Friday, January 24, 2025 – Photo of the Day – Xiamen, China

Where in the World Are We?

We are in Xiamen, China.

COME TO CHINA!
到中國！

Rather than a singular Chinese language, we recognize the existence of several distinct tongues.
Predominantly, there are seven major Chinese languages.

Mandarin boasts an impressive 850 million speakers and serves as the official language of China, Taiwan, and Singapore, primarily flourishing in the northern and northeastern regions of the country.

Wu, with its 77 million speakers, is predominantly found in the vibrant cities of Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, while Cantonese, spoken by 71 million individuals, thrives in Hong Kong, Macau, and the provinces of Guangdong and Guangxi, extending its reach into various parts of Southeast Asia.

Additionally, the languages of Min, Xiang, Hakka, and Gan collectively account for over 160 million speakers, further enriching the linguistic landscape of this remarkable nation.

Familiarize yourself with these keywords to enhance your experience /in China.

Today’s Excursion – UNESCO Charming Island of Gulangyu

We discovered Gulangyu Island’s scenic natural splendor, ancient relics, and stunning architecture.

Xiamen, Ferry-Ride, Gulangyu Island, Ring Road
We embarked on our private ferry boat for the short ride southwest to Gulangyu Island. Renowned for its abundant natural beauty, ancient relics, and European-style architecture, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is also on China’s list of National Scenic Spots and tops the list of the ten most scenic areas in the Fujian Province. Only electric-powered vehicles are permitted on Gulangyu Island, so the environment is filled with fresh air and free from the noise and pollution of combustion engines. Upon arrival, board a private golf cart for a scenic sightseeing drive.

Shuzhuang Garden, Garden of Hiding the Sea, Garden of Making-Up Hill, Panoramic Vistas
Built-in 1931 on the south side of Gulangyu Island, Shuzhuang Garden was formerly a private villa and became a garden park open to the public in 1955. It is divided into Canghaiyuan (Garden of Hiding the Sea) and Bushanyuan (Garden of Making-Up Hill). Shuzhuang Garden was expertly designed to embody three critical characteristics in gardening: hiding elements, borrowing from one’s surroundings, and combining movements. As a result, enjoy an ever-changing panorama of breath-taking panoramic vistas of the sea, bay, reefs, waves, shoreline, nearby islands, Sunlight Rock, and Hero Hill, and climb the Tower of Tide-Viewing for a fantastic view of the sea.

Piano Museum, Gulangyu Pipe Organ Arts Centre, Mini-Concert, Free Time, Ferry-Ride
Next, we visited the Piano Museum, rebuilt from a pavilion in the Shuzhuang Garden. We saw about /30 rare, world-renowned clavichords on display, with exhibits depicting the evolution of pianos and piano-making techniques. Afterward, re-board your golf cart and drive along Ring Road to the Gulangyu Pipe Organ Arts Centre, located on the other side of the island. Upon arrival, enjoy a mini-concert by a local artist performing on the largest pipe organ in Asia.

Dinner was in The Alantide Restaurant