Gulangyu

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site |WHS = Kulangsu, a Historic International Settlement | image = {{multiple image | border = infobox | total_width = 250 | image_style = border:1; | perrow = 1/2/2/1 | image1 = 2018年的鼓浪屿.jpg | image2 = Sunlight Rock 2.jpg | image3 = Hai Tian Tang Gou Mansion, 2019-09-26 36.jpg | image4 = Catholic_Church,_Kulangsu,_2019-09-26_18.jpg | image5 = Bagua_Mansion,_Kulangsu,_2019-09-26_19.jpg | image6 = Gulangyu, Xiamen The Spot.jpg | caption1 = View of Gulangyu and downtown Siming | caption2 = Sunlight Rock | caption3 = Hai Tian Tang Gou Mansion | caption4 = Church of Christ the King | caption5 = Bagua Mansion | caption6 = Shuzhuang Garden }} |ID = 1541 |Year = 2017 |Criteria = Cultural: ii, iv |Area = {{convert|316.2|ha|km2}} |Buffer_zone = 886 ha |Location = Xiamen, Fujian, China |Coordinates = {{coord|24|26|51|N|118|03|43|E}} |locmapin = China Fujian#China | embedded = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes |title=Gulangyu |size=200 |pic=Guland island in foreground looking Xiamen, Fujian, China.jpg |piccap=View from the peak on Gulangyu |s=鼓浪屿 |t=鼓浪嶼 |l=Drum Wave Islet |psp=Kulangsu |poj=Kó͘-lōng-sū |p=gǔlàngyǔ |j=gu2 long6 zeoi6 |wuu=ku2 laon3 yu2 |showflag=poj |order=st }} }} {{Infobox settlement  |name = Gulangyu Subdistrict |native_name = 鼓浪屿街道 |settlement_type =Subdistrict  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = People's Republic of China |subdivision_type1 = Province |subdivision_name1 = Fujian |subdivision_type2 = Prefecture |subdivision_name2 = Xiamen |subdivision_type3 = District |subdivision_name3 = Siming |population_total =15373 |population_density_km2 =auto   |timezone = China Standard |utc_offset = +8 |coordinates = {{coord|24|26|51|N|118|3|45|E|region:CN|display=inline,title}}  |postal_code_type = Postal code |area_code = 0592 |website = [http://www.glyjd.gov.cn www.glyjd.gov.cn] }}

'''Gulangyu''', '''Gulang''' or '''Kulangsu''' is an island off the coast of Xiamen, Fujian, southeastern China. A UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, the island is one of China's most visited tourist attractions, attracting more than 10 million visitors per year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kulangsuisland.org/kulangsu-island-a-world-renowned-tourist-destination/|title=Kulangsu Island: a world-renowned tourist resort – Kulangsu Island (Gulangyu)|website=kulangsuisland.org|date=27 May 2017|language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-04}}</ref>

Gulangyu covers an area of {{convert|1.88|km2|abbr=on}},<ref>{{cite web |title=Kulangsu, the Island of Music, inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site |url=https://kulangsuisland.org/kulangsu-the-island-of-music-inscribed-as-unesco-world-heritage-site/ |website=kulangsuisland.org |access-date=27 July 2025 |date=17 July 2017}}</ref> with a population of 12,509 {{As of|2023|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=2023年户籍人口及其变动情况 |url=http://www.siming.gov.cn/xxgk/sjfb/rkmz/202502/t20250205_1088374.htm |publisher=Siming District People's Government |access-date=27 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318231548/http://www.siming.gov.cn/xxgk/sjfb/rkmz/202502/t20250205_1088374.htm |archive-date=18 Mar 2025 |language=zh |date=5 Feb 2025 |url-status=live |trans-title=Registered population and changes in 2023}}</ref> Administratively, the island constitutes the '''Gulangyu Subdistrict''', part of Xiamen's Siming District. It is reachable by ferry from downtown Xiamen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kulangsuisland.org/getting-to-kulangsu-gulangyu-by-ferry-xiamen/|title=Getting to Kulangsu by Ferry from Xiamen – Kulangsu Island (Gulangyu)|website=kulangsuisland.org|date=April 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-05}}</ref>

