Gulangyu Scenic Area is located in Siming District, Xiamen City, Fujian Province. It is a small island with an area of approximately 1.88 square kilometers at the southwest corner of Xiamen Island, facing Xiamen Island across the Lujiang River. As a national 5A-level tourist attraction and a World Cultural Heritage site, Gulangyu is known as the "Garden on the Sea", the "Exhibition of International Architecture", and the "Piano Island". The green coverage rate of the whole island exceeds 40%. There are about 931 historical buildings of various types, among which 51 groups (131 buildings) of historical buildings are included in the World Cultural Heritage List. The architectural style integrates multiple cultural elements such as Minnan, Western, and overseas Chinese. The scenic area receives more than 10 million visitors annually and is a comprehensive tourist destination integrating natural scenery, historical culture, and leisure vacations.
History and Culture
The history of Gulangyu can be traced back to the Tang and Song dynasties. It was called "Yuanzhou Island" in the Southern Song Dynasty and began to be called "Gulangyu" in the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. After the "Nanjing Treaty" in 1842, Gulangyu became a public concession. Thirteen countries including Britain, the United States, and France set up consulates here, and overseas Chinese businessmen also built villas here one after another, forming a unique architectural landscape. The concession ended in 1941, and it gradually became a tourist attraction after 1949.
In the early 20th century, Gulangyu became an important cultural communication center in the Minnan region. Piano culture flourished here. By the end of the 20th century, the number of pianos on the whole island exceeded 500, with an average of one piano for every three households, hence the reputation of the "Piano Island". The island also gave birth to China's earliest Western-style hospitals and missionary schools, such as Salvation Hospital and Yinghua Academy, which promoted the social development of modern Xiamen.
In 2017, "Gulangyu: Historical International Community" was inscribed on the World Heritage List, becoming the 52nd World Heritage in China. Its value lies in demonstrating a unique international community model in East Asia from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century, reflecting cultural diversity and exchange integration.
Main Attractions
Sunlight Rock
Located in the middle-south of Gulangyu, it is the highest point of the whole island, with an altitude of 92.7 meters. The platform at the top of the rock covers an area of about 40 square meters, from which you can overlook the panoramic view of Xiamen Island, Gulangyu, and the distant view of Kinmen Island at 360 degrees. Sunlight Rock is formed by two huge rocks leaning against each other. There are cliff inscriptions such as "Tianfeng Haitao" (Natural Wind and Sea Waves) and "Gulang Dongtian" (Gulang Cave Heaven) on the rock wall. Among them, "Gulang Dongtian", engraved in the first year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty, is the earliest inscription on Gulangyu. The scenic area also has attractions such as Sunlight Rock Temple and Zheng Chenggong Memorial Hall. Zheng Chenggong once drilled the navy here.
Shuzhuang Garden
Built in 1913, it was originally the private villa of Lin Erjia, a wealthy businessman from Taiwan, covering an area of about 13,000 square meters. It is divided into two parts: Canghai Garden and Buzhan Garden. Canghai Garden is mainly based on sea views. The sea is hidden in the garden inside the garden gate. When you enter the garden, you suddenly see the sea, with exquisite design; Buzhan Garden is mainly based on mountain landscapes, with landscape features such as the rockery maze of Twelve Caves and the Small Plank Bridge. The garden also has a Piano Museum, displaying more than 30 ancient pianos, including a rare and precious gilded piano.
Haoyue Garden
Located on the southeast coast of Gulangyu, covering an area of about 20,000 square meters, it was built to commemorate Zheng Chenggong's expulsion of the Dutch colonizers and recovery of Taiwan. The core landscape in the garden is the Zheng Chenggong Statue, which is 15.7 meters high and weighs 1,617 tons. It is spliced by 625 pieces of granite in 23 layers, making it the largest statue of a historical figure in China. The statue faces the Taiwan Strait, with great momentum. The garden also has attractions such as the Half Moon City and Zheng Chenggong Historical Relics Exhibition Hall, displaying the life stories of Zheng Chenggong.
Organ Museum
Located in the Octagonal Building, which was built in 1907 and is one of the landmark buildings of Gulangyu. It is named after its octagonal roof. The museum displays more than 500 organs of various types, including the 6-meter-high pipe organ "Norman Bill", which is the only vertical pipe organ in China and the largest in the world. The museum regularly holds organ concerts, allowing visitors to experience the charm of classical music.
