Gulangyu,separatedfromXiamenbythe500-metre-wideEgretRiver,withanareaof1.77squarekilometres,enjoysalauditorytitleGardenontheSea.TheoriginalnameoftheisletwasYuanZhouZi.IntheMingDynastyitwasrenamedGulang,meaning''drumwaves,becausetheholesinthesouthwesternreefshitbythewavesmakesoundslikethedrumbeating.
Overlappingpeaksfoilthebluewater,whiteclouds,greentreesandbrightflowers.Theairintheisletisfresh.Theentireplaceisfreefromanysortsofvehiclesandisparticularlyquiet.Alltheserenderanatmosphereofafairyland.
Theroarofthewavesbreaksontherocks.Impressivemelodiessurroundingandlingeringonthisislandmakefamousforitspiano-ladenpast.AsaplaceofresidenceforWesternersduringXiamen'scolonialpast,GulangyuisfamousforitsarchitectureandforbeinghometoChina'slargestpianomuseum.Itisknownasthepianoislandbecausepeopleherelovethepiano.Asearlyas1913,studentsinschoolsrunbyforeignersstartedlearningthepiano.Theenthusiasmformusiclaterspreadtomoreordinarypeopleontheisland.Manypianofamilieshavesincethencomeintobeingandproducedaccomplishedmusicians.Andthenumberofthepianospossessedisintheleadingplaceinthenation,thoughthereisonlyapopulationof20,000people.
Notouristcanaffordtomissoneattractionlocatedontheisland——thenation'slargestpianomuseum.Dividedintotwoexhibitionhalls,themuseumguidesvisitorsthroughavividhistoryoftheinstrumentwithdisplaysandillustrations.Alldifferenttypesofpianossuchasminiaturepianos,automaticpianos,accordionpianosandround-shapedpianos,areondisplay.
Thearchitectureintheisletvariesgreatlyinstyle,Chineseandforeign.ThustheislethasalaudatorytitletheWorldArchitectureMuseumCoveredingreenalltheyearround,it'scharming,elegant,secludedandserene.Agreatvarietyofvillasstandshroudedbylushwoodresemblingnumerousjadeitesembellisheduponapieceofverdantsilkbrocade.HundredsofflowersgrownontheRiguangRock(SunlightRock)viewithoneanotherforbeauty.Withthecaressingseabreeze,it'saquitecoolplaceinhotsummer.Atthefootoftherock,there'stheMemorialHalltohonorthenationalHeroZhengChenggong.