Gulangyu Island is renowned for its beaches, winding lanes and rich architecture. The island is on China's list of National Scenic Spots and is classified as a 5A tourist attraction by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA). It ranks at the top of the list of the ten most scenic areas in the province.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Ran |date=2016-08-01 |title=梦幻仙岛鼓浪屿 |trans-title=Dream Island Gulangyu Island |url=http://www.beijingreview.com.cn/wenhua/201608/t20160801_800063667.html |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=www.beijingreview.com.cn}}</ref> As a pedestrian-only zone where cars and bicycles are banned, the only vehicles permitted are small electric buggies and electric government service vehicles. {{TOC limit|2}}

==History== left|thumb|Map including Gulangyu (labeled as KU-LANG HSÜ (KULANGSU) {{lang|zh-hans|鼓浪屿}}) thumb|View of the International Settlement c. 1908

===The International Settlement=== {{main|Gulangyu International Settlement}} thumb|The Sikh police force

For a time, Gulangyu was the only international settlement on Chinese soil apart from the International Settlement at Shanghai.

Soon after Xiamen became a treaty port resulting from China's loss in the First Opium War and the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, foreign residents on the island established an informal organization that became formally organized several decades later when its Land Regulations were approved by the government of China (Qing dynasty) in May 1902.<ref>William C. Johnstone, ''International Relations: The Status of Foreign Concessions and Settlements in the Treaty Ports of China'', The American Political Science Review, No. 5, October 1937, p. 943.</ref> Eventually 13 countries, including Great Britain, France, the Netherlands and Japan, were to have extraterritorial privileges there and take part in the Kulangsu Municipal Council that administered the settlement. As with the Shanghai International Settlement, the British played a predominant role in the administration and Sikh policemen from British India were charged with the policing of the Settlement under the Kulangsu Municipal Police. The consulates, churches, hospitals, schools, police stations, etc. built by those foreign communities explain the predominantly Victorian-era style architecture that can still be seen throughout Gulangyu. Japanese occupation of the island began in 1942, and lasted until the end of World War II, when it was returned to China. The Hokkien dialect is spoken on the island, as it is in Xiamen.

===People's Republic of China===

After the establishment of the PRC, Gulangyu was a district of Xiamen, one of four in the municipality not located on Xiamen Island until 2003. In May of that year Gulangyu District was absorbed into Siming District, and has since been administered, policed, and adjudicated from Xiamen Island, just across the Lujiang River.

As a place of residence for Westerners during Xiamen's colonial past, Gulangyu is famous for its architecture and for hosting China's only piano museum,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kulangsuisland.org/kulangsu-gulangyu-piano-museum/|title=Kulangsu Piano Museum|date=25 June 2017|access-date=5 July 2017}}</ref> giving it the nickname of "Piano Island" or "The Town of Pianos" ({{lang|zh|钢琴之乡}}) or "The Island of Music" ({{lang|zh|音乐之岛}}).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai/play/gulangyu-chinas-top-island-getaway-brilliant-beaches-and-zero-cars-173356|title=Gulangyu: China's loveliest island|last=Bolsover|first=Gillian|date=1 February 2012|publisher=CNN|access-date=25 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918102931/http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai/play/gulangyu-chinas-top-island-getaway-brilliant-beaches-and-zero-cars-173356|archive-date=18 September 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> There are over 200 pianos on this island.

The Chinese name also has musical roots, as ''鼓浪 Kó͘-lōng'' which means ''drum waves'' so-called because of the sound generated by the ocean waves hitting the reefs. ''嶼 sū'' means "islet".

In addition, there is a museum dedicated to Koxinga, Hái-toé Sè-kài ({{lang|zh|海底世界}}) Marine World, a subtropical garden containing plants introduced by overseas Chinese, as well as Xiamen Museum, formerly the Eight Trigrams Tower ({{lang|zh|八卦楼}}).

