Staying in former consulates of foreign powers is no longer a dream—historic buildings on Gulangyu Island now offer accommodations

By Li Xinyi, Interview & Report

Unique homestays add excitement to travel. You may have stayed in architect-designed, oddly shaped, or luxurious villas, but how about a consulate once established by foreign powers in China over a hundred years ago? After the Opium Wars, China was forced to open five treaty ports: Guangzhou, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Ningbo, and Shanghai. Cities surrounded by foreign powers saw the construction of numerous consulates. Gulangyu Island in Xiamen was divided among 13 countries, each setting up consulates and offices. Today, with the foreign powers long gone, these European-style buildings are inhabited by locals. As the island’s historic architecture made it a popular tourist destination in Xiamen, many former consulates have been transformed into homestays. For less than NT$1,000, you can spend a night there.

In 1844, the British consulate was the first to be established on Gulangyu, followed by Germany, Japan, Spain, the United States, the Netherlands, and others. The small fishing village gradually turned into an island occupied by foreign powers, where foreigners lived outside the jurisdiction of Chinese law and even established their own mixed courts. Overseas Chinese who prospered abroad also built villas on the island. The construction of these villas and consulates blended Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque, and traditional Chinese brick styles, rivaling the international architecture of Shanghai’s Bund—fortunately, the costs here are not as jaw-dropping as those on the Bund. On a rainy Friday, the number of visitors to the island remained high, reaching over 9,000, plus the island’s residents totaling around 21,000, which is not far from the optimal capacity of 30,000. As a result, the digital sign at the ticket booth advises people to “avoid coming if unnecessary,” highlighting just how popular Gulangyu has become.

The island must be explored on foot, weaving through brick-walled alleys and relaxing in cafes housed in historic buildings—a minimum of a full day is needed. Gulangyu has over 200 homestays, with average nightly rates of about RMB 300–400 (approximately NT$1,500–2,000). The Nayia Family Inn, originally the German consulate, is located at No. 12B, Lujiao Road, with regular room rates of RMB 130–420. Across the street, the former British consulate is now the Castel Hotel. The Spanish consulate, situated opposite the church where Lin Yutang got married, is now a nursing home, but the towering Gothic church still retains its former charm.

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