China: Gulangyu Island, Fujian Province...

Gulangyu Island saw me lose my last nerve during my previous visit to that Fujian provincial city, those ferry tickets sold out before breakfast time with no explanation given! Like the Tulou experience, I booked up that private guided tour because I was not missing out! Things were so busy that me and my guide had to take separate ferries over to the island from the city! Just, no!

Those Shapowei cocktails from the previous night had me feeling slightly delicate but after something stodgy and a cup of coffee I felt better! My tour guide Adam took me on a diversion before we took separate ferries over to the island, I'll be serving up those unexpected gems soon! Heading to the ferry terminal flashed back to that hectic morning, thankfully Adam had been able to secure two tickets over to Gulangyu Island. People were in a frenzy, it was like every ferry was the last! Stepping off the boat at the island dock had me feeling excited, the view from the city had me wanting to see those colonial buildings badly! In real-life those British and European styled buildings looked practically palatial, for sure a slice of home was being served up in that moment! The architecture did not look Chinese, sure the island had seen some visitors in its past. The pace over on the island felt different, I loved it! Obviously, those Labor Day tourists would be making their mark on the island! Adam knew where we needed to go! I didn't! 

Pretty as a picture, those winding lanes had me catching all types of colonial views. Gulangyu Island was given special status after the 'First Opium War' saw the British defeat the Chinese, this island became one of China's first overseas settlements. Joined by France, The Netherlands and Japan, these foreign friends spearheaded by the British all carved out a foreign enclave on Gulangyu. I listened to those historical facts but those European looking buildings looked very different indeed, not forgetting Japan with their Japanese edge. Walking through those twisting island pedestrian streets felt correct, it had been a long road but I had finally been able to make it onto the island! Those pretty than pretty flowers saw me falling in love with those period settlements. A UNESCO World Heritage Site? Yes, Xiamen's own Gulangyu Island has itself protected and firmly on the tourist map! The Japanese occupied the island? Not cool! Bring me more British Victorian style, get it right! Gulangyu Island had me where I was supposed to be! 

Island settings were in full motion, I wanted to find somewhere that faced the water. Adam knew just the place, seriously he knew that island like the back of his hand! I did not want to touch the water, all I wanted to do was to sit and appreciate the view! That I very much did, perched on a rock with a rather incomparable view, naturally that vibe felt correct! If truth be told, it felt so relaxing to get lost in that view. I was thankful that the masses of tourists had not plonked themselves on that small cove-like beach. I wanted that serene setting to remain unchanged, once again with my hands to the sky, things remained low key! Being on the southeastern coast of China had several benefits, the weather was a rather balmy temperature with the sun shining like never before! I did not miss that Ningbo mist nor humidity, Zhejiang could keep that foolishness away from me! I actually didn't want to move, expressing that I wanted to stay a bit longer didn't cause a commotion. That had me thinking about a Hainan summer holiday! Yes!

No word of a lie, I had to pinch myself because I had a killer view and most importantly made it to the island! The stresses experienced during that 2018 holiday felt like a very distant memory but in that 2023 moment I felt incredibly lucky to be soaking up the sun with a corker of a view! The day so far had been major, even though the domestic tourists made up the numbers in those crowds, I didn't pay them any mind because we were all out on the island to have the best day! Leaving that wonderful view behind me, we headed for some lunch because my bread and coffee had well and truly done its job! Lunch was a pricey affair but that 'Secret Garden' setting made me feel as if I was in a British stately home. The decor and style indoors had me wondering if I was still in-fact in China? I was but that period setting had me feeling rather at home, it all looked rather familiar! Sipping on a few mixed drinks was very much a mood, I opted for a steak because I was on my holidays! I didn't want to climb up that rock! No, thank you very much! 

I was real with Adam, I didn't want to climb up that 'Sunlight Rock!' He respected my choice, suggesting that we make our way to the 'Piano Museum' because the view from that vantage point served equally pleasing views. That much was very true, it did take some going but I was able to capture a stunning vista! That view was another great, that island discovery served a series of unstoppable moments, truly a beauty! The afternoon was progressing and I didn't want to leave the island but time waits for no one! That view had me appreciating that opportunity, Gulangyu Island witnessed me falling in love with a place that I had longed to see! It was mad to see those brave people who were climbing to the top of that rock, my location suited me fine and the view was equally as pleasing, each to their very own! The weather stayed blessed, my location that overlooked the 'Sunlight Rock' served nothing but sunlight and solace. Solace? Yes, I continued to allow people to go about their own sightseeing business. Wait a minute! Football?

Taking a few steps back, during the walk from that seaside view to the days lunch spot, I saw something truly remarkable! Football for me is truly a British game, we take it seriously and even though we aren't the best, the culture of the game is celebrated and understood. The 'Foreigners' Football Field' claimed to be the roots of Chinese football after being founded by one of the islands visiting missionaries. Adam informed me that local Chinese people were forbidden from playing football on that field, such 'exclusionary behaviour!' I don't even like football but when it comes to in-justice, there's nothing beautiful about being denied access to a recreational space because of your nationality or social class. Not a mood! Sure, Gulangyu had me looking at such pieces of its history and I wasn't mad! Education for girls was the redeemer? That's all well and good, a sense of good and bad embodied itself the more time I spent on the island. Everlasting, I wanted to recapture that 'Sunlight Rock' after glow! Gulangyu Island served it up! 

Returning back to a familiar thoroughfare, Adam stopped off to get a bottle of water and an ice cream. I drank my bottle of water way too fast, that was certainly a choice but I was much too thirsty to care! I wanted to be fancy, I wanted one of those ice creams that I had seen all day, I wanted my own! Well, that ice cream looking treat didn't look appealing after I looked at it closer, that wasn't for me! I went for a mango ice cream bowl with mango pieces, that super cool treat was fruity in all the right places! That was a choice made well, I wanted something that would cool me down and that did just that! It was time to make tracks back towards the ferry terminal, the day had been an amazing one and with everything clocked it was time to think about returning to Xiamen. Those final sights were just gorgeous, those period buildings looked even better on the way back to the ferry, it was like I had to snatch those views on the double! Hokkien style houses? Yes, I saw a row of them, I was told to look out for them in Fuzhou! Sure! 

The ferry ride back to Xiamen was lot more chilled than the outbound journey, the outward journey felt so panicked with people running for their lives! I appreciated being on the same boat as Adam because it allowed us to talk about 'Quanzhou', a potential new place to visit within China's Fujian. I promised Adam that I would be in touch to make plans, he said that he would love to show me around the city. Back to that boat, as the afternoon almost turned into dusk, the waters passed us by with something of a memory for me to look back on. I felt as if I was on the same ferry that I had taken from Manly to Sydney's Darling Harbour. There was something about Xiamen's skyline that reminded me of Sydney, the warm air reminded me of that January holiday many many moons ago! The day had been blessed, the boat almost got me stressed but the island was everything and more! Adam proved himself to be an amazing tour guide on both days, I was truly impressed! China Highlights made my travel dreams come true! 

Gulangyu Island For The Win! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure