Miryam Hotel

💙 One of the most gracious properties on the island, overlooking gardens and the sea beyond, houses the Miryam, which is advertised as “boutique” but feels more like a grand dame clinging to the cliffs of Italy’s Amalfi Coast.

Second-floor public balcony in the Miryam Hotel, Kulangsu (Gulangyu)
Garden at the Miryam Hotel, Kulangsu (Gulangyu)
Garden at the Miryam Hotel, Kulangsu (Gulangyu)

The Continental feel extends to the furnishing of the clean, airy, well-lit rooms, some with claw-foot tubs. Ask for a room with a sea view—the generous private balconies and their bucolic vistas are worth the upcharge.

Bedroom in the Miryam Hotel, Kulangsu (Gulangyu)
Claw-foot bathtub in the Miryam Hotel, Kulangsu (Gulangyu)
Bedroom with private balcony in the Miryam Hotel, Kulangsu (Gulangyu)
Private balcony of bedroom in the Miryam Hotel, Kulangsu (Gulangyu)

Prices are above average for Kulangsu but reasonable given the views upscale feel. The restaurant’s availability and hours are unpredictable, so don’t plan around meals here. The staff runs a tight ship and can be curt to non-hotel guests (not allowing them to enter the upper balconies, lobbies, and other public areas of the hotel) , but the rewards of being a guest are considerable.

Upstairs lobby at the Miryam Hotel, Kulangsu (Gulangyu)
Garden at the Miryam Hotel, Kulangsu (Gulangyu)
Garden at the Miryam Hotel, Kulangsu (Gulangyu)
Street entrance to the Miryam Hotel, Kulangsu (Gulangyu)

For more Kulangsu (Gulangyu) travel ideas, see the new Kulangsu Island Visitor’s Guide.

💙 Marine Garden Hotel (Hai Shang Hua Yuan Jiu Dian 海上花园酒店)

Red turrets cap this giant hotel, which is strategically situated near to the entrances to Sunlight Rock and the Piano Museum. Facilities are fancy, as the property is tailored to special groups and official visitors. Marine Garden is a sprawling landmark on the island’s southern shore, visible in every aerial shot of Kulangsu.

The large fine-dining restaurant sports luxury delicacies prepared with skill and care. A new buffet lures in non-hotel guests by offering a taste of this quality food—an unlimited selection of a wide variety of dishes—for just 68 元/person, a bargain.

For more Kulangsu (Gulangyu) travel ideas, see the new Kulangsu Island Visitor’s Guide.

💙 The One Place In The Life, Kulangsu (Gulangyu)

This recent addition to the island took over a large swath of outdoor-bar territory just a few blocks down the waterfront. If you turn right as you’re stepping off the Lun Du ferry, it’ll be the biggest bar garden in sight. If you come to the Global Bowen Bear Hotel, you’ve gone too far. The most notable thing about this spot is its live music stage and expansive garden with bay views, complete with a kitschy white digital baby grand piano. Live music is mostly Chinese pop, and performances are of highly variable quality. There’s also an unremarkable, medium-to-high-priced menu of Western dishes. T-bone steaks with black-pepper gravy are thin but tasty, french fries are decent, and potato skins and other appetizers will help satisfy homesickness for Westerners. Torches warm things up in the garden on cold evenings in winter. Service is slow and indifferent.

For more Kulangsu (Gulangyu) travel ideas, see the new Kulangsu Island Visitor’s Guide.