Local Guide in Xiamen, Fujian | Explore Gulangyu's International Architecture and Unlock Stories of the Southern Fujian Overseas Chinese Hometown

Gulangyu is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a tourist destination that combines natural scenery, historical culture, and music. It is also known as the 'Sea Garden' and the 'Hometown of Music'. [Exhibition of International Architecture] The island features a variety of buildings blending Chinese and Western styles, ranging from traditional temples with flying eaves to Southern Fujian-style bungalows and grand mansions. The essence of world architecture converges here, creating a magnificent scroll of an international architectural exhibition.

Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster is known as the iconic architecture of Fujian Tulou and its calling card. Because it consists of four round buildings surrounding one square building, it is vividly called 'Four Dishes and a Soup'. The shape of the Tulou resembles a blooming plum blossom, magnificent and dazzling, like a grand symphony playing in the green mountains and clear waters. The road winds down the mountain. As the viewing angle changes, the landscape of the Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster shifts magically, with round buildings appearing in front or behind, and square buildings hiding or revealing themselves. Arriving at the road at the bottom of the slope and looking up, it looks like the Potala Palace, towering and solemn, shining brilliantly in the sun. This is a typical representative of the Nanjing Tulou in the Fujian Tulou scenic area and a national key cultural relic protection unit. It is a must-visit place for tourists. UNESCO consultant Andre Stevens called it 'a unique, mythical mountain architectural model in the world'. After completing the 'Fujian Nanjing Round Village Measurement Atlas' with students, Professor Lu Bingjie from Tongji University in Shanghai said: 'If you haven't seen the Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster, you haven't truly seen Tulou.' Tulou is like an endless book, not only a marvel in the history of Chinese architecture but also a reflection of the traditional culture of the Hakka people who have lived together for generations.

Pingtan Island, historically known as Haitan and abbreviated as 'Lan', is also called Qilin Island. It is the largest island in Fujian and the closest point on the Chinese mainland to Taiwan. Sea breezes and mist drift over the reefs year-round, and the 408-kilometer coastline is winding with unique sea-eroded rocks and pristine white sandy beaches. The stone houses in Beigang lean against the mountains and face the sea, while the windmills in Changjiang'ao rotate slowly in the breeze. In spring and summer, the 'Blue Tears' occasionally appear in Tannan Bay, creating a flowing sea of stars as the waves roll. With mountain and sea sunsets and the life of fishing villages, it is an East China Sea island hiding blue romance.

Quanzhou, historically known as Zaiton, is a World Heritage city. It was the largest port in the East during the Song and Yuan dynasties and the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road. Red-brick ancient houses stretch along the streets with swallow-tail ridges reaching into the sky. The East and West Pagodas of Kaiyuan Temple have stood for a millennium, Qingjing Temple preserves exotic charm, and the Laozi Statue sits quietly in Qingyuan Mountain. In Xunpu, people wear 'Zanhua' (flower headwear), turning their heads into a flowing sea of flowers; Nanyin music plays softly, echoing the thousand-year-old charm of Southern Fujian. Luoyang Bridge spans the sea, witnessing the history of the ancient port. Half city of fireworks, half city of immortals, the scents of 'Mianxianhu' (noodle soup), 'Tusun-dong' (sipunculid worm jelly), and ginger duck fill the streets, where diverse civilizations like Buddhism, Taoism, and Islam coexist. The ancient city is as vibrant as ever, with history hidden in the market life; every brick and tile tells a legend of the Maritime Silk Road.

Wuyishan, a dual World Cultural and Natural Heritage site and one of the first national parks, is famous for its **clear waters and red mountains**. Danxia red peaks rise from the ground, and the Nine-Bend Stream winds around the mountains like a jade belt, with a unique view at every bend. Drifting down the stream on a bamboo raft, the Great King Peak is majestic, the Jade Maiden Peak is beautiful, and the cliff inscriptions on both sides slowly recede with the waves. This is the cradle of Zhu Xi's Neo-Confucianism and the birthplace of Oolong tea and Lapsang Souchong black tea. The fragrance of rock tea permeates the valleys, hanging coffins are hidden in the cliffs, and clouds gently wrap around the tea gardens. With mountains, water, tea, and culture coexisting, a single bamboo raft can take you into a thousand-year-old landscape scroll.

Meizhou Island, located in Putian, Fujian, is also known as 'Southern Penglai'. It is the birthplace of Mazu culture and a site of the Mazu belief, which is a Human Intangible Cultural Heritage. The blue sea surrounds the small island, and the red-walled ancestral temple is built along the mountain, known as the Potala Palace on the sea. The Mazu stone statue on the top of the mountain stands quietly looking at the sea, guarding the passing ships. The Ewei God Stone Park features rugged reefs, where the rising tides play the 'Meiyu Tide Sound'; the Jiubaolan Golden Beach stretches out with soft sand and calm tides. The sea breeze carries devout prayers, and the mountains and seas carry a thousand years of faith, with the island hiding the coastal tenderness of Southern Fujian and the Mazu peace culture.

Fuzhou, also known as 'Banyan City', is the capital of Fujian Province, filled with ancient banyan trees and resting by the Min River. The Three Lanes and Seven Alleys feature blue tiles and white walls, with saddle-shaped walls hiding stories of modern Fujian families; the cliff inscriptions on Gushan Mountain record a thousand years of calligraphy, and the Buddhist chants at Yongquan Temple are distant. Shangxiahang is an ancient wharf where merchant ships once gathered, and the spirit of Fujian merchants continues to this day. It is an ancient capital of hot springs, with geothermal springs throughout the city; climb Guling to overlook the sea of clouds, or head to the Min River estuary to encounter the tides. Fish balls, meat swallows, and 'Buddha Jumps Over the Wall' offer authentic Fujian flavors. With the river and sea embracing each other, ancient houses and the new city coexist, possessing both the profound heritage of the thousand-year-old Fujian capital and the openness of a coastal city.

Taining, hidden deep in the mountains of northwestern Fujian, is known as an ancient town of the Han and Tang dynasties and a famous city of the Song dynasty. It is a World Natural Heritage site and a World Geopark, serving as a model for youthful water Danxia landforms. Dajin Lake is vast and misty, surrounded by red cliffs; Ganlu Temple is supported by a single pillar, hanging on the red rock wall. Bamboo rafts on the Shangqing Stream drift through canyons and winding currents, with red cliffs and dense forests on both sides. Jiulongtan is a quiet and secluded valley, where night boat tours feel dreamlike. In the ancient city of Taining, the Ming Dynasty 'Shangshu Di' residence still retains its carved beams, preserving stories of the imperial examinations from the Song dynasty. With Danxia mountains, clear waters, and ancient alleys, the ink-wash Danxia landscape blends perfectly with a thousand years of human history.