Beautiful Xiamen and Gulangyu on a day trip with lunch

Gulangyu, Gulang Island or Kulangsu is a pedestrian-only island off the coast of Xiamen, Fujian Province in southeastern China. A UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, the island is about 2 km2 (0.77 sq mi) in area, and is reached by an 8-minute ferry ride from downtown Xiamen. Although only about 20,000 people live on the island, Gulangyu is a major domestic tourist destination, attracting more than 10 million visitors per year, and making it one of China's most visited tourist attractions. Gulangyu not only bans cars, but also bicycles. The only vehicles permitted are small electric buggies and electric government service vehicles.

This is the only museum in China which is dedicated solely to pianos. The Piano Museum is located on the Gulangyu Island in the Tide Viewing Tower of Shuzhuang Garden. The island is often known as the piano island simply because of the long known popularity of pianos among the local people. This museum depicts the culture and history of pianos. Expert musicians as well as uninitiated visitors would be charmed by the beautiful pianos, the artistry involved in creating them and the lovely music to come away more knowledgeable about the beauty and history of pianos.

Hulishan Fortress is a key national historical and cultural site. One of the fortress's cannons was listed in the Guinness World Records. It's on the south of Xiamen Island at the top of Huli Hill, overlooking the sea. This fortress was built to protect the island from invasion. The fortress and artillery will be particularly interesting to history buffs.

Island Ring Road or Huandao Road is a city thoroughfare making a loop around Xiamen Island, Xiamen, Fujian, China. It passes through the districts of Siming District and Huli District. It is 43 kilometers long, and its number is County Route 401. Island Ring Road is 43 kilometers long. Construction of the road began in 1991 at a cost of 3.8 billion RMB, lasting for three weeks. Throughout its length, the road is either a four-lane divided highway or a six-lane divided highway.

The beautiful gardens and breathtaking views of the hills and sea make Shuzhuang Garden on Gulang Island, Xiamen, the perfect destination for enjoying the outdoors and appreciating the natural beauty of China. The garden is complete with hills, ocean views, fresh water pools, waterfalls, and a walkway beside the sea cliffs. Throughout the garden three unique gardening techniques are used—hiding elements, borrowing from the surroundings, and combing movements. The combination of these three gardening techniques creates a spectacular effect that many be described as a feeling of "infinite space." Nature-lovers will enjoy the beautiful views, children will love exploring the natural playground in the Twelve Caves Paradise, photographers will admire the endless photo opportunities, music lovers will be amazed at the extensive collection of instruments, and those looking for a slower pace will enjoy the serenity of the gardens.

South Putuo or Nanputuo is a famous Buddhist temple founded in the Tang dynasty in the Chinese city of Xiamen. It is so named because it is south of the Buddhist holy site Mount Putuo in Zhejiang Province. The South Putuo Temple is located on the southeast of Xiamen Island. It is surrounded by the graceful sea and the Wulao Peaks behind the temple. The Wulao peaks is a small mountain range that rises on the island. It enjoys a picturesque view of Xiamen and the surrounding district of Haicang, Gulangyu and Zhangzhou City. South Putuo Temple has many deep caves and verdant woods. It is adjacent to Xiamen University and Lu River.

Sunlight Rock is formed by two boulders standing side by side. The rock is the peak of Gulangyu Island and provides an excellent view of Gulangyu Island. From there, you can see all of Gulangyu Island from end to end and the cityscape of Xiamen. Take a look around; the surrounding scenery is beautiful. If you come in the evening, there are few tourists, and you’ll be able to enjoy a stunning sunset and the best scenery.