Xiamen highlights half-day shore excursion

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.

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.

Located at the southeast coast of China, Xiamen is a tourist city of Fujian Province famous for its attractive seascape. As one of the major seaports since ancient times, it boasts a wide gulf with deep water but without freezing and silting. The name was consequently given, which means 'the gate of China'. As one of the forerunners of the special economic zones of China, the city mainly consisting of Xiamen Island, Gulangyu Island, the north bank area of the Jiulong River and Tong'an County, is connected with the mainland by the Gaoji Seawall, Xiamen Bridge, etc. The city has been called the Egret Island because of the hundreds of thousands of egrets inhabiting there. This is due to the beautiful natural scenery, the fresh air and the clean environment of the city.