The island of Gulangyu is a pedestrian-only destination, where the only vehicles on the islands are several fire trucks and electric tourist buggies. The narrow streets on the island, together with the architecture of various styles around the world, give the island a unique appearance. The site is classified as a AAAAA scenic area by the China National Tourism Administration.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://en.cnta.gov.cn/html/2008-11/2008-11-16-10-27-72978.html|date=16 November 2008|title=AAAAA Scenic Areas|work=China National Tourism Administration|access-date=9 April 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404043021/http://en.cnta.gov.cn/html/2008-11/2008-11-16-10-27-72978.html|archive-date=4 April 2014}}</ref>

Buildings and sights of the former international settlements includes:

* United States Consulate Building by architect Elliott Hazzard<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.historic-shanghai.com/gulangyu-the-story-of-chinas-other-international-settlement/|title=Gulangyu: The Story of China's Other International Settlement « Historic Shanghai}}</ref> * Kulangsu Catholic Church (Tian Zhu Tang) c. 1917<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kulangsuisland.org/catholic-church-kulangsu-gulangyu/|title = Catholic Church (Tian Zhu Tang 天主堂)|date = 7 July 2017}}</ref> * Former Office of Great Northern Telegraph Company (Denmark) (Dan Mai Da Bei Dian Bao Gong Si) c. 1871 * Kulangsu Organ Museum (Eight Diagrams Mansion / Bagua Mansion) c. 1907 - designed by John Abraham Otte<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kulangsuisland.org/kulangsu-organ-museum-ba-gua-mansion-gulangyu/|title = Kulangsu Organ Museum (Eight Diagrams Mansion / Bagua Mansion) (Ba Gua Lou 八卦楼)|date = 7 July 2017}}</ref> * Foreigners' Football Field (Ren Min Ti Yu Chang) c. 1878<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kulangsuisland.org/tag/xiamen-history/|title = Tag: Xiamen history}}</ref> * Former Kulangsu Mixed Court (Hui Shen Gong Tang) c. 1915<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kulangsuisland.org/former-kulangsu-mixed-court/|title = Former Kulangsu Mixed Court (Hui Shen Gong Tang 会审公堂)|date = 5 June 2017}}</ref> * Union Church (Xie He Li Bai Tang) c. 1911<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kulangsuisland.org/union-church-xie-he-tang-kulangsu-gulangyu/|title = Union Church (Xie He Li Bai Tang协和礼拜堂)|date = 5 June 2017}}</ref> * Christian Cemetery (Fan Zai Mu Yuan)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kulangsuisland.org/christian-cemetery/|title = Christian Cemetery (Fan Zai Mu Yuan 番仔墓园)|date = 5 June 2017}}</ref>

==Transportation== Gulangyu is unique in China as a "traffic-free island". It is connected to the main island of Xiamen by ferry. Neither cars nor bicycles are allowed, unlike Xiamen Island across the river. Recently, electric tourist buggies were introduced. Freight is pulled on wheeled wooden carts up the often steep lanes by strong teams of men.

== Culture == The spread of Christianity in the 1900s brought western music to the island. Churches and museums were built, and people enjoyed going to music halls to hear performances. Since then, the island's local cultural environment mingled with introduced foreign music and art, which is why the Gulangyu cultural scene differs from other parts of China.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kulangsuisland.org/location-and-origins/|title=Location and origins – Kulangsu Island (Gulangyu)|website=kulangsuisland.org|date=5 June 2017|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-05}}</ref>

