Xiamen Travel Guide

Kulangsu is located in the southwest of Xiamen, Fujian province, China, facing Xiamen island across the Lujiang strait. With an area of approx. 1.88 km², it is a "sea garden, piano island and international architectural exposition" blending nature and culture. In 2017, it was inscribed as "Kulangsu: A historic international settlement".UNESCO World Heritage ListIt is a national 5A tourist attraction and a national scenic area.

Kulangsu is a bedrock island with a winding coastline featuring numerous natural harbors and reefs. The terrain is predominantly hilly, with its highest peak, Sunlight Rock, standing at an elevation of 92.7 m.Subtropical maritime monsoon climateWith its warm, humid climate and spring-like weather all year round, the average annual temperature is 20.9°C, making it suitable for visiting any season. The entire island is car-free, free from the hustle and bustle of traffic, accompanied only by birdsong, floral scents, and the sound of waves. Kulangsu preserves historical buildings dating from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century.Over 1000 buildingsIt encompasses various architectural styles including Gothic, Victorian, Baroque, Nanyang shophouses, and Minnan ancient dwellings, earning the reputation as the "Expo of international architectureIt is a living specimen of an internationalized community in modern East Asia.

• Representative buildings: Bagua building (organ museum), Shuzhuang garden, Haoyue garden, former HSBC building, Trinity church, Lin Yutang's former residence, etc.

Kulangsu boasts a profound musical heritage, with western music introduced through missionary schools from the late Qing dynasty. By the mid-20th century, the island had the highest piano density in China, nurturing renowned musicians like Yin Chengzong and Xu Feiping, earning it the title of "Piano islandKnown as the "island of music".

• Cultural landmark:Piano museum(Houses century-old pianos),Organ museum(Home to a giant pipe organ), the sound of music often fills the streets, and the tradition of family concerts continues to this day.

Core attractions of Kulangsu:

1. Sunlight rockThe highest point of Kulangsu, offering a 360° panoramic view of the entire island, Xiamen and the Taiwan strait. There's a saying: "A visit to Xiamen isn't complete without climbing Sunlight Rock."
2. Shuzhuang gardenThe private residence of Taiwanese tycoon Lin Erjia, where "the sea is hidden in the garden and the mountains are embraced as views," blends Jiangnan-style gardens with coastal landscapes. The piano museum within the garden is renowned far and wide.
3. Haoyue gardenAdjacent to the Zheng Chenggong memorial hall stands a 15.7 m tall granite statue of Zheng Chenggong, facing the sea with majestic grandeur, built to commemorate the national hero's recovery of Taiwan.
4. Bagua building (organ museum)A landmark building on Kulangsu, blending Chinese and Western architectural aesthetics, housing hundreds of antique organs and regularly hosting organ concerts.
5. Kulangsu bagua building
6. Yuyuan garden, Gulang stone, Yanweishan ecological parkThe cultural and natural views scattered across the island weave together the century-old charm and poetic beauty of Kulangsu's mountains and sea.

Tour tips

• Island access: Requires taking a ferry from Xiamen main island ferry terminal, no general admission ticket, core attractions require separate tickets or combo tickets.
• Transportation: Explore the entire island on foot or by sightseeing electric cart (for a fee). Motor vehicles are prohibited.
• Recommended season: Suitable all year round, with comfortable weather in spring and fall (April-May, October-November) when bougainvillea blooms and the scenery is particularly beautiful.

Xiamen Botanical Garden, also known as Wanshi Botanical Garden is set amidst Wanshi Mountain in the Southeastern part of Xiamen Island. It is an integral part of the Gulangyu Islet – Wanshi Mountain National Key Scenic Spot, covering an area of 4.93 square kilometers. The garden has more than ten segments that showcase a variety of rare plants, including Chinese larch, hoop pine, strangely-shaped cacti, and other exotic foliage. In addition to the unique foliage, the park also brings together many natural wonders and human creations, including stone carvings, lakes, lawns, temples, and other attractions.

They say traveling is about going from a place you're tired of to a place others are tired of, but the Zhonggu cableway is a place you'll never get tired of. With 82 cabins eliminating long wait times, you can enjoy a bird's-eye view of the botanical garden's beauty and take in the panoramic scenery of Gulangyu Island, while also gazing at Taiwan's Sandan, Sidan, and Wudan from afar. It's undoubtedly a great spot for "smart sightseeing in Xiamen".

The Zhonggu cableway is located on the west side of Xiamen botanical garden, a national 5A-level attraction. With a total length of approx. 1000 m, it offers panoramic views of Xiamen. Running parallel to the Zhonggu mountain tunnel, the cable car provides an aerial view of the botanical garden, where lush trees create a staggered landscape and rugged rocks form uniquely breathtaking scenery, making it a natural oxygen bar on Xiamen Island. Additionally, the original wartime tunnels and wind-rocked boulders evoke memories of the past. At the midway station, there's a viewing spot to overlook Xiamen's coastal scenery and gaze at the twin towers and Gulangyu Island in the distance, making it an ideal place to enjoy mountains, sea views and sunsets in Xiamen.

