Gulangyu Island

Gulangyu Island is located in the southwestern part of Xiamen Island with an area of 1.87 square kilometers and about 16 thousand people living here. It is separated by a 500-meter-wide Lu River with Xiamen Island. In the Song Dynasty, Gulangyu Island was originally called Yuanshazhou or Yuanzhouzi, because in the southwest of this Island, there was a marine-abrasion cave which sounded like drums under the impact of tides, and it was given an elegant name in the Ming Dynasty, namely, Gulangyu Island. Gulangyu Island is known as the Sea Garden above which there is pleasant climate with all seasons like spring, and full of birds’ song and fragrance of flowers instead of vehicle noises. It resembles a glittering pearl that is insetted amid the green waves of Xiamen Bay. Gulangyu Island is selected as the National Civilized Scenic Spot, National 5A Scenery Site, famous national scenic spots, ISO14,000 National Demonstration Zone, one of 35 national ace attractions, and the first of Top Ten Scenic Spots of Fujian Province.

In 2005, it stood out in the selection of Scenic Splendor of China and was chosen as China’s most beautiful city, and in 2006, it was selected as the gold medal in the selection of the Most Worthwhile 50 Places for Foreigners. The surrounding sea area of Gulangyu Island forms the main part of Xiamen Harbor. It is near to the Chinese White Dolphin Natural Reserve, Amphioxus Protected Areas, and Lantau Island Egrets Protected Areas. Across the sea you will see the islands of Kinmen. Ascend a height and you will enjoy a distant view of the whole scenery of Gulangyu Island and the surroundings. There has always been the saying that a man who doesn’t have a visit to Gulangyu Island has no right to say that he has been to Xiamen. As with the rising development of Xiamen Special Economic Zone, the supporting service facilities of Gulangyu Island become better and more perfect, and now here has become a comprehensive scenic area covering sightseeing, going on vacation, leisure, entertainment and shopping. Every year 4 million overseas visitors will come here and have sightseeing visit.

Major scenic spots on the island are the Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden, Underwater World, Yu Garden, the Island Ring Road, Gulang Stone, Natural Bathing Beach and so on. Major celebration activities are biennial Gulang Island Piano Festivaland the National Youth Piano Competition, annual American Music Week, and annual Moon-cake Gambling Festival. Nowadays, Gulangyu Island has become a golden postcard of Xiamen tourism industry.

Website: http://www.gly.cn/

Ticket Price: free for traveling on Gulangyu Island. 100 yuan for a combination ticket to visit the Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden, International Character Engraving Art Gallery, Haoyue Park and Orgelmuseum.

Traffic: from October 20, Xiamen-Gulangyu Island ferry line will be readjusted and carry out new time table. Local people and visitors will be separated thoroughly. Local people are arranged to board the island from the ferry dock of Lujiang Road, the first dock and Haicangsong Island Dock, and the shuttling ticket price is 8 yuan. While visitors are arranged to board the island from Dongdu Cruise Terminal and Haicangsong Island Dock, and three kinds of shuttling ticket price can be chosen from: 35 yuan, 50 yuan and 30 yuan.