Gulangyu Island is home to numerous beautiful buildings, yet Haitian Gu stands out for its architectural beauty. Visitors can immerse […]
Gulangyu Island is home to numerous beautiful buildings, yet Haitian Gu stands out for its architectural beauty. Visitors can immerse themselves in stories within the mansion, imagining life back then. One can also enjoy the distinctive Minnan puppet shows and Nan’yin performances.
Haitian Gu, a group of old villas built in 1921, is located at No. 38 Fujian Road, Gulangyu. Its overall style is a harmonious blend of Chinese and Western influences. You can see traditional Chinese eaves and corners, all decorated with entwined floral patterns or dragon motifs. You can also find ancient Greek columns and Western-style window decorations; everything is perfectly integrated.
The admission ticket is a bit expensive, so many tourists just take photos from outside without entering. However, for those who appreciate this style of mansion architecture, it’s worth the visit as you can closely examine the details of the house and listen to guided tours (every half hour, though the guide might skip if there are too few visitors). If you decide to go, you can purchase tickets through an agent in advance, which will be cheaper than buying on-site. There are five old villas in total, and three are open to the public after restoration.
No. 34 has been developed into a tasteful Southeast Asian-style café, offering visitors a leisurely coffee experience in an old overseas Chinese villa; No. 42 has been developed into a performing arts center for China’s intangible cultural heritage of Nan’yin and puppetry, where you can see performances approximately every half hour. The puppet show is on the first floor, which is quite lively, with a TV next to it providing an introduction to the performance.
After the show, performers will come out to display their skills, such as juggling bowls and dancing with sticks, which is very impressive. The Nan’yin performance is on the second floor, with a very beautiful melody. The main building, No. 38, with its architectural features, has been developed into the Gulangyu Architectural Art Museum. The main building is tall and spacious, with each room showcasing a theme, mainly displaying the old villas and the lesser-known stories of the celebrities behind them, full of nostalgia.
Opening hours are 08:30-17:30 all year round. Preferential policies for children: Children under 1.2 meters (inclusive) enter for free; children between 1.2 meters (exclusive) and 1.4 meters (inclusive) enjoy discounted tickets. Disabled persons: Tickets can be purchased with a disability certificate. Elderly: Elderly aged 70 (inclusive) and above enjoy discounted tickets.
Additional note: The above preferential information is for reference only. Please check the day’s disclosures at the Haitian Gu scenic spot on Gulangyu Island for specific details.