Gulangyu Historical and Cultural Exhibition Hall
Located next to Yuyuan Garden, with a construction area of about 1,500 square meters, it displays the historical changes of Gulangyu through cultural relics, pictures, multimedia and other forms. The exhibition is divided into four parts: "The Natural and Humanistic Environment of Gulangyu", "The Integration of Diverse Cultures", "The Formation of the Historical International Community", and "The Protection and Inheritance of Cultural Heritage", among which precious cultural relics such as the 1893 Gulangyu map and the seals of various consulates are displayed.
Food
Gulangyu Pie
A traditional famous snack in Xiamen, which began in the 1940s. It is made of high-quality flour, lard, sesame, etc. produced in Gulangyu, and is divided into sweet and salty flavors. The sweet pie is filled with mung bean paste, with a crisp and sweet taste; the salty pie is filled with diced meat, with a salty and fragrant taste. It is recommended to buy from time-honored brands such as "Wangji Pie" and "Huang Shengji", which are made and sold daily, with a shelf life of about 15 days, and are popular souvenirs.
Oyster Omelet
A characteristic snack in southern Fujian, which is made of fresh oysters from the sea area near Gulangyu, mixed with sweet potato flour, eggs, and green garlic. The outer skin is crispy, and the inner filling is fresh and tender, and it is eaten with garlic paste or Xiamen chili sauce. "Kangjia Longtou Oyster Omelet" near Longtou Road is an online celebrity store, with a daily average sales of more than 500 servings, and visitors need to queue for more than 30 minutes.
Sacha Noodles
A representative noodle dish in Xiamen. The sacha sauce is fried from more than 30 kinds of raw materials such as peanuts, shrimps, and garlic, and is matched with noodles, seafood, lean meat, etc. "Sili Sacha Noodles" on Gulangyu opened in 1992, with a rich soup base and rich ingredients. The signature sacha noodles cost 35 yuan per bowl, and you can choose 5 kinds of ingredients by yourself.
Soil Bamboo Jelly
A traditional cold dish in southern Fujian, which is made of sea earthworms (soil bamboo) as raw materials, boiled into a gelatinous shape and then cooled into jelly, and matched with seasonings such as soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and mustard. "Laershi Soil Bamboo Jelly" in Gulangyu uses soil bamboo from Quanzhou Bay, with a Q-bullet texture. A portion of 10 yuan contains 6 pieces, which is a good summer heat-relieving product.
Surrounding Food
After taking a boat back to Xiamen Island from Gulangyu, you can go to Zhongshan Road to taste "Bashi" seafood stalls, Huang Zehe peanut soup, Yuehua sacha noodles, etc.; or go to Shapowei Art District to experience creative Minnan cuisine, such as the oyster omelet hamburger of "Dear Burger", which integrates traditional and modern flavors.
Tickets
The combined ticket is 120 yuan per person. The core attraction ticket is 90 yuan per person. Single attraction tickets can also be purchased separately.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "厦门市鼓浪屿文旅中心" on WeChat to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
Gulangyu is open all day. The opening hours of some attractions vary slightly, usually from 8:00 to 18:00, subject to the opening hours of the day.
Tour Routes
Recommended one-day tour route:
8:00 Take a boat from Xiamen International Cruise Center to Neicuo'ao Wharf → 8:30 Visit Sunlight Rock (1.5 hours) → 10:00 Walk to Shuzhuang Garden (1.5 hours, including the Piano Museum) → 11:30 Lunch at Longtou Road → 13:00 Visit the Organ Museum (1 hour) → 14:00 Visit Haoyue Garden (1 hour) → 15:30 Go to Gulangyu Historical and Cultural Exhibition Hall (1 hour) → 16:30 Relax at Gangzaihou Seaside Bathing Beach → 18:00 Take a boat back from Sanqiutian Wharf
Recommended two-day tour route:
Day1: Visit Sunlight Rock and Shuzhuang Garden in the morning, visit the Organ Museum and the Calligraphy Art Museum in the afternoon, watch the sunset at Sunlight Rock in the evening, and visit the Longtou Road night market at night
Day2: Visit Haoyue Garden and Gulangyu Historical and Cultural Exhibition Hall in the morning, visit Huang Rongyuan Hall and Haitian Tanggou (separate tickets required) in the afternoon, go to Meihua Beach in the evening, and experience the free concert at Gulangyu Concert Hall at night (advance reservation required)
Cultural in-depth tour route (3 days):
On the basis of the two-day tour, add niche attractions such as Gulangyu Qinyuan (including the Hundred Birds Garden) and Guancai Building, participate in the explanation activities of the Piano Museum (10:00/15:00 every day), visit the old villas on the island, such as the Octagonal Building and Ronggu Villa, and deeply understand the historical stories behind the buildings.
