Gulangyu Island

Only a tiny fraction of the world's settled places today ban motor vehicles, and only a small fraction of those, it seems, do so without it being an integral part of a tourist-development strategy. For the admirer of car free towns, it is refreshing to encounter a place that has both no cars and a tourist industry that has not overwhelmed the city's daily life. One such place is Gulangyu Island, in the city of Xiamen, China. Once an international settlement, there are many beautiful old mansions that were quite obvious collaborations between architects from different parts of the world. It is quite a lively place, uncharacteristically relaxed and clean for a Chinese city.

The Island Ring Road, which circles the island, allows you to fully enjoy all the sights of this small, charming island.    More...

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