Gulangyu

This UNESCO World Heritage island off the coast of Xiamen, Gulangyu is a pedestrian-only zone where cars, motorcycles, and bicycles are banned — making it quieter than almost anywhere else in urban China. Reachable by a short ferry ride from downtown Xiamen, the little island is known for its beaches, winding lanes, and layered architecture shaped by a period as a foreign enclave from the 1840s through the 1930s. It draws enormous visitor numbers, so weekdays and non-holiday periods are considerably calmer.

• Nearest water from center 2.3 km1.5 mi
• Nearest mountain from center 1.4 km0.9 mi