Patiently awaiting for a century, for your knowing smile — Gulangyu Island.

🌊Although Gulangyu Island is known by grand titles such as "Garden on the Sea," "Piano Island," and "World Architecture Expo," these imposing names fail to encapsulate its essence. Instead, the simple term "small island" more accurately conveys the true nature of Gulangyu. 🐬Gulangyu is a place of quiet beauty. There are no motor vehicles or industrial noise on the island; all who visit return to the primitive state of measuring the land by foot. Even with the explosive growth of tourism, if you are willing to venture further and deeper, you can still discover deserted green lanes filled with ivy and Buddha's hand flowers. You can sit on a small hillside, watching the city lights come on in the distance, observing the ebb and flow of the tide. This tranquility, unique to the small island, is the essence of Gulangyu. 💦Gulangyu is a beloved gem. This island, less than 2 square kilometers, is home to nearly a thousand old villas of diverse styles, reflecting the rise and fall of the modern Minnan region. From the Lin family's Shuzhuang Garden to the "Sugar King" Huang Yizhu's Huang Family Garden, from the Gulangyu landmark "Bagua Building" to the "Timber King" Li Qingquan's Banyan Valley, it is no exaggeration to say that Gulangyu is a small island meticulously crafted by generations of Minnan elites with their talent and wealth. 💧Many visitors to Gulangyu choose to stay in a boutique hotel or guesthouse converted from a villa, bask in the sun on the beach in flip-flops, wander between villas, and spend the afternoon idling in a coffee shop. However, the true essence of traveling in Gulangyu lies in getting lost in the maze of small lanes and unexpectedly encountering the island's tranquility. After all, some corners of Gulangyu have been quietly waiting for a hundred years, anticipating your knowing smile.