This tourist island off the coast of Xiamen across Egret River is an amazing getaway from the hustle and bustle of modern day life. Beautiful and serene with wonderful sandy beaches and a harmonious quiet that is possible by the island’s lack of cars or any other kind of automated transport.

Charming and stylish, Gulang Yu also has the unusual characteristic of having the name ‘Piano Islet’. This name was given to the island’s high concentration of pianos, the highest in China despite only having a population of 20,000. This love of music is a strong cultural bond that is shared by the residents on this carefree and peaceful island.

If that wasn’t enough Gulang Yu is home to a range of varying architecture that was the subsequent result of numerous foreign residents having made their home on the island. Various structures built by German, English and Chinese architects and several others are spread all over the island presenting an interesting and unique landscape that provide yet another reason to visit Gulang Yu island.

Besides man made formations, Gulang Yu is also home to several natural formations that are of interest.  Dragon Head Hill, Hoisting Flag Hill and Hen still all stand in a single line along the inlet and offer a refreshing taste of nature. Standing at any of these areas provides beautiful views of the clean and revitalizing water, the harmonious sound of the waves crashing against rocks as well as a breath of fresh air. This experience is further enhanced by the lack of automobiles and the resulting noise.

Sunlight Rock is another popular tourist destination that is located on the south central part of the island and is the highest point on the island. The name was given due to a sun shaped formation on the rock, which when the sun rises bathes the surrounding rocks in sunlight.

At the base of Sunlight Rock is a memorial for the hero Zheng Chenggong whose feats include expelling the Dutch and reoccupying Taiwan. Travelling along the path that leads to the summit presents several rocks that are inscribed by Chinese poets the oldest of which dates as far back as 400 years ago. Other highlights at Sunlight Rock include the preserved training ground of Zheng Chenggong’s troops as well as Old Summer Cave. This cave offers a cool breeze and sprawling views of Xiamen University, Hulishan Battery, Naputuo Temple and Xiamen City.

Shuzhuang Garden was once a villa and only became a garden that was open for public visitors in 1955. Divided up in to two parts, the Garden of Hiding the Sea and Garden of Making up Hills it was designed to embody three characteristics of gardening.

The principle of hiding elements is utilized through the garden and is very prominent in the fact that the ocean is hidden from view even when standing right at the entrance gate of the garden.  Then in a sharp contrast the ocean is revealed to visitors once they emerge from the bamboo forest. Ascending the Tower of Tide viewing also provides visitors with glorious views of the sea.
The second trait of Gardening, borrowing from the environment is achieved by using the original sea facing slopes, reefs in the bay as well as the shape of the shoreline and the bridges that were purposefully created as several different levels, as well as the changing view that starts off showing just the bay and suddenly bursts in to a superb view of the ocean.

The third element of gardening is achieved in an extremely interesting manner as it uses the garden’s very visitors to do so. This element involves the combination of movements, and the children who run around the park provide a hectic movement while visitors who relax throughout the park provide a still or slower movement. The overall effect is quite unique and presents what could be called a living piece of art.

Enjoy convenient access to this beautiful and serene destination when staying at Millennium Harbourview Hotel Xiamen. Hotel bookings can be made both online and through telephone.