An Introduction to Fujian Province 福 建 省 简 介

Located in the southern part of Fujian Province and on the west coast of the Taiwan Straits, Xiamen is a traditional trading port in Southeast China and a famous tourist coastal city far and wide. Sub-tropically maritime in climate, Xiamen is warm with flowers blossoming year-roung. Embracing the beauty of hills, sea, rocks, caves, temples, gardens, flowers and plants, the city has a unique charm of her own with an exotic atmosphere.

Legend has it that Xiamen Island used to be the nestling place of the egrets from which came the names of “Egret Island.” Today, it has become a Special Economic Zone in China.

It encompasses 1,565 square kilometers and has a population of 1.3 million. As one of the earliest special economic zones in China, Xiamen is empowered with both provincial-level authority in economic administration and local legislative power. Since the special economic zone was established in Xiamen, the city’s economy has experienced a sustained, rapid and coordinated growth. The city has been accredited as a National Sanitary City, National Garden City, and National Model City for Environmental Protection, and National Excellent Tourist City.

Xiamen Port is one of China’s top 10 ports. It boasts 80 berths of various sizes. There are navigation routes from Xiamen to about 60 ports in more than 40 countries and regions. With 62 air routes, Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport is a main air hub in East China. A well-developed system of railway and highway transportation links the city with the rest of China. The city has established economic and trade relations with 162 countries and regions worldwide.

In the past, Xiamen boasted 24 points of interest, including the “eight big scenes,” “eight small scenes” and scenes outside scenes. At present, four tourist areas, such as Gulangyu, Southern Putuo, Wanshi Hill and Jimei, and a sightseeing route on the sea have taken shape.

Gulangyu (Isle of Blown Waves) 鼓浪屿

Reputed as the “Garden on the Sea,” Gulangyu (encompassing 1.84 square kilometers and with a population of 20,000) is separated from Xiamen only by a river (over 700 meters wide ), the Lu (Egret ) River. A 10-minute ferry off the southwest side of Xiamen, the Isle was the centre for foreign communities who settled here after Britain made Xiamen and the isle one of its Treaty Ports under the unequal 1842 Treaty of Nanking (now Nanjing ). Many built Western-style mansions, churches, warehouses and government buildings, which still exist. Gulangyu is truly a charming resort of meandering Lanes and shaded back streets. Palatial colonial mansions and villas linked by winding shady lanes enrich its low hills. Tangy, cool breezes and sea views beckon. 92.6-meter-high Sunlight Rock dominates the isle. On top of it is a statue of Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga), a national hero for recovering the island of Taiwan from Dutch colonists in 1661.There is also a memorial hall documenting his career. The visitor can have a bird’s eye view of the surrounding blue sea, the golden beach, the building of diversified architectural styles and a riotous profusion of flowers and plants. Gulangyu is also known as an “Island of Music” free from the hubbub of busy streets. Most imposing of all of those remains of colonial architecture on Gulangyu is the Xiamen Museum atop a low hill. The neo-classical structure has a red dome and cavernous corridors that echo one’s every step. It houses more than 1,000 exhibits, including porcelain and jade collections. From the museum, the isle appears to be a sea of green trees and red-tiled roof. Houses and streets cling in tiers to the side of the hill. Wandering around the isle, which is free from motor vehicles and bicycles, and the tourist can hear the melodic sounds of a piano from some quiet corner behind the trees, which can revive the memory about the “Isle of Piano.”

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On the isle visitors can find such scenic attractions as the ruins of Zheng Chenggong’s barracks, and the platform on which he reviewed his navy at the Dragon’s Head Hill, Zheng Chenggong Museum, Shuzhuang Garden, Yu Garden---in memory of Dr Lin Qiaozhi (1901-1983; a well known gynaecologist), the tourist village at the Sea-Viewing Garden, Yanping Park, natural seaside resorts such as Gongzaihou and Dadeji beaches, the Bright-Moon Garden—in memory of Zheng Chenggong (1624-1662) and the Overseas Chinese Subtropic Botanic Garden.

Foreign Pianos Are Shown on the Island 外国钢琴展

China’s first piano museum opened on Gulangyu, on December 22, 2001, an island of Xiamen in East China’s Fujian Province. The museum displays 70 famous-brand pianos from the Unites States, Britain, France, Austria and Australia. They are all over 100 years old. Hu Youyi 胡友义, born in Gulangyu, collected the pianos, and now lives in Australia. According to an agreement between Hu Youyi and the Gulangyu district government, the pianos will be on display at the museum for 10 years and will then be donated to the local government. Gulangyu had been dubbed “Piano Island” because its 20,000 permanent residents own 620 pianos.

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