Gulang Island is located in the southwest to the Xiamen Island.At the end of Yuan Dynasty,it was called "Circular Shoal" and "Ro[FrontPage Image Map Component]und Sandbar".In Ming Dynasty,the names were changed into "Gulang Island".The island covers an area of 1.78 kilometers,with about 23,000 permanent residents.It is abut 1,800 meters long and 1,000 meters wide,just like an ellipse.Together with a winding costal line and falling and rising rocks,green trees,red tiles and golden sand enhance to one another's beauty.Bays,rocks,cliffs and hills form a pleasing scene.Buildings of various styles,the high-standing Sunlight Rock,and groups of fluttering seagulls constitute a shining picture of seaisland.Gulang Island is also named "Pearl on the East Sea" and "Garden on the Sea",for its unique beauty.In 1988,it was ranked as anationally important scenic zone.
In the southwest corner of the island,there are two overlapping crags,eroded by sea water over the years.Later,a vertical hole was formed in them.Whenever the tide flew in,waves rushed onto the crags,with a rumbling sound like an echo of the beating of a drum.So people called the crags "Cleaving Wave Crags".And the name of Gulang Island was derived.
Gulang Island has always enjoyed the reputation of being "Land of Music" and "Land of Piano".It had more than 500 pianos in 1950's and1960's.Many world-famous musicians were once born and grew up here.The ferry dock on the island looks like a piano with its open lid,which may remind people of its uniqueappeal as soon as they step onto the dock.
After the Opium War,Xiamen was opened up as one of the five trading ports.The western Powers kept pouring in and took a fancy to Gulang Island.In 1902,the island was occupied as a public concession.Britain,America,France,Germany,Japan,Spain,Portugal,the Netherland,Austria,Norway,Swede,the Phillipines and other countries once established their own consulates on the island and set up foreign firms,hospitals,schools and churches.Some rich overseas Chinese also come here to build houses and villas,to invest in real estate.When the
Pacific War broke out in 1941,Gulang Island was occupied by Japanalone.More than 100 years of colonial rule did not end until the success of the Anti-Japanese War was achieved.
Because of that special period of history,the buildings on the island are of a great variety.There are south Fujian houses with upturned eaves,the Eight Trigrams Tower called "Little White House",grand and towering catholic churches,European buildings with red tile sand large roofs,and villas of both Chinese and western styles.The island may be rated as Museum of "Ten-thousand Nations' Buildings".
The streets and buildings on Gulang Island are built at both sides of the mountain.Some are spiraling high up,and some are lowly zigzagging,according to the geographical location.Beautiful flowers are in bloom everywhere in deep lanes,and green vines are climbling on the housewalls.This is a peaceful place,with downtown areas,but without vehicles coming and going,and without the noises of vehicles.
Mountain ranges rise and fall on the island,with Dragon Head Mountain being the highest peak,which stands against Tiger Head Mountain of Xiamen on the opposite shore.So there is a folk story that a dragon and a tiger guard the Xiamen port.In the east of the island is Flag-raising Mountain.In its west is Bijia (Penholder) Mountain.The obtruding part opposite to the east sea is Fujing Rock.In addition,there are Hen Mountain,Swallowtail Mountain,Camel Mountain,Hero Mountain,and so on.
The island has over 4,000 kinds of plants,belonging to over 80 families.The affrested cover rate reaches as high as 40%.And there is an average per capita affrested area of 5.1 square meters.With fresh air,thick forests and blooming flowers all year around,the island is also named "Garden on the Sea".The main scenic spots on Gulang Island are:Sunlight Rock,Shuzhuang Garden,Bright Moon Garden,Yuyuan Garden,Xiamen Museum,Road around the Island,Zheng Chenggong Memorial Hall,and so on.
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