The charms of Xiamen
- By Wei Yao
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E-mail China Today, March 9, 2017
Museum of World Architecture
Xiamen is full of wonderful scenery and Gulangyu Island is definitely a gem, floating like a satellite moon off the coast of the larger island. After the Opium War, colonialists settled on Gulangyu and built their homes there and numerous examples of European architecture still remain. That is why Gulangyu is known as a "Museum of World Architecture." Over 1,000 historical buildings are crammed into an area of less than two square kilometers, 70 percent of which were built between the end of the 19th century and the 1930s. In addition to the colonialist presence, many wealthy Chinese merchants, influential families, and overseas Chinese built residences on the island, the majority of which integrated Chinese and Western architectural styles.
Today 400 buildings on Gulangyu Island are listed as historical buildings and are protected by the government. Twenty of them are major national historical and cultural sites. Gulangyu, with its rich cultural and historical style, was voted "the most beautiful urban area in China" by Chinese National Geographic Magazine in 2005.
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Cats have "captured" Ding'aozai Street of Xiamen, attracting cat lovers from across the country. |
If you take a trip to Gulangyu nowadays, it seems impossible to escape the jostling crowds and stores: Gulangyu has become very touristy. Longtou Road is the commercial center, but if you just get away from the main drag and stroll down to the food market it is possible to get a sense of what daily life is like for local people.
Travelers who dislike touristy areas don't have to worry though. Journeying further inland reveals a completely different world. A network of lanes spreads out, as complex as a spider's web, making it easy for first-time visitors to get lost, but no need to panic – getting lost on such a small island poses no risk, but can rather end up enriching your experience.
Walking along the narrow lanes, you can use Sunlight Crag as a landmark, which stands at the center of the island. It is the highest point on Gulangyu. From the top you can see a brilliant sight: a dense swathe of red-tiled roofs, studded with clouds of greenery. Just beyond, the bright blue sea completes the picture.
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