Gulangyu, a small island with an area of 1.8 square kilometers, is definitely the top 1 tourist destination in Xiamen. As known as Kulangsu, the island is at the Xiamen bay and the southwest of the main island. Back in the mid-nineteenth century, Xiamen was opened up as a treaty port due to the failure in the Opium War. The history of Gulangyu started from here. The island was constructed as a settlement by foreigners who came to Xiamen for business and missionary work. There are residences, consulates, churches, hospitals and schools built on this island. Most villas here are referring to European style in architecture, some of them have incorporated Minnan style built by local tycoons. In the southern part of this island, Shuzhuang Garden is previously a private villa of Lin Erjia that represents traditional Chinese gardens. It is totally different from other western buildings on the island. The garden now contains a piano museum that has collected various pianos for more than a hundred years. It is also a lovely visited spot for tourists. Sunlight Rock is the peak of Gulangyu, where elevation is only about 92 meters high and easy for you to overlook this island. Travel by ferry is the only way to visit Gulangyu.
