Xiamen, or Amoy is a small town ( in Chinese terms , since it has more than two and a half million inhabitants) overlooking the Straits of Taiwan, and thanks to the advantageous geographical position has always been an important trading port.

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Today , despite its modest size , is a cosmopolitan town that has jealously preserved its multi- ethnic past that you can clearly observe in the exotic mix of European, Chinese and Japanese architecture. Gulangyu is a small island in front of Xiamen. The British established their first concession in Gulangyu in 1851, the Japanese and the Americans in 1900 , took into account the possibility of turning them into a naval base , but changed their minds after the conquest of the Philippines in 1899. However, a foreign power after another, began to open consulates and trade offices in Xiamen.

In 1902 was elected a city council composed of six representatives of foreigners and Chinese. Fourteen nations opened representatives offices, including Germany , France, Denmark , Austria, Norway , Sweden, Belgium and the Philippines . Today, Gulangyu is a lovely island with a vaguely Mediterranean climate and a varied colonial architecture that can count on more than 1000 buildings of Western origin. Since the small island of Gulangyu applies a strict ban on cars and bikes, the only sounds you hear are those of the wind, the trees and pianos ( and organs) . In fact, the island holds a special record for most number of pianos per capita.

Images of Gulangyu, Xiamen

Photos: Matteo Damiani

Topic: places to visit xiamen China, where to go in xiamen,what to see in xiamen,xiamen holiday, xiamen china

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CHINA-UNDERGROUND. Matteo Damiani is an Italian sinologist, photographer, author and motion designer. Matteo lived and worked for ten years in China. Founder of CinaOggi.it and China-underground.com. china-underground.com