Cultural

Fusion

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Cultural exchange shaped Kulangsu’s identity.

Outstanding Universal Value

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Kulangsu heritage reflects the composite nature of a modern settlement composed of 931 historical buildings of a variety of local and international architectural styles, natural sceneries, a historic network of roads and historic gardens.

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Through the concerted endeavour of local Chinese, returned overseas Chinese, and foreign residents from many countries, Kulangsu developed into an international settlement with outstanding cultural diversity and modern living quality. It also became an ideal dwelling place for the overseas Chinese and elites who were active in East Asia and South-eastern Asia as well as an embodiment of modern habitat concepts of the period between mid-19th and mid-20th century.

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Kulangsu is an exceptional example of the cultural fusion, which emerged from these exchanges, which remain legible in an organic urban fabric formed over decades constantly integrating more diverse cultural references. Most exceptional testimony of the fusion of various stylistic influences is a genuinely new architectural movement the Amoy Deco Style, which emerged from the island.

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Criterion (iv): Kulangsu is the origin and best representation of the Amoy Deco Style. Named after Xiamen’s local Hokkien dialect name Amoy, Amoy Deco Style refers to an architectural style and typology, which first occurred in Kulangsu and illustrates the fusion of inspirations drawn from local building traditions, early western and in particular modernist influences as well as the southern Fujian Migrant culture. Based on these the Amoy Deco Style shows a transformation of traditional building typology towards new forms, which were later referenced throughout South-East Asia and became popular in the wider region.

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The integrity of the historic landscape has been maintained, primarily as result of consistent conservation of historic architectural structures and effective development controls regarding height, volume and form of new buildings. The historic relationship of built up and green spaces also contributes to the overall landscape integrity which includes the preserved natural sceneries of cliffs and rocks and the historic gardens, both affiliated courtyard and independent private gardens.

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Kulangsu Island has retained its authenticity in form and design, location and setting and in many elements of the island material and substance as well as – to a lower extent – use and function. Both the urban settlement patterns as well as the architectural structures have retain their characteristic layout and stylistic features. The latter remain credible representations of the various architectural styles the island unites as well as the Amoy Deco Style it created.

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Kulangsu was recognized by the State Council as a National Scenic Area in 1988 under the National Scenic Area framework. Fifty-one representative historic buildings, gardens, structures and cultural sites are included in Heritage lists: nineteen as National Heritage Sites, eight as Provincial Heritage Sites, and twenty-four as County Heritage Sites. Moreover, all the provincial and county protected sites will be added to the 8th Tranche of the National Heritage List.

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Status Classification of 48 Heritage Sites in Kulangsu

Current use and accessibility of selected heritage sites.

Kulangsu Heritage Conservation Score

Assessing Kulangsu’s heritage conservation across four dimensions.

A living heritage site is made of far more than just physical spaces; it is woven together by its people, their daily practices, and cultural narratives.

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This report uses four dimensions to assess whether this form of “protection” has genuinely sustained the integrity of Gulangyu as a living heritage site.

Municipal CouncilArea-based heritage site: Located beside the entrance to Bagua Mansion and can be viewed together with it. 

Assessment: Still included in the visitor-recognition system, but its independent presentation is limited.

Enclosed and separated: Visible from outside, but inaccessible inside. 

Assessment: The building remains identifiable, but public accessibility is limited.

Public cultural reuse: Now open as the Kulangsu China Film Music Museum. 

Assessment: Transformed from a closed heritage site into a public cultural space, with improved accessibility and visibility.

Enclosed and separated: Visible from outside, but inaccessible inside. 

Assessment: The building remains identifiable, but public accessibility is limited.

Art-space reuse: Open to the public as the National Art Museum of China’s Kulangsu Art Space. 

Assessment: A positive example of adaptive reuse, transforming a historic building into an art exhibition space.

Enclosed and separated: Visible from outside, but inaccessible inside. 

Assessment: The building has a strong historical character, but it is mainly experienced through external viewing.

TowerRemaining communication facility: Visible from outside but no longer functional. 

Assessment: The building remains identifiable, but public accessibility is limited.

Externally identifiable: Visible from outside, but inaccessible inside. 

Assessment: Located within a protected heritage area, but visitor access is limited.

Private/residential use: The exterior is generally visible, but the interior is inaccessible. 

Assessment: The building retains a current use, but has limited public visitation value.

Traditional ancestral hall: Visible from the street, but inaccessible inside; privately acquired. 

Assessment: The building may retain residential or private functions, while its public accessibility remains unclear.

Religious heritage site: Visible from outside and open during Mass. 

Assessment: Still functions as a setting for public community and cultural activities.

Religious heritage site: Visible from outside and open during services. 

Assessment: Still functions as a setting for public community and cultural activities.

Religious heritage site: Visible from outside and open during services. 

Assessment: The building can be viewed as a whole, while its surroundings retain a quiet and religious atmosphere.

Public cultural reuse: Currently used for commercial purposes as a café and guesthouse. 

