Kulangsu： Connecting the Past and the Present

Located on the southeastern coast of China， Xiamen， formerly known as Amoy， is a relatively prosperous tiny city. It is said that a trip to Xiamen is imperfect if one does not visit the Kulangsu （Gulangyu）. Being highly regarded for its livability， Kulangsu is a popular destination for tourists who are drawn to its island landscapes， subtropical climate， rich history and fascinating custom. If Xiamen is a garden on the sea， then Kulangsu can be dubbed as a pearl in the garden. It is a world of sea breeze， sunshine， fair-sounding music and exotic architecture that blends eastern and western styles. Now， let’s start a trip to explore its graceful beauty and unfold the brilliant glory of its past.

Kulangsu literally meaning “Drum Wave Islet” in Chinese is a small island off the coast of Xiamen. As early as in the Ming Dynasty （1368-1644）， “Yuanshazhou” was the name of this island. Every summer， when the tide comes and hits the huge reefs， it sounds like that someone is beating a drum， hence its present name.

In ancient times， Kulangsu acted as a natural barrier of China due to its unique geographic location. During the early Jin Dynasty （265-420）， the island belonged to the Tongan County which was under the jurisdiction of Jingan Prefecture. During the later Ming Dynasty （1368-1644）， the national hero Zheng Chenggong （1624-1662）， known as Koxinga in western countries， stationed the troops here. As a notable tourist attraction of Kulangsu， the awing bronze bust of Zheng Chenggong is standing in front of his Memorial Hall.

Kulangsu as a small island used to be a bone of contention of many big powers between the end of the 19th Century and the beginning of the 20th Century. After the First Opium War （1840-1842）， Kulangsu was turned into one of the first treaty ports for many western countries to further enter the mainland of China. Later， with the approval of the Qing government， Kulangsu was officially carved up as a concession in the 29th year of Emperor Guangxu’s reign in the Qing Dynasty （1903）， so as to balance the power of the western countries. Therefore， consulates， churches， hospitals， financial institutions， as well as Victorian and neoclassical style villas of 13 countries were built here. Since then， Kulangsu was turned into an international settlement. In 1942， Japan occupied the island until the end of World War II. Those are the reasons why there are buildings designed by folks from around the world.

The multi-national condominium and social administration that once existed on the island were special results of the early-stage globalization， and a unique historical period of human civilization， which also made Kulangsu one of the few locations with diverse cultures from various countries. Over the past century， Kulangsu experienced radical political， economic， social， cultural and technological changes， exhibiting the most extensive and intensive influence of the multicultural fusion.

Today， the sounds of classical piano are wafting from shuttered windows and the memories of this island are still lingering in the charming colonial buildings.

When the wars and conflicts were in full swing both internationally and domestically， Kulangsu became a paradise for a multitude of returned overseas Chinese， including the leaders of Taiwan compatriots and other elites. Furthermore， the outstanding contribution made by Chinese elites during this transitional process demonstrated the strong inclusiveness and creativity of the local traditional culture on the basis of deep national sentiments， which endowed Kulangsu with unique cultural meanings.

Thanks to the influx of new blood， multiple cultures have undergone clash and integration here， creating the present free-style urban fabric， diverse architectural styles， and delicate design of gardens. Every year， millions of tourists flock to this small island for its ancient relics and varied architecture. The entire environment， design， function and material of the historical buildings jointly manifest the authenticity of Kulangsu. In addition， in regard to the maintenance， restoration and renovation of historic buildings， Kulangsu has well preserved those historical information and garden landscapes.

Apart from being the “Gallery of International Architecture”， Kulangsu is also accredited as the “Home of Music” and “Island of Piano”. The high number of pianos adds charm to the small island. Walking along the streets， you may be accompanied by the melody of pianos.

Furthermore， the whole islet offers a charming waterfront district， a pleasant and mild climate， a pleasant climate， beautiful natural environment， and yummy food. On this islet， all the paths are linked with each other， with a sense of seclusion. Tourists can find blue waves， white clouds， green trees， winding coastal lines， oddly shaped reefs， and undulating hills in this clean and tranquil environment. At nightfall， when all the neon lamps are lit， the whole islet is elegantly decorated， presenting beautiful scenes different from those in the daytime.

Noted for its rich collection of buildings of various architectural styles， winding and zigzag lanes and intoxicating beaches， Kulangsu was listed in the Preparatory Directory for World Cultural Heritage Sites of China in 2012. In July 2017， it was put on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List as a cultural site at the 41st session of World Heritage Committee in Krakow， Poland.