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Freshness, umami, the fifth taste beyond sweet, sour, bitter, and salty is present in all fresh ingredients, such as foie gras, truffles, caviar, fresh seafood, as well as common vegetables like mushrooms, tomatoes, potatoes, and corn.
Freshness, a palate filled with a taste map, from Xiamen to Nanjing, Chaozhou, and Zhangzhou, experiencing the flavours from rivers, lakes, and plains, akin to exploring the culinary heritage of Minnan cuisine.
With the epithets “Cradle of Musicians,” “Piano Island,” and “Sea Garden,” Gulangyu Island inherently exudes romance. Legend has it that strolling on the island, one could hear pianos playing here and there, and surprisingly, over 200 renowned musicians and pianists were born on the island. According to the population-to-piano ratio, Gulangyu Island remains the world’s most prolific producer of renowned pianists!
Blessed with unique geographical, climatic, and scenic conditions, it became the preferred settlement for foreigners back in the day. During the late Qing and Republican periods, foreigners built a batch of consulates, churches, mansions, villas, and more on Gulangyu Island. Following the foreigners, many successful Fujian overseas Chinese returned to China and built villas on Gulangyu Island, resulting in a diverse array of architectural styles and exquisite buildings.
Walking through the labyrinthine streets of Gulangyu Island, surprises await at every turn. Sunlight spills through the swaying and colourful leaves, casting poetic shadows on the walls. Lazy cats can be spotted lounging around, while pedicabs shuttle through the streets and alleys. The most beautiful corners are not limited to the 45-degree angles formed by the intersection of two streets...
