HUANGYAN 36 Hotel

Stay at Gulangyu Huangyan 36 Hotel, experience a century-old villa under Sunlight Rock, and enjoy the design of a boutique hotel with convenient pick-up service, making your island trip hassle-free.

🏨【First Impressions】After taking the ferry from Xiamen Dongdu Cruise Terminal to Gulangyu Island🌊, the staff of Huangyan 36 Hotel were already waiting at the dock, helping me with my luggage as we walked to the hotel. ✨This building, transformed from a century-old villa🏛️, retains the Minnan red brick walls and arched windows on the outside, but inside it's a whole different world. 🌟In the lobby, old patterned tiles meet modern furniture, check-in was quick, and I was handed a hand-drawn map🗺️. 🏨I booked a sea-view king room, and opening the window reveals the silhouette of Sunlight Rock. The room keeps the original wooden beams but has brand-new air conditioning and bathroom fixtures, making it super comfortable. 🛏️With a 4.5 rating on Ctrip, it's one of the highest on the island, and many guests say 'the hotel has a great design and awesome decor'—it truly lives up to the hype. The staff also reminded me that there are no cars on the island, so you walk or take an electric cart, but the hotel is right at the foot of Sunlight Rock, just a 5-minute walk to Longtou Road Commercial Street, which is super convenient.

🌟【Core Selling Points】The biggest highlight of Huangyan 36 Hotel is its location—right next to Sunlight Rock⛰️. From the hotel's back door, follow the stone steps up, and you'll reach the Sunlight Rock ticket office in less than 3 minutes. 🍃Staying here, I could enjoy the 360-degree sea view from the top of Sunlight Rock every morning before the crowds arrive, watching the sunrise🌅 and Xiamen Island across the Lujiang River—that peace is something other tourists can't experience. ☀️The hotel itself is a landmark, originally a wealthy overseas Chinese merchant's mansion, now converted into a boutique hotel with just over a dozen rooms. Each room has a different design, some with private courtyards, others with terraces for tea🍵. The hotel also offers free pick-up service from the dock to the hotel, with staff helping with luggage, saving you the trouble of dragging your suitcase over the stone paths. 🌙This blend of historical charm and modern service is rare on Gulangyu Island. 📸

🚢【Transportation】There are no cars🚗 on Gulangyu Island, so getting around is by walking or electric cart. 🧳It's about a 15-minute walk from the hotel to Sanqiutian Dock and about 20 minutes to Neicuo'ao Dock. 🗺️To get to Xiamen Island, take a ferry from Sanqiutian Dock to Dongdu Cruise Terminal, a 20-minute ride costing 35 yuan round trip. 💫From Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport to Dongdu Cruise Terminal, a taxi takes about 30 minutes and costs around 50 yuan; from Xiamen Station, it's about 20 minutes and 30 yuan. 🌈The hotel's free pick-up service is really handy—just contact the front desk in advance, and they'll arrange someone to meet you at the dock and help carry your luggage to your room. They also help with luggage when you check out. 🏞️For guests with heavy luggage, this service saves a lot of effort🧳.

🛍️【Shopping】It's just a 5-minute walk from the hotel to the busiest Longtou Road Commercial Street on Gulangyu, where you'll find all kinds of shops selling souvenirs, postcards, pearl jewelry, and popular spots like Miss Zhao's and Su Xiaotang for gifts🎁. There are also supermarkets like Xinhua Du on Longtou Road, where you can buy drinks, snacks, and daily necessities at slightly lower prices than smaller island shops. 🛵✨For big malls, take a ferry to Xiamen Island; Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street is about a 15-minute taxi ride from Dongdu Cruise Terminal, with shopping centers like Zhonghua City and Tiger City, plus brands like ZARA and Uniqlo. 🌟But staying on the island, I recommend strolling along Longtou Road to soak up the artistic vibe and buy unique souvenirs like nougat, pies, and dried fish, ranging from a dozen to several dozen yuan. 🏨

🍜【Local Food】There's plenty of great food near the hotel. A 5-minute walk brings you to Gulangyu Linji Fish Balls, where a bowl of fish ball soup costs 20 yuan—the fish balls are bouncy and the broth is delicious, a must-try on the island. 🛏️Longtou Road also has local favorites like Ye's Mochi, Huang Sheng Ji Dried Meat, and Linji Fish Balls, with per-person costs between 20-50 yuan. 🌸For a proper meal, I recommend Shangyu Seafood or Tiaoshi, around 100 yuan per person, serving seafood and local dishes. 🍃Local specialties on Gulangyu include Shacha noodles, oyster omelets, and turtle jelly, all found on Longtou Road. Shacha noodles are about 25 yuan a bowl, oyster omelets about 20 yuan, and turtle jelly about 15 yuan. ☀️The hotel doesn't offer breakfast, but there are plenty of eateries nearby where you can grab a bowl of misua paste or peanut soup in the morning for 10-15 yuan per person. 🌙

🛏️【Rooms & Amenities】My room was a sea-view king room, about 35 square meters, with a window overlooking Sunlight Rock and the Lujiang River—a great view. 📸The room features a King Koil mattress, TOTO bathroom fixtures, and a smart toilet, making it very comfortable. 🧳The bedding is pure cotton, and pillows come in soft and firm options, so I slept well. 🗺️There's also a mini-fridge, free bottled water, tea bags, and coffee. In the evening, I made a cup of tea on the terrace and enjoyed the night view—very relaxing. 💫The hotel doesn't have a pool or gym, but there's a small courtyard where you can sit and daydream or read. 🌈Check-out is at noon, with a possible late check-out until 2 PM, but you need to arrange it in advance. 🏞️As for parking, there are no parking lots on Gulangyu Island. If you drive, you'll need to park at Xiamen Dongdu Cruise Terminal's parking lot, which costs about 50 yuan overnight. ✨

🌄【Attractions & Tips】It's a 3-minute walk from the hotel to the Sunlight Rock ticket office, with tickets at 50 yuan; a 10-minute walk to Shuzhuang Garden, tickets 30 yuan; and a 15-minute walk to Haoyue Park, tickets 10 yuan. 🌸🌟These three are the core attractions on Gulangyu, and I suggest spending a day visiting them. 🏨The hotel welcomes foreign guests; just present your passport at check-in. 🛏️Gulangyu is hot and humid in summer with lots of mosquitoes, so bring insect repellent; in winter, the sea breeze is strong, so bring a jacket. 🌸During peak seasons (May Day, National Day, Chinese New Year), rooms are tight, so book a month in advance. There are no cars on the island, so wear comfortable shoes. The hotel offers free luggage storage, so you can explore the island after check-out and pick up your bags before heading to the dock. Overall, this hotel is perfect for those who love peace, design, and history, especially couples or solo travelers.