Gulangyu Island
Siming, Xiamen
A car-free island of colonial villas, piano museums, and winding lanes - Xiamen's UNESCO gem.
Gulangyu is a 15-minute ferry from downtown Xiamen and a world away: no cars, only narrow lanes lined with colonial-era villas, gardens, and the island's famous piano museums. It is nicknamed Piano Island for its musical heritage.
Book ferry tickets online in advance - they are timed and often sell out. Stay past 17:00 when the day-trippers leave and the island turns quiet and golden.
Best for: A car-free day of villa-hopping and piano history.
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