Gulangyu Island, southeast of Xiamen city, is known as a “garden by the sea” and the “town of pianos". It is not only a national AAAA tourist attraction popular with Chinese tourists, but also internationally known for its natural beauty, appealing lifestyle, safe atmosphere and business environment.

Gulangyu, which covers an area of 1.78 square kilometers, is a resort that offers an extraordinary travel experience. It has a variety of interesting sites, including Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden, Gangzaihou Bathing Beach and Zheng Chenggong Memorial Hall.

The island was occupied by at least a dozen countries, including Great Britain, France and Japan, after the First Opium War and the Treaty of Nanking in 1842. It had consulates, churches and hospitals and was dominated by Victorian-style architecture. As a result, Western culture grew rapidly there in the 19th century, especially music.

With such a harmonious blend of Western music and oriental culture, Gulangyu is naturally referred to as the “island of music”. It is famous for its outstanding musicians and musical instruments. In fact it has more than 200 pianos -- the highest per capita ownership of pianos in the entire country.

It is home to a number of endangered species, such as the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, the little egret and various small marine animals. Strolling along the 6-km promenade that runs around the tranquil car-free island is an enjoyable way to appreciate nature and have an unforgettable experience.

Deng Dong, a famous tourism author, wrote, “The biggest regret people who’ve been to Gulangyu have is that they cannot live there permanently.”