Assessment: The historic building has been transformed into a privately operated commercial space.

Scenic-attraction management: Located within the Sunlight Rock scenic area and accessed through paid admission. 

Assessment: Integrated into the core scenic-area system, with a clearly defined visitor route.

Religious heritage site: Open to the public and dedicated to the worship of Baosheng Dadi. 

Assessment: Visitors can observe and participate in the space, which retains local religious traditions and community memory.

Public cultural reuse: Now functions as the Palace Museum Kulangsu Gallery of Foreign Cultural Relics and is a major attraction. 

Assessment: The historic building has been transformed into a cultural exhibition space.

Externally visible: Visible from outside, but inaccessible inside. 

Assessment: The building is well preserved, but its interior appears noticeably vacant.

Enclosed and separated: Limited external visibility and inaccessible inside. 

Assessment: The building is overshadowed by the “most beautiful corner” photo-spot narrative, which can weaken recognition of its heritage value.

Externally visible: Visible from outside, but inaccessible inside. 

Assessment: Included in the heritage mapping system, but insufficiently accessible on site.

Public cultural reuse: Currently used as the Pien Tze Huang Museum. 

Assessment: An educational historic building has been transformed into a commercial exhibition space, resulting in a change of function.

Externally visible: Visible from outside, but inaccessible inside. 

Assessment: The building is well preserved, but its interior appears noticeably vacant.

Public cultural reuse: Currently used as a commercial space selling tea. 

Assessment: An educational historic building has been transformed into a commercial exhibition and retail space.

Externally visible: Visible from outside, but inaccessible inside. 

Assessment: The building is well preserved.

Continued public sports use: Now functions mainly as the John Ma Sports Stadium. 

Assessment: Provides evidence of adaptive reuse, with its sporting function continuing today.

Public cultural reuse: Now functions as the Kulangsu Community Life Center, containing a market, restaurants and other facilities. 

Assessment: Provides evidence of adaptive reuse and retells the story of everyday community life on Kulangsu.

Public cultural reuse: Now used as a photography museum. 

Assessment: The historic building has been transformed into a themed exhibition space, demonstrating adaptive reuse.

Externally visible: Visible from outside, but inaccessible inside. 

Assessment: The clear-water red-brick exterior remains prominent, preserving visible traces of the building’s history.

Remaining ruins: Located at the entrance to the Organ Art Center. 

Assessment: The building is incompletely preserved and is mainly recognized through its remaining ruins.

Public cultural reuse: Now functions as a shared heritage exhibition hall. 

Assessment: The historic building has been transformed into a themed exhibition space, demonstrating adaptive reuse.

Externally visible: Visible from outside, but inaccessible inside; located next to the Former HSBC Bank Residence. 

Assessment: Situated in a relatively quiet area with good conditions for external viewing.

Public service reuse: Currently functions as the Kulangsu Post Office and China Post EMS facility. 

Assessment: The historic building has been transformed into a living-service facility, demonstrating adaptive reuse.

Externally visible: Visible from outside, but inaccessible inside. 

Assessment: The building is well preserved.

Public cultural reuse: Now functions as the Zheng Chenggong Memorial Museum and is free to visit. 

Assessment: The historic building has been transformed into a memorial exhibition space with relatively high public accessibility.

Public cultural reuse: Now functions as a record museum with paid admission. 

Assessment: The building has been transformed into a cultural-consumption space, demonstrating adaptive reuse.

Scenic-attraction management: Paid admission is required. 

Assessment: The site has a strong tourist-attraction character; visitors can enter, but use is mainly focused on sightseeing and photography.

Public cultural reuse: Now functions as an organ museum with organ performances. 

Assessment: The building is well preserved and demonstrates adaptive reuse.

Residential complex reuse: Currently used as a hotel. 

Assessment: The building has high heritage value, but its use is mainly residential-commercial, resulting in uneven public participation.

Scenic-attraction management: Paid admission is required. 

Assessment: The building has a strong tourist-attraction character; visitors can enter, but use is mainly focused on sightseeing and photography.

Major scenic attraction: Open as a garden heritage space. 

Assessment: A highly visible space for visitors, with strong heritage presentation.

Historic residence of a notable person: Visible from outside, but inaccessible inside. 

Assessment: The building is well preserved.

Externally visible: Visible from the street, but inaccessible inside; privately acquired. 

Assessment: The complete façade and decorative details can be observed, resulting in strong exterior preservation and street-level visibility.

Externally visible: Visible from the street, but inaccessible inside; privately occupied by descendants. 

Assessment: The building is well preserved, and its complete façade and decorative details remain visible.

Residential complex reuse: Currently reused commercially, including as a teahouse. 

Assessment: A locally significant traditional building with high heritage value.

Residential use: Visible from outside, but inaccessible inside; privately occupied. 

Assessment: Repairs are moderate, providing evidence of the coexistence of heritage buildings and residents’ everyday lives.