Modern buildings in Gulangyu tourist area

Before the Opium War, Gulangyu Island was a sparsely populated desert island for a long time. It was not until the Song and Yuan Dynasties that the name "Yuanshazhou" came into being, and the name "Gulangyu" was used in the Ming Dynasty. The island mostly has a semi-fishing and semi-agricultural economy, and most of the original houses were very simple private houses. The original residential form in the southern Fujian triangle area naturally affects the residential form on Gulangyu Island. Therefore, before foreigners entered Gulangyu Island, the houses on the island were no different from the houses on the mainland - the Golden Triangle (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Quanzhou) along the coast of southern Fujian. This form can still be seen in some well-preserved villages. Even on the modern Gulangyu Island, there are still groups of ancient residential buildings with two or four entrances.

The emergence of Western architecture from 1843 to 1902. From the late Ming Dynasty to the early Qing Dynasty until the Opium War, the architecture of Gulangyu Island began to change. After Xiamen became a treaty port, foreign colonialists came to Gulangyu to settle or stay temporarily. Gulangyu Island has become their first choice for development. Gulangyu Island has superior geographical, climatic and scenic conditions, making it very suitable for living. Therefore, up to now, 90% of the buildings on Gulangyu Island are residential buildings. When foreigners got involved in Gulangyu Island, they first rented private houses and exercised the power to manage churches, schools, hospitals, etc. After they developed their strength and established a firm foothold, they gradually built missionary schools, missionary hospitals, churches, holy bookstores, and consulates. Of course, the largest number of residential buildings such as mansions and villas are built. A large number of overseas Chinese who went abroad to make a living in the early stage also returned to their ancestral home in southern Fujian after their careers were successful. They chose Gulangyu Island as the best place to stay. They invested in Gulangyu Island and built many villas. There are many buildings that are very large in scale, beyond the reach of foreigners, and very expensive. They often choose the best building materials and construction techniques. On Gulangyu Island, many of these large-scale palace villas have been converted into public buildings by the government.

After liberation, the Municipal People's Government and the Gulangyu District Government took over some large buildings. After renovation and decoration, some public places have been given a new look. For example, the original huge "White House-style" building - Lin Heshou's "Bagua Tower" was changed into the Gulangyu Organ Museum. Many of the unintentionally created shapes of larger mansions and villas have been transformed into buildings that suit their shapes and functions after several inadvertent renovations and transformations, and have become meaningful and iconic buildings on Gulangyu Island.

About 70% of Gulangyu Island was built from the early 21st century to the 1920s and 1930s. In addition to foreign and overseas Chinese buildings, local soldiers and civilians also built houses. Some local celebrities and wealthy households often ask foreign designers to design drawings, or use ready-made drawings, or imitate the forms of surrounding houses. The houses they build are often large-scale, with gorgeous decoration and exquisite workmanship. In addition to residential buildings, some overseas Chinese have also invested in the construction of many public utility buildings, founded construction companies, organized some construction teams, and developed and constructed many road blocks and storefronts. The more famous overseas Chinese industrialists Huang Yizhu, Li Qingquan, Huang Zhongxun and others invested huge sums of money in Gulangyu Island to develop the real estate industry, build, develop and sell residential buildings, and establish telephone and telegraph companies, water plants, docks and other public institutions. Before the Anti-Japanese War, the buildings on Gulangyu Island were well-proportioned and had different shapes. During the Anti-Japanese War and the Liberation War, some buildings were destroyed to varying degrees. Haitian Structure

Gulangyu Gospel Hall

Different from the above-mentioned scenic spots, most of these old houses are private residences, and a few are commercial hotels and do not accept tourists.

Lin’s Mansion (Bajiaolou): located at No. 11-19 Lujiao Road. The original owner was Lin Erjia of the Lin family in Banqiao. The annex building of Lin's Mansion collapsed in May 2006.

The British Consulate is located at 14 Lujiao Road.

