CHINA
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A tropical garden floating in the bay of Xiamen.
Just off the southern coast of Fujian, Kulangsu is a vehicle-free tropical