Kulangsu
A Historic International Settlement
About Kulangsu
Kulangsu is a tiny island located on the estuary of the Chiu-lung River, facing the city of Xiamen. With the opening of a commercial port at Xiamen in 1843, and the establishment of the island as an international settlement in 1903, this island off the southern coast of the Chinese empire suddenly became an important window for Sino-foreign exchanges. Kulangsu is an exceptional example of the cultural fusion that emerged from these exchanges, which remain legible in its urban fabric. There is a mixture of different architectural styles including Traditional Southern Fujian Style, Western Classical Revival Style and Veranda Colonial Style. The most exceptional testimony of the fusion of various stylistic influences is a new architectural movement, the Amoy Deco Style, which is a synthesis of the Modernist style of the early 20th century and Art Deco.
Kulangsu was recognized by the State Council as a National Scenic Area in 1988 under the National Scenic Area framework. The Conservation and Management Plan for Kulangsu Cultural Heritage was officially adopted 2011 and is being implemented by the Government since 2014.
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, “Kulangsu, a Historic International Settlement.”
A Comparative Extension
Kulangsu and the New Orleans French Quarter: How Two Access Mechanisms Shape Living Heritage Conservation.
Photo Gallery
A visual record of Kulangsu’s architecture, public spaces, and everyday life.
Audience Voices
What Makes Kulangsu Feel Alive?
Imagined Kulangsu → Lived Kulangsu → Told Kulangsu
Essay