Japanese Consulate: located at No. 26 Lujiao Road.

Catholic Church: Located at No. 34 Lujiao Road, it was built in 1916. It is a Gothic building.

U.S. Consulate: located at No. 26 Sanming Road. It is now a hotel.

Fanpo Building: Located at No. 36 Anhai Road, it was built in 1927. The original owner was Xu Jingquan, an overseas Chinese in the Philippines.

Yangjiayuan: No. 4 across Anhai Road to No. 27-29 Guxin Road. Built in 1913.

Bagua Tower: located at No. 43 Guxin Road. Built in 1907. It is the landmark building of Gulangyu Island. The original owner was Lin Erjia's cousin Lin Heshou. It is the Xiamen Municipal Museum and the Pipe Organ Museum.

Chip Building: Located at No. 48 Guxin Road. The original owner was Dr. Huang Dapi.

HSBC Bank Manager’s Residence: located at No. 57 Guxin Road. Built in 1876.

Linwu: Located at No. 82 Quanzhou Road. The original owner Lin Zhenxun.

Jingua Tower: located at No. 99 Quanzhou Road. The original owner is Huang Cimin, an overseas Chinese from the Philippines.

Sea View Villa: located at No. 17 Tianwei Road. Built in 1918. It was originally the apartment of the manager of the Danish Great Northern Telegraph Company.

Trinity Hall: Located at the entrance of Bishan Cave. Built in 1934.

Yiyuan: located at No. 24 Fujian Road. The original owner was the poet Lin Henian.

Huang Rongyuan Hall: located at No. 32 Fujian Road. The original owners were Filipino overseas Chinese Shi Guang and Huang Zhongxun. Built in 1920. It is now Xiamen Performing Arts Vocational College.

Haitang Restaurant: Located at No. 42, Fujian Road. Built in the 1920s. The original owners were Filipino overseas Chinese Huang Xiuxang and his fellow countryman Huang Nianyi.

Bai Family Villa: Located on Fuxing Road, the original owner is Bai Dengbi.

Liao Family Villa: Located at No. 44, Zhangzhou Road, the original owner is Liao Cuifeng. In August 1919, Lin Yutang married Liao Cuifeng, the daughter of the owner of the building, here.

Kanqing Villa: located at No. 71 Yongchun Road. Built in 1918. The original owner Huang Zhongxun. In 1949, Guanqing Villa was renovated as Chiang Kai-shek's "travel center". Later, due to the rapid change of the situation, Chiang Kai-shek only stayed here for one night on July 23. In 1962, Guo Moruo wrote the script of "Zheng Chenggong" here. This building is now the library and reference room of Zheng Chenggong Memorial Hall.

Xilin Villa: Located at No. 73 Yongchun Road, it was built in 1926. It is now the Zheng Chenggong Memorial Hall.

Pu'an: Located at No. 16 Jishan Road, the original owner was the pianist Yin Chengzong.

Rong (Rong) Valley: Located at No. 7 Qishan Road, the original owner is Li Qingquan.

Huang Family Garden: Located at No. 25 Huangyan Road, it was built between 1918 and 1923. The original owner was Huang, a wealthy overseas Chinese businessman and the "Indonesian Sugar King". In the 1950s, this was the "State Guesthouse" of the Xiamen government, hosting national dignitaries such as Deng Xiaoping, Richard Nixon, and Lee Kuan Yew.

Gongshen Hall: located at No. 1-3 Bishan Road.

Lin Wenqing Villa: No. 5 Bishan Road. The original owner was Singaporean overseas Chinese Lim Boon Keng.

Guancai Building: Located at No. 6 Bishan Road.

Yizu Villa: Located at No. 9 Bishan Road, the original owner was Vietnamese overseas Chinese Xu Jian. It was built in the 1920s.

Chuncao Hall: Located at No. 17 Bishan Road, the original owner is Xu Chuncao, president of the Xiamen Construction Association.