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Amoy
Sunlight Rock
Located in the south-central part of the island, Sunlight Rock is the
island's highest point with an altitude of 92.7 meters (304 feet). Though it may
not rank with high mountain peaks, it appears superb and grand when seen from
afar. The name comes from a sun-shaped formation in the granite. When the sun
rises, the morning light illuminates the granite inSunlight Temple
and the rocks are bathed with sunlight .
At the foot of Sunlight Rock stands the Memorial Hall of Zheng Chenggong,
built in honor of the hero's feats which include expelling the Dutch colonists
and re-occupying Taiwan. Wandering up the steep rock path, visitors will see
many profound inscriptions left by poets, the oldest of which dates back to over
400 years. This is the main cultural sight on the hill. Continuing on, you will
see the preserved training grounds of Zheng Chenggong's troops. Near the field
is a huge rock bridging two cliffs, forming a natural entrance to a cave. This
is called 'Old Summer Cave' (Gu Bishu Dong) where you can feel a pleasantly cool
breeze. It's the perfect viewing spot to appreciate the scenery of Gulangyu
Island. A fantastic panorama of Xiamen City, including Nanputuo Temple, Xiamen
University, and Hulishan Battery is within view.
Shuzhuang Garden
First built in 1931 on the southside of the island, Shuzhuang Garden was once
a private villa. It became a garden park open to the public in 1955. It is
divided into two parts-the Garden of Hiding the Sea (Canghaiyuan) and the Garden
of Making-Up Hills (Bushanyuan). It was exquisitely designed to embody three
important characteristics in gardening---hiding elements, borrowing from one's
surroundings, and combining movements.
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