Gulangyu lies off the southwest of Xiamen Island, across the water from the city and reached by ferry from the pier. It preserves a great many modern buildings in a variety of national styles and is known as an “exhibition of world architecture”; in 2017 it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site as a “historic international settlement.”
The island's lanes are winding and often filled with piano music, earning it the nickname “Island of Pianos.” Sunlight Rock is the highest point, with views over the island and the city; Shuzhuang Garden and Haoyue Garden sit by the sea, and the waterfront paths are perfect for a leisurely stroll.
