| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |||||||||||||||||||
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 Interactive map of Kulangsu, a Historic International Settlement | |||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Xiamen,Fujian,China | ||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria | Cultural: ii, iv | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reference | 1541 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Inscription | 2017 (41stSession) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Area | 316.2 hectares (3.162 km2) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Buffer zone | 886 ha | ||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 24°26′51″N118°03′43″E / 24.44750°N 118.06194°E /24.44750; 118.06194 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 鼓浪屿 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 鼓浪嶼 | ||||||||||||||||||
| HokkienPOJ | Kó͘-lōng-sū | ||||||||||||||||||
| Postal | Kulangsu | ||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | Drum Wave Islet | ||||||||||||||||||
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  Gulangyu Location of Gulangyu in Fujian  Gulangyu Gulangyu (China) Show map of China | |||||||||||||||||||
Gulangyu Subdistrict 鼓浪屿街道 | |
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 Interactive map of Gulangyu Subdistrict | |
| Coordinates:24°26′51″N118°3′45″E / 24.44750°N 118.06250°E /24.44750; 118.06250 | |
| Country | People's Republic of China |
| Province | Fujian |
| Prefecture | Xiamen |
| District | Siming |
| Population | |
• Total | 15,373 |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (China Standard) |
| Area code | 0592 |
| Website | www.glyjd.gov.cn |
Gulangyu,Gulang orKulangsu is an island off the coast ofXiamen,Fujian, southeasternChina. AUNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, the island is one of China's most visitedtourist attractions, attracting more than 10 million visitors per year.[1]
Gulangyu covers an area of 1.88 km2 (0.73 sq mi),[2] with a population of 12,509 as of 2023[update].[3] Administratively, the island constitutes theGulangyu Subdistrict, part of Xiamen'sSiming District. It is reachable byferry from downtown Xiamen.[4]
Gulangyu Island is renowned for itsbeaches, winding lanes and richarchitecture. The island is on China's list of National Scenic Spots and is classified as a5A tourist attraction by theChina National Tourism Administration (CNTA). It ranks at the top of the list of the ten most scenic areas in the province.[5] As apedestrian-only zone where cars and bicycles are banned, the only vehicles permitted are small electricbuggies and electric government service vehicles.
For a time, Gulangyu was the onlyinternational settlement on Chinese soil apart from theInternational Settlement at Shanghai.
Soon after Xiamen became a treaty port resulting from China's loss in theFirst Opium War and theTreaty 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.[6] Eventually 13 countries, including Great Britain, France, The Netherlands andJapan, 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. TheHokkien dialect is spoken on the island, as it is in Xiamen.
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 intoSiming 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 onlypiano museum,[7] giving it the nickname of "Piano Island" or "The Town of Pianos" (钢琴之乡) or "The Island of Music" (音乐之岛).[8] There are over 200 pianos on this island.
The Chinese name also has musical roots, as鼓浪 Kó͘-lōng which meansdrum waves so-called because of the sound generated by the ocean waves hitting thereefs.嶼 sū means "islet".
In addition, there is a museum dedicated toKoxinga, Hái-toé Sè-kài (海底世界) Marine World, asubtropical garden containingplants introduced byoverseas Chinese, as well as Xiamen Museum, formerly the Eight Trigrams Tower (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 aAAAAA scenic area by theChina National Tourism Administration.[9]
Buildings and sights of the former international settlements includes:
Gulangyu is unique in China as a "traffic-free island". It is connected to the main island of Xiamen byferry. 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.
The spread of Christianity in 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.[17]
A number of China's most famous classical musicians come from Gulangyu, including the pianistYin Chengzong, the violistJing 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.[18]
In 2005, Gulangyu Island was named the most beautiful district of China by Chinese National Geography magazine.[19]
In May 2007, Xiamen Gulangyu Island was officially accredited as theNational 5A Tourist Attractions by the National Tourism Administration of China.[9]
On 8 July 2017, Gulangyu was listed as aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site.
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