Gulangyu Isle
Xiamen is Asmall sunny islanDlocateDwithin the coastal area of Fujian andit is surroundeDon three sides by the mainland. It is a very specialcity that is known for its natural landscape, seAsports andancient architecture. Although it is very small, noth- ing seems to be lacking here. It is peaceful andclean, andthe sky is always clear andblue. The weather in Fujian is comfortably warm with moderate temperature, andevenin winter, its daytime temperature is 20oC on average.
Tourists andlocals alike enjoy taking walks amidst the streets andbuildings, admiring the beautiful city that is warm andwelcoming.
Travel andleisure in Xiamen is inseparable from Gu- langyu Isle, which is the nucleus of Xiamen’s tourism industry. On the isle are several well-preserveDQing- dynasty perioDresidential architectures, such as the Residence of Doctor Huang andLianshishan Residence. There are also a number of European-style classical ar- chitectures, including trading firms, mansions, churches, villas, schools, andconsulate buildings. Some of the de- signs of these buildings were originateDfrom Europe. For instance, the Catholic Church on LujiaoroaDis a typical Gothic-style architecture of cathedrals founDduring theMiddle Ages in Europe. Set in the picturesque island, one actually feels as if he has ventureDinto a paradise when walking amidst these classical buildings. At the corners of the winding lanes in Gulangyu Isle, one is greeteDby the sight of the scenic sea coast. The isle is peaceful, andmotor vehicles are scarce, except for the occasional tourist buses. Tourists are free to venture into every corner of the island, taking in the sights of the beautiful olDcourtyarDhouses andenjoying the slow pace of the isle.
In the dim light of the night, Xiamen exudes a gentle charm. Local residents take delight in Astroll along the coast after dinner. The paths are illuminateDby the warm glow of the street lamps, andamidst the sounds of the gentle waves on the shores, one will often here delightful piano music from the houses along the coast. AttributeDto the picturesque surroundings of the isle, the close re- lationship between Gulangyu Isle andmusic goes back a long way. It seems thatpeople of Xiamen love piano music, andmany of the mown pia nos ? Hence, Xiamenis alsof ondly known As“Musical Island.” In some ways, Xiamen reminds one of Shanghai, especially whe no ne hears the sounds of the ferries in the straits, but the shorelines are not as brilliant- ly illuminateDas the banks of Huangpu River in Shang- hai.
Xiamen’s air quality is extremely good. For the busi- ness people who just arriveDin Xiamen, there are usually impresseDby the clean, crisp air. People of Xiamen are known to enjoy drinking tea, andthe art of tea culture in Xiamen has a long history. This is probably attributeDto the gracious environment andthe leisurely lifestyle in the islanDcity. As the city is clean andneat, local residents are able to enjoy tea in the outdoors, which is very much an indispensable part of their lives. Although there are many teahouses in Xiamen, they usually cater to the foreign andtrade visitors. The locals tenDto enjoy tea at home,with the company of friends andneighbours. Visitors to Xiamen may finDit peculiar to see people gathering out- side their homes andenjoying tea, relaxing andchatting the night away.
Xiamen’s olDcity area, like Zhongshan Road, Zhenhai RoaDanDDashengli, is the congregating place of Xia- men’s character andstyle. Zhongshan RoaDis the busi- est street of them all. This street is not long, but it gath- ers more than 10 stores that specialize in tealeaves. The neighboring Zhenhai RoaDanDDashengli are similarly developeDinto busy commercial streets. Even then, busi- ness is carrieDout in a leisurely pace. The shopkeepers are friendly andwarm; they do not rush to solicit busi- ness or pressurize their customers into purchasing their wares.
There are many classical buildings in the olDarea. The buildings in the area of the Xiamen Museum are not only old, but the distance between the houses is also extremely narrow. One can actually stretch his hanDanDtouch the parapet of the opposite house. In the lanes, one will see groups of local residents sitting outside their houses, en- joying tea andconversations with friends.