Gulangyu & other sites around Xiamen
"Garden on The Sea" Gulangyu
Gulangyu Islet of Xiamen, known as the "Garden on the Sea," is a major tourist
destination in the country, yet, it's no bigger than 1.78 m2.
South of Xiamen and separated form the downtown by a
500-m-wide strait, the name Gulangyu, meaning "drumming wave" came from the rocks in the
southwest that give a drumming sound when high tide hits them. Western-style
villas line the undulate hills, embedded in the green trees, red flowers,
blue waves and white clouds. Because of its buildings and layout, Gulangyu is praised
for its international architecture. No vehicles of any kind are permitted in
Gulangyu, leaving its courtyards and lanes completely free from noise.
Riguang Rock (Sun-lit Rock), surrounded by ragged rocks and ancient trees is
filled with pavilions and
platforms. Following the steps leading up Dragon-Head Hill, one can see
beautiful sights such as "Heavenly Wind and sea Billows," "Gulang Cavern" and
the "Supreme of the Egret River". The 17th Century General, Zheng Chenggong set
up a navy commanding platform on Gulangyu, just inside the Stone Gate behind the
Riguang Temple. Traveling past the the "Ancient Summer Resort Cave", will
lead to the top, offering a panoramic view of Xiamen.
Jimei was the hometown of Chen Jiagan and is one of the four major science attractions in Xiamen.
From above, one can see the 10-mile dyke, built in 1953, and the Jimei village, with its green tiles & red walls among the trees.
Jimei's main features are the schools set up by Chen Jiagen. Chen Jiagen lived here from 1912 and set up the Navigation school, Teachers' school, Commerce school, Agricultural machine school, as well as kindergartens, primary schools and middle schools. This gave Jimei village an academic advantage.
Ao Park offers several hundred granite reliefs of animals, people and landscape. Also built by Chen Jiagen, he pays homage to national leaders on over 40 stone columns. After Chen's death, Ao Park serves as his mausoleum. A bronze statue of Chen stands in Homecoming Park, with the inscription, ""A banner of overseas Chinese and elitist of the nation" written by Mao Zedong.
Zhongshan Park
Zhongshan Park features a bronze statue of Dr.Sun Yatsen (Sun Zhong Shan) with the inscription, "The great democratic revolutionary pioneer Dr.Sun Yatsen" written by his daughter, Sun Huifang.Bridges and pavilions are surrounded by trees and flowers, giving the weary tourist a place to relax and take in the fresh ocean air.
Ten-Thousand-Rocks
Part of Lion Mountain, Ten-thousand-Rock lies in the east suburbs of Xiamen.Its main features are the rock formations, cliffs and the unique shape that each takes. Viewed from different angles, they present different features, like a man or an animal, depending on the viewer's imagination. Caves run through the hills, some giving way to streams and waterfalls.Standing on the Kuangyi Platform by the Changxiao Cave, one can have a bird's-eye-view of his "Island of Egret."
The Shichan Temple, halfway up Lion Mountain, was built by the Tang Dynasty. Around the Temple are numerous inscriptions, most of which were written by scholars of the Tang Dynasty.The Botanical Garden, or "Green Museum," is home to over 4,000 species of tropical & subtropical plants which flourish all-year round.
Tiger-Stream Rock
Tiger Stream Rock is located north of Yupin Mountain, northeast of Xiamen.
It is said that there once lived a tiger in the stone cave, where a spring
flowed its way to the stream. Hence it was named Tiger Stream, and the rock
Tiger Stream Rock.
Cliffs tower high and old banyan trees
stretch out along the quite paths. The most attractive sight is
the so called "Moon over Tiger Stream", one of the eight best scenic spots. The
Rock Temple, or called Jade Screen Temple or Donglin Temple, on the top of the
mountain, is said to be built in the Tang Dynasty and renovated in the Ming and
Qing Dynasties. It was quite large in scale, with all its pavilions halls well
decorated with carving and paintings, and was quite eminent in the past.
