Gulangyu Island – a Car Free Paradise

Yep, that’s right, all the streets on this beautiful island are automobile free, making it a pedestrian paradise. And what a great place to relax and stroll around, the islands old colonial style  architecture matched with the ocean views are stunning.

This really is a special place, and it’s another part of China that was strongly influenced by the west. Following the Opium Wars many countries established colonies here, but looking at the buildings, the British obviously had the strongest influence, almost all the buildings on the island are of the Victorian era in style. 

Galangyu Island is just a ten minute ferry ride from Xiamen and it’s the main attraction of the area, it’s home to just over 20,000 people living in a noise and pollution free historic and scenic paradise. But it’s also quite a popular tourism spot, and on a weekend this place is bustling with people like any other popular place in China.

The island isn’t big, it only takes around 3-4 hours to walk around the outer ring road but it’s easy to spend much longer here walking through the lane-ways and courtyards, admiring the gardens, the architecture and of course the many spots offering coastal views.

Theres also beaches, plenty of statues, an underwater world and even a large hillside aviary. Theres also a Piano Museum….

One of the most interesting streets is Lujiao Lu on which many of the old foreign consulate buildings are located, now being home to coffee shops and accommodation hostels. I would have liked to have stayed on the island for a night or two but this is something best booked in advance as nearing the weekend everything books out quickly.

Theres plenty of places to eat on the island, walk straight ahead from the ferry terminal, past the ‘left luggage’ booth on the left and theres all the western fast food outlets and others. Theres other food and drink stalls along with cafe scattered around the island too.

More Photos of Gulangyu:

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