A tourist island off the coast of Xiamen, Fujian province in southern China, about one km² in area. Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use An island (ˈaɪlənd or isle (/ˈaɪl/ is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water in two dimensions above high tide and isolated from other significant This article is about the People's Republic of China province China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National

Administration

In October 1999, Gulangyu became one of the first four districts of Xiamen City. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Districts are a type of Administrative division, in some countries managed by a Local government. However, in May 2003, Gulangyu District was absorbed into the larger Siming District (based on main Xiamen island). Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Siming District ( Chinese: 思明区 Pinyin: Sīmíng Qū is on southeastern Xiamen Island and the capital District of Xiamen Municipality

History

The island became a foreign enclave following the Treaty of Nanking in 1842. The Treaty of Nanking (Treaty of Nanjing signed 29 August, 1842, was the unequal treaty which marked the end of the First Opium War between Year 1842 ( MDCCCXLII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common The Fujian dialect Min Nan is spoken on the island. The Southern Min language or Min Nan ( POJ: Bân-lâm-gú or "Southern Fujian" language refers to a family of Chinese languages Dialects

Attractions

Street scene on Gulangyu

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, giving it the nickname of "Piano Island" or "The Town of Pianos" (鋼琴之鄉) or "The Island of Music" (音樂之島). The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers There are over 200 pianos on this island.

The Chinese name also has musical roots, as gu lang means drum waves so-called because of the sound generated by the ocean waves hitting the reefs. In nautical terminology a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water (six fathoms or less at low water Yu means "islet". For human anatomy see Islets of Langerhans An islet is a small Island.

In addition, there is a museum dedicated to Koxinga, Haidi Shijie (海底世界) Marine World, a subtropical garden containing plants introduced by overseas Chinese, as well as Xiamen Museum, formerly the Eight Diagrams Tower (八卦樓). Koxinga ( Pe̍h-oē-jī: Kok-sèng-iâ/Kok-sìⁿ-iâ Lord with the Imperial Surname) is the traditional Western spelling of the popular appellation of The subtropics are the zones of the Earth immediately north and south of the tropic zone which is bounded by the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae.

The island of Gulangyu is a pedestrian only destination, where the only vehicles on the islands are several fire trucks and passenger transport vehicles. The narrow streets on the island, together with the architecture of various styles around the world, gives the island a unique appearance.

Transportation

Gulangyu Island Ferry

Gulangyu is connected to the main Xiamen island by ferry. See also Merchant ship A ferry is a form of transport usually a Boat or Ship, used to carry (or ferry) passengers and

See also

• Shamian Island, in Guangzhou

External links

• Webpage about the island, with map
• Shanghai Star article: "Gulangyu Island - Garden on the sea"
• Shenzhen Daily article: "Gulangyu - A Piano Island"
• Article on newcolonist.com: "China's Carfree Town: Gulangyu"
• Xiamen-Gulangyu ferry times

Coordinates: 24°27′36″N 118°04′44″E / 24.46, 118.07889