Day #109: Gulangu

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Xiamen is itself techinically an island, connected to mainland China by a four separate bridges, though as a huge, built-up city it doesn't feel like one. Just off Xiamen (a 5 minute ferry journey on a very packed ferry), however, is Gulangu, a much smaller island where traffic is not permitted, that really does feel like a holiday island. It used to be a colonial base, so there is a lot of European architecture and cobbled streets, very pretty and charming and quite upmarket with lots of small boutique shops (chocolate and tea shops are the most popular) and expensive restaurants and hotels. It also has a small beach and various look-out points where you can view Xiamen's skyscrapers. I spent a day wandering the streets, though again the weather was awful (Apparently I have been unlucky with the weather here, it should be sunny at this time of year. I felt more sorry for the Chinese tourists who are on their summer holidays.) and the rain was torrential pretty much all day. It's still not cold, but it still feels a bit miserable having soggy flip flops.

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