Any one coming to Xiamen has to see Gulangyu (鼓浪屿)or “Drum Wave Islet.”  You’ll be mesmerized by the beauty of the island as you approach it during the 10 minute ferry ride.  Upon disembarking the first thing you will notice is there are no vehicles of any kind (not even bicycles are allowed) other than quiet electric tour cars.  You will also be struck by the varied old-world architecture of prominent buildings on Gulanyu.  The islet was home to many foreign consulates (Britain, France, Japan, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Portugal, Holland, Austria, Norway, Sweden, the Philippines, the U.S. and Belgium) during the Western Concession period, prior to the second world war.

Strolling through the winding streets and hills you will often hear classical music being played. Since early in the twentieth century music, and particularly the piano music, has been a passion of Gulangyu residents who have dubbed the islet “Piano Island” or “Music Island.”  Several famous musicians and China’s first female conductor have come from Gulangyu.  Located here is China’s largest piano museum boasting of 30 pianos over 100 years old.  Also for the music minded traveler, are a music hall with frequent concerts, an organ museum and a music academy.

For tourists who are looking for bargaining practice, hone your skills with small shop owners along the streets right after you leave the terminal.  Pearls, paintings, paint-within glass art, wood and stone carvings, jewelry of all kinds, silk articles and clothing are just a beginning list of the things to purchase at bargain prices.  Don’t be put off by the merchants trying to get you to come into their shops – they are just trying to make a living too.

Wondering through the streets is a real treat.  Looking at the colonial style homes and buildings will make you feel like you have taken a trip back into a more peaceful and serene world.  But it’s not just a museum as many of the homes are still lived in.  Taking an electric tour car around the island is worth while as you can stop for a stroll on the beaches and view attractions and then get on to a later car.

This small scenic area in the northwest part of Nanjing was supposedly named "Swallow Rock" as its shape resembles a swallow.  It is not one of Nanjing’s most popular attractions, yet it still provides an excellent and an up-close view of the Chang Jiang (长江 - Also called Yangzi River or Yangtze River). 

As a tourist in China, there are a plenty of Buddhist temples and Buddha statues to marvel at. Wuxi boasts the Giant Ling Shan Buddha (or ’Ling Shan Da Fo’).

This one you must see. Not only is it very, very big, but the whole attraction is meticulously planned and very well presented with something of interest for everyone. Here are some of the treats in store:

• The Fountain Show: This is a water show choreographed to music with commentary (in Chinese). Even if you don’t understand the commentary, the show is quite spectacular. There are shows at 10.30am, 11.30am, 2.30pm and 4.30pm - though the showtimes be altered or even cancelled during quieter times. The first show can be hard to get to on time if you catch a bus from Wuxi, so it's usually best to aim for the 11.30 show. It is also worth checking on the wind direction before choosing a spot to stand, especially if you'd like to protect your camera, as you can get quite damp on the down-wind side.

• The happy Fat Buddha with a hundred playful Buddha babies climbing all over him.

• The Hand.

• The big Buddha himself. Ascending the steps to the feet of the giant standing Buddha is no easy climb.

Entrance fees

These have a way of changing with the season. Recently it cost 80 yuan to enter the grounds. This ticket will give you access to almost everything. Upon last check an extra 15 yuan gets visitors into the museum at the base of the Buddha and right up to touch his feet.

Getting There

Bao Tu Quan Park provided me with the best experience I've ever had in a park in China. It’s as if the soul of Chinese literature itself was breathing throughout the park, with natural springs as its gills. The park was the former home compound of Song Dynasty poetess Li Qing Zhao.  The park contains a full museum devoted to her life and work, with placards in English and Chinese, and wax figures illustrating her childhood, marriage, and later years.

In addition to the poetry and history of Li Qing Zhao, the park is full of courtyards that guide you in and out of one another. Each one is devoted to a natural Chinese icon such as bamboo, plum, peach, crabtree, persimmon, or even the springs themselves. Therefore every courtyard inspires a different feeling, one that was carefully engineered by initiated feng shui masters!