The Xiamen Science & Technology Museum is hailed as the "Disneyland of science", featuring five themed venues with over 400 interactive exhibits, attracting over a million visitors annually. The exploratory marine exhibition zone offers an immersive journey through the wonders of the ocean floor. Discover the mysteries of human and animal life on a fascinating biological adventure. The dazzling light and shadow playground provides dreamy interactive experiences. Witness robots showcasing their unique skills and marvel at the endless transformations of electromagnetic phenomena, not to mention the spectacular robot dance competition... Every interaction delivers hardcore science, allowing you to fully immerse in the magic and fun of technology.

Xiamen University was founded in 1921 by Mr. Tan Kah Kee, a renowned patriotic overseas Chinese leader, marking the first university established by overseas Chinese in modern Chinese educational history. For a century, the university has upheld its founder's vision, cultivating a distinguished ethos of "patriotism, revolution, self-improvement, and science." With its distinctive educational approach, it has nurtured generations of outstanding talents, making significant contributions to national prosperity, public welfare, and the global dissemination of Chinese culture.

The Siming campus is the main campus of Xiamen University, located in Siming District, Xiamen, at the southern tip of Xiamen Island. Nestled between mountains and sea, it is renowned as the "garden university by the sea." The campus features numerous landmark buildings and comprehensive teaching and living facilities, with the Jiageng Building Complex (also known as the Songen Building Complex) standing as its iconic cross-century architectural masterpiece. Completed in 2001 to commemorate the university's 80th anniversary, this complex consists of five buildings: Songen Tower (the main building), Baoxin Liying Building, Chengfeng Building, Zuying Building, and Zhongmingxuan Building. Designed with a symmetrical "one-main-four-auxiliary" layout, the 21-story Songen Tower serves primarily as the administrative center, while the other four six-story buildings are dedicated to public teaching and research. The architectural style inherits and evolves the distinctive "Jiageng Style," featuring red-tiled sloping roofs that harmonize with the campus's historic structures. This fusion of Chinese and Western elements creates a modern complex with contemporary character, forming the landmark core that dominates the campus landscape.

Nanputuo Temple is located next to Xiamen University, so you can visit both on the same day. It is a famous Buddhist temple in southern Fujian and even nationwide. Behind the temple is Wulao Peak, one of the eight major scenic spots in Xiamen. If you want to explore the mountains, you can also go hiking there.

The temple originated in the Tang dynasty and was rebuilt during the reign of Emperor Kangxi in the Qing dynasty. As it shares the same primary worship of Guanyin Bodhisattva with Puji Temple on Mount Putuo and is located south of Mount Putuo, it is named Nanputuo Temple.

The temple has east and west mountain gates outside, with the two gates being very close to each other, so you can enter through either one. The release pool is located slightly ahead between the two gates, containing turtles, and there is also a lotus pond in front.

Nanputuo Temple is quite small, and the visit can be completed quickly if you don't plan to climb Wulao Peak. The main structures include Nanputuo Temple - Mahavira Hall, Nanputuo Temple - Great Compassion Hall, and Nanputuo Temple - Scripture Depository (passed in order from the mountain gate onward). On both sides, there are the bell tower and drum tower, with the Charity Building on the left and Puzhao Building on the right, symmetrically arranged and majestic in grandeur.

Nanputuo Temple - Mahavira Hall enshrines the Three Saints of the West, Nanputuo Temple - Great Compassion Hall houses Guanyin, with the eighteen arhats placed on the east and west sides. In Nanputuo Temple - Scripture Depository, you can see various treasured Buddhist artifacts.

Nanputuo Temple preserves numerous inscriptions by celebrities around its halls. There is a huge stone carving of the character "Buddha" on the cliff behind the temple, often visited by travelers for photos.

Puzhao building is a vegetarian restaurant, and those who prefer vegetarian food may consider dining here. The vegetarian cuisine at Nanputuo Temple is quite famous and has even won national awards.

Don't forget to bring some boxes of vegetarian cakes when you leave. Nanputuo vegetarian cakes have won the Golden Tripod Award in "China's famous snacks" and are a famous specialty of Xiamen. They come in various sweet and savory fillings. If you have trouble choosing, the more popular flavors include coconut, pumpkin and mung bean.

Behind Nanputuo Temple stands Wulao Peak, known as "Five elders reaching the sky," one of the eight major scenic spots in Xiamen. If you enjoy hiking, you can also take the opportunity to climb and explore the mountain.