Former Site of the U.S. Consulate on Gulangyu

Former Site of the U.S. Consulate on Gulangyu

The former site of the U.S. Consulate on Gulangyu is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The former site of the U.S. Consulate is located at No. 26 Sanming Road, facing the bustling Lujiang Road on Xiamen Island across the water. In 1844, shortly after the smoke of the Opium War had cleared, the U.S. government sent Columbus to Xiamen, where he established a “Communications and Postal Office” next to Tianwei Qiu Pu on Gulangyu, also acting as the consul. In 1865, this office was upgraded to a consulate, which was then relocated to Sanhe Road (now No. 26 Sanming Road). In 1930, the consulate was rebuilt on this site.

The building was designed by an American engineer, faces east, and features a brick-concrete structure with two floors above ground and one underground, covering a construction area of 1,020 square meters and a total land area of about 6,300 square meters. It is a typical example of American Eclectic architecture. The building is primarily red and white in color, with two entrances on the south and east sides respectively, and is emphasized by large white Corinthian columns on the main façade. Triangular gables are set on all four sides as roof decorations, and the roof is covered with gray machine-made flat tiles.

Protected Area

The perimeter is extended outward by 10 meters from the surrounding walls.

Key protection points: Strictly protect the building itself and its ancillary facilities. It is prohibited to construct new, renovate, or alter any buildings or structures within the wall area of the protected building. During the maintenance of the cultural relics, the principle of preserving the original state without alteration must be strictly adhered to.

Construction Zone

To the north up to the wall of Longyuan Villa, to the south up to Sanming Road, to the east up to the seashore, and to the west up to Gulinxin Road.

Key protection points: Control the height of newly constructed buildings around the protected structure to ensure the integrity of the façade along Lujiang Road on Gulangyu and maintain visual sightlines.