Huli Shan Fort
As Huli Shan, on the southeast shore of Xiamen, was a place of strategic
importance, the Fort was built in 1896, the 22nd year of Guangxu in the
Qing dynasty. Today, still kept in the Fort is a 60-ton gun with a fire range of
16460 meters, the only well-kept heavy coastal gun in china, and a historic
relic for the study of China's coastal defense. After repairs, the Fort has
become a scenic resort for tourists from home and abroad.
The South Putuo Temple
The South Putuo Temple at the foot of the Five-Old-Gentleman Peaks was built in the
Tang Dynasty.This temple is one of the most reputed Buddhist temples in South Fujian. From
the Life-Saving Pool in front of Temple, past the stone steps and into the
Temple, one sees the Heaven King's Hall, Drum and Bell Towers, Daxiong Hall,
Great Compassion Hall and Scripture Hall. The carved beams and painted columns
are beautiful and dignified as well. Enthrined in the halls are the statues of
Maitreya. Reverend Three-life-Cycle Buddha, Four Heavenly Kings, Eighteen
Arhats, etc, all beautiful carved and serious and solemn in appearance. The
Thousand-Handed Guanyin (Bodhisattva) is one of the main attractions in the
temple. The Scripture Hall keeps tens of
thousands of Buddhist scriptures in Chinese and other languages, most of which
are quite rare. In the Temple are the bronze Seven Buddha Pagoda made in
the Six Dynasty, Bronze Bell made in the Song Dynasty, Porcelain Guanying made
in the Ming Dynasty, and stone inscriptions from the Qing Dynasty. Since the
establishment of the Temple, it has experienced several ups and downs in the
form of natural disasters & warfare.However, today, pilgrims pour in from
home and abroad to study the ancient scriptures.
Jinmen
Jinmen Island, while under the control of the Taiwanese government, is still
claimed by Xiamen & Fujian Province.Only 2310 meters away, with a size of 148 km2 and about 50,000 population,
it's main value is its strategic importance in South
Fujian.
Jinmen has a long history.People began to move to the island as early as the Eastern and
Western Dynasty. Before the Jin Dynasty, about eight centuries ago it was still a
part of the mainland. In 803, the 19th year of Yuanzhen in the Tang dynasty, Chen Yuan led 12 families to reclaim the land. After 935, the
first year of Yonglong, it belonged to Tongan county of Fujian Province. Since
then, the Song Dynasty established a civil government and military
headquarters on Jinmen. Since the Ming Dynasty, it has been called Jinmen, meaning
"Golden Gate."Its military presence was seen as a gate controlling the
sea. In 1914, Jinmen became affiliated to Xiamen and since 1915 it has been
a county.
Since ancient times, Jinmen has been known as the "Beautiful Haven of Peace". In
its 1,600 year history, a great number of
historic relics have survived, among them dozens of popular scenic spots like the Moon Over the Pearl River, Fenglian Green, Lying-on-Cloud Hall and
Xianying Waterfall, Taiwu
Peak, Holy Pen Piercing the Cloud, Jade Column Holding the Sky, Hanying Cloud
Root, Sea Sight at Jintang, Yanping Sword, Green Rongyuan and Mist in Dragon
Mountain. From the tops of Taiwu Mountain and Horse Mountain, one can have a
distant view of the mainland.
When traveling to Jinmen, keep an eye out for the annual Welcoming Town
God Festival.The people in Jinmen believed the lion to be their guardian angel.
Stone lions wearing armor or gowns guard the entrance of some villages. Locals
burn incense as offerings to the lions. The 18 South-Fujian-Styled ancient
buildings with beautiful decoration and upturned eaves both represent the custom
of Jinmen and demonstrate the richness of Chinese culture. Today, the village is
known as one of China's Folk Culture Villages.