Transportation
- Ferry: Tourists need to take a ferry from Xiamen International Cruise Center (No. 2 Donggang Road, Huli District) or Haicang Songyu Wharf to Gulangyu. The round-trip ferry ticket is 35 yuan per person, and the sailing time is about 20 minutes. Xiamen Ferry Wharf (No. 15 Lujiang Road, Siming District) is only open to local residents and tourists with valid certificates.
- Bus: The bus stop near Xiamen International Cruise Center is "International Cruise Center Station", and the passing buses are No. 87, No. 51, No. 135, etc.; the bus stop near Haicang Songyu Wharf is "Songyu Bus Station", and the passing buses are No. 842, No. 856, etc.
- Metro: Take Xiamen Metro Line 2 to "Cruise Center Station", exit from No. 3, and walk about 10 minutes to the International Cruise Center.
- Taxi: It is about 15 kilometers from Xiamen Railway Station to the International Cruise Center, with a driving time of 25 minutes and a cost of about 40 yuan; it is about 12 kilometers from Gaoqi Airport to the International Cruise Center, with a driving time of 20 minutes and a cost of about 35 yuan.
- Intra-island transportation: Gulangyu is a walking island, and motor vehicles and non-motor vehicles are prohibited from passing. Tourists need to walk the whole journey. There are sightseeing battery cars on the island, with a circular island line of 50 yuan per person and an interval line (such as from Neicuo'ao Wharf to Sunlight Rock) of 30 yuan per person.
Must-visit Attractions
- Sunlight Rock: The highest point of Gulangyu. Climb the rock to overlook the panoramic view of Xiamen Bay. It is recommended to go in the early morning or evening to avoid the midday sun and have the best photo lighting.
- Shuzhuang Garden: A model of the combination of Jiangnan gardens and sea views. The Twelve Caves rockery is suitable for parent-child play. The Piano Museum has free explanations at 10:00/15:00 every day.
- Organ Museum (Octagonal Building): The world's largest collection of pipe organs. There are organ concerts at 10:30/16:00 every day. It is recommended to enter 15 minutes in advance.
- Gulangyu Historical and Cultural Exhibition Hall: A must-visit place to systematically understand the history of Gulangyu. The museum has old photos and cultural relic replicas of Gulangyu in the 19th century.
- Gangzaihou Seaside Bathing Beach: The largest natural seaside bathing beach on Gulangyu, with fine sand and clear sea water. It is open from 8:00 to 18:00 in summer, and you need to bring your own swimwear and equipment.
Tour Tips
- Reserve ferry tickets 3 days in advance, especially during holidays and peak seasons, to avoid affecting the itinerary due to sold-out tickets. It is recommended to choose the morning shift (7:10-8:00) to avoid the peak of tour groups.
- Gulangyu has a hilly terrain. It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes. The daily walking amount is about 15,000-20,000 steps. You can carry a light backpack and drinking water.
- In summer (June-August), the temperature is high. Take sun protection measures and carry a sun hat and sunscreen; in winter (December-February), the sea breeze is strong. It is recommended to prepare a windproof jacket.
- The restaurants on the island are concentrated in Longtou Road, Fujian Road and other areas. There is a queue during the lunch peak (11:30-13:00). You can eat at off-peak times or make reservations in advance. It is recommended to try the time-honored brands "Lin's Fish Balls" and "Malasan Juice".
- If you are interested in architectural culture, you can rent an electronic interpreter (20 yuan per unit) or participate in the architectural tour group organized by the scenic area (100 yuan per group, advance reservation required).
- Gulangyu Concert Hall (located on Huangyan Road) has free concerts at 19:30 every day, mainly classical music. You need to enter 30 minutes in advance.
Notes
- The ferry ticket includes the return trip and is valid within 20 days. When returning, you can take a boat from Sanqiutian Wharf or Neicuo'ao Wharf on Gulangyu to Xiamen International Cruise Center or Songyu Wharf.
- The core attraction tickets are only valid for the same day. It is recommended to plan the tour order reasonably to avoid repeated ticket purchases.
- Gulangyu is a smoke-free scenic area. Smoking is prohibited on the whole island, and violators will be fined 50-200 yuan.
- There are no lifeguards on duty at Gangzaihou Seaside Bathing Beach. Pay attention to safety when swimming. Do not go too far from the shore. There may be high tides in the afternoon in summer, so pay attention to water level changes.
- Some old buildings on the island are private residences. Please do not enter without permission or disturb the residents' lives. Pay attention to respecting others' privacy when taking photos.
- Longtou Road Commercial Street has a large flow of people. Keep personal belongings, especially mobile phones, wallets, etc., and avoid staying in crowded places.
- Gulangyu implements garbage classification. Tourists need to put garbage into designated trash cans, and separate food waste from other garbage.