then, preachers and merchants from western countries have built various churches, mansions, schools, hospitals, etc. on the island. The island has made little changes since then. Now, there are thousands of well-preserved architectures of various styles (both Chinese style and western styles) on the island; thus, Gulangyu Island is also called the World Architecture Expo. Besides the architecture, western music was also brought into this island in the 19th century, and the island raised many famous Chinese musicians. It’s named as The Island of Music by Chinese Musicians Association in 2002.
And on July 8th, 2017, on the World Heritage Convention held in Poland, Gulangyu Island – a Historic International Settlement was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is now the 52nd World Heritage site in China (China’s World Heritage Site Lists). Compared to other world heritage sites, Gulangyu is young. However, for over 100 years, the 931 constructions of various styles, periods, and cultures have formed the feature of this unique place, and it perfectly represents the inclusive, multi-cultural, kind characteristics of Gulangyu and also the harmonious mixture of the modern human resident concept and local traditional culture.
Main Attractions of Gulangyu Island
Sunlight Rock Scenic Area is located at the south-central of Gulangyu Island, and it can be divided into two parts -Sunlight Rock and Qin Garden. Sunlight Rock refers to two huge rocks, and they lean on each other, with one horizontal and the other vertical. With an altitude of 92.7m, Sunlight Rock is the highest point on the island.
Built in 1913, sitting in the southern part of Gulangyu Island, facing the sea with Sunlight Rock sitting behind it, Shuzhuang Garden was once the private garden of Lin Erjia – a wealth Taiwan merchant. In 1955, the garden was donated to the government, and it’s a public garden since then. The garden has two parts – Garden Hiding the Sea and Garden Making-up Hills, and both of them were layout taking the advantage of the natural terrain.
Piano Museum is an interesting attraction in Shuzhuang Garden. Located at Tintaoxuan, it covers an area of 450m². The museum has two floors, and it displays over 70 old pianos donated by Hu Youyi – an overseas Chinese pianist and piano collector born in Gulangyu Island.
Haoyue Garden situates at the southeast of Gulangyu Island, with Lu River next to it. It’s a memorial garden built to memory Zheng Chenggong, who successfully recaptured Taiwan in 1661. The garden is centered on Zheng Chenggong’s sculpture, a 15.7m high granite rock sculpture, and architectures modeled after the architecture style in Ming Dynasty distribute around the sculpture.
Organ Museum is located at Bagua Mansion in the northwest of Gulangyu Island, and it’s the largest organ museum in the world (the only one in China). The exhibitions in the museum are also donated by Hu Youyi, just like the Piano Museum.
Recommended Xiamen Gulangyu Tour Packages
- Xiamen Gulangyu Island Half-day tour
- 5 Days Fujian Province Adoption Heritage Tour
- 4 Days Fujian Tulou Cycling Tour from Xiamen
- 8 Days Fujian Xiamen and Wuyishan Tea Culture Tour
- 4 Days Xiamen City and Fujian Tulou Tour
- 1 Day Xiamen City & Gulang Yu Island Tour
Best Seasons to Visit Xiamen
Xiamen has a subtropical climate, which is generally temperate with abundant rainwater. It has an average annual temperature of approximately 21 centigrade. There is no intense heat in summer and no extreme cold in winter in Xiamen. The city has an average annual rainfall of about 1200mm (47 inches), mainly during the months from May to August. Wind power reaches Grade 3 to 4 in general, with northeast wind representing the dominant wind direction. Owing to the air currents resulting from the difference in temperature in the Pacific, Xiamen is hit by typhoon three or four times annually on average, which mainly occurs during the months from July to September. Xiamen is suitable for traveling all year round, and the best seasons are spring and autumn.
How to get to Gulangyu Island
Travel with ChinaDragonTours (top recommended)
If you want to get out of the traffic and hassle of navigation, you can book a private tour package that includes visiting, dining and transfer from us. Our local guide and driver will escort you to Gulangyu Island in Xiamen in the fastest and most convenient way and take care of all the details. You just have to focus on the visiting.
Independent Traveler
How to go to the Gulangyu Island from Xiamen
Below lists the information about wharfs, Gulangyu Island ferry lines & ferries tickets and operating time.
Daytime
| Route | Operating Time | Ticket Fare (Round-trip) |
Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun. – Sep. | Oct. – May | |||
| Xiagu Wharf – Sanqiutian Wharf | 7:10 – 18:30 | 7:10 – 17:30 | CNY 35 | 20mins |
| Xiagu Wharf – Neicuo’ao Wharf | 7:10 – 18:30 | 7:10 – 17:30 | CNY 35 | 20mins |
| Songyu Wharf – Neicuo’ao Wharf | 7:30 – 19:00 | 7:10 – 17:50 | CNY 30 | 8mins |
At night (17:50 – 06:30 next day):
From Hall 2 of Xiamen Lundu Ferry Terminal near Zhongshan Road, take a ship to Sanqiutian Wharf. The roundtrip fare is CNY 35 and it takes about 7mins.
Useful Travel Tips
- Accommodation
Lodging on the island can range from deluxe to budget and everything in between. For instance, visitors can catch a glimpse of the island’s heritage by staying at the Consulate Inn on 14 Lujiao Road which is housed in the renovated, 19th century British consulate. Alternately, the Bayview Inn which is on 17 Longtou Road provides basic, clean accommodations that include free wireless internet and friendly, English speaking staff. - Getting Around:
(1) On foot.
(2) By electric tourist buggy.
| Entrance Fee | Free for the Gulangyu Island.
Sunlight Rock: CNY 50 A combo ticket costs CNY 90 for entering the above scenic spots. |
|---|---|
| Opening Hours | Sunlight Rock & Shuzhuang Garden & Bright Moon Garden: Jun. – Sep.: 5:30 – 21:00 Oct. – May: 5:30 – 20:30 Organ Museum & International Lettering Art Gallery: Jun. – Sep.: 8:15 – 18:15 Oct. – May: 8:15 – 17:45 |
| Recommended Time for a Visit | 2 days |
