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.
💙 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.