== Classical music == A number of China's most famous classical musicians come from Gulangyu, including the pianist Yin Chengzong, the violist Jing Yang, and the pianist Xu Feiping. Historically, Shu'an Zhou, Junji Lin, and Zuohuang Chen are other well-known classical musicians from the island. Gulangyu's piano ownership per capita ranks the first in nation, and by 2002, Gulangyu Island was given the name of "The Island of Music" by Chinese Musicians' Association. The piano exhibition halls and museums and overall artistic atmosphere attract many musicians domestically and internationally. The 580-seat Gulangyu Concert Hall is one of Fujian Province's most notable acoustic classical music venues.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kulangsuisland.org/gulangyu-concert-hall-kulangsu-yin-yue-ting/|title=Kulangsu Concert Hall|website=kulangsuisland.org|date=4 June 2017|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-05}}</ref>

== Awards == In 2005, Gulangyu Island was named the most beautiful district of China by Chinese National Geography magazine.<ref>{{Cite web|title = China's Journey - National Geographic Magazine|url = http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/05/china/journey/hessler-text|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080415232150/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/05/china/journey/hessler-text|url-status = dead|archive-date = 15 April 2008|website = ngm.nationalgeographic.com|access-date = 2016-02-08|first = Peter|last = Hessler}}</ref>

In May 2007, Xiamen Gulangyu Island was officially accredited as the National 5A Tourist Attractions by the National Tourism Administration of China.<ref name=":0" />

On 8 July 2017, Gulangyu was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

==See also== {{portal|Islands}} *List of car-free places *List of World Heritage Sites in China *List of islands of China

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== *{{cite journal | last = Xiaoyue | first = Sikong | title = The Architecture of Fujian: A Fusion of East and West | journal = Chinese National Geography | volume = 1 | issue = 3 | date = September–October 2009 | pages = 82–101 | url = http://www.cngint.com/NewOnees_id_33.html}}

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Xiamen China Gulangyu Island 3 by D Ramey Logan.jpg|Gulangyu Island fish and seafood restaurant street vendor File:Beach_on_Gulangyu_Island_XiamenChina_Photo_D_Ramey_Logan.jpg|Beach on Gulangyu File:Former Japanese Embassy in Gulangyu, Xiamen.jpg|Former Japanese consulate of Gulangyu File:Island of Koolansoo and Amoy by Lai Afong, c1870.jpg|Panorama by Lai Afong c1870 File:PANO of Kulangsu.jpg|Panorama in 2018.6 </gallery>

==External links== {{Commons category|Gulangyu}} {{Wikivoyage}}

*[https://kulangsuisland.org Kulangsu government visitor's site] *[https://www.amoymagic.com/gulan.htm Webpage about the island, with map] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20031018004331/http://app1.chinadaily.com.cn/star/2003/1016/tr16-1.html ''Shanghai Star'' article: "Gulangyu Island - Garden on the sea"] *[http://www.china.org.cn/english/travel/110241.htm ''Shenzhen Daily'' article: "Gulangyu - A Piano Island"] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20050404034617/http://www.newcolonist.com/gulangyu.html Article on newcolonist.com: "China's Carfree Town: Gulangyu"] *[https://kulangsuisland.org/getting-to-kulangsu-gulangyu-by-ferry-xiamen/ Xiamen-Kulangsu ferry guide] *[http://www.howardscott.net/4/KuLangHsu_A_Colonial_Heritage/index.html Dr Howard M Scott "Kulanghsu"] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20130126031142/http://english.xm.gov.cn/citytour/xiamentravelguide/200808/t20080827_274103.html Gulangyu Boat Tour] *[https://robins.world/category/china/kulangsu-gulangyu/ Robin's World travel guide to Kulangsu] *[https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/china-unesco-site-kulangsu/index.html CNN.com "Kulangsu: Scaling China's Piano Island"]

Category:World Heritage Sites in China Category:Islands of Fujian Category:Islands of the South China Sea Category:Geography of Xiamen Category:Taiwan Strait Category:Pedestrian zones in Asia Category:Concessions in China Category:AAAAA-rated tourist attractions Category:Major National Historical and Cultural Sites in Fujian Category:Populated places in Fujian Category:Township-level divisions of Fujian Category:Subdistricts of China Category:Car-free islands of Asia

Gulangyu

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