Gulangyu Island - Xiamen

People Gathering Around the Island Map

 Planning a trip to Xiamen? Well then Gulangyu Island (鼓浪屿 in Chinese) is a must see destination!  It is a beautiful (albeit crowded) island filled with shops, sights, cafes and restaurants.  

Once you get off the ferry you will arrive at a giant stone map of the island and you can either head left towards the famous statue of Zheng Chenggong (famous military leader who defended the island against the Dutch East India Company in 1662) or you can head right into the rustic old town for some dining, shopping, or sightseeing.  

View from the Ferry

 I really loved the colonial charm of the city.  The Victorian style of architecture found on the island harken back to its colonial past as this was once a place of residence for Westerners in the mid 1800's.  Gulangyu is a nice escape from the bustle of the city since there are no cars allowed on the island. The beautiful cobblestone streets and narrow corridors will have you wandering around the island for hours.

Zheng Chenggong Statue

When I visited I unfortunately did not have time to visit the statue so I went straight into the town. I would recommend spending at least 4 hours here as there are a lot of sights to take in. The town is littered with cute little souvenir shops that contain everything you can possibly imagine spending your hard earned money on.  Due to its close proximity to Taiwan you can also find loads of imported Taiwanese products.

Menu from a Cafe on the Island

If your feeling tired or famished from all of the shopping stop for a break in any one of the hundreds of stylishly decorated cafes or restaurants.  Any visitors to the island must get some fresh beef (spicy) or pork (sweet) jerky that can be purchased for 100 RMB (this will get you 4 sealed bags of jerky in a pink zipped satchel). This jerky is highly coveted and well known throughout China. If you want to find the shop the address is Longtou Rd no. 95 (龙头路95号 in Chinese). Just look for the little shop with a constant crowd of people waiting outside.

Souvenir Shop in Xiamen

 Some of the other attractions on the island include a piano museum, bird sanctuary, a museum, and a beautiful garden. If you visit during the summer months you can also rent paddle boats and jet ski's on the western part of the island.

How to get there:  Simply take a taxi and let the driver know that you want to go to 鼓浪屿 (Gulangyu) and you will be dropped off near the dock where you can catch a ferry (one way: 3 RMB +1 RMB if you want to sit down on the upper deck). Ferries leave regularly every 30-60 minutes and can get quite crowded during the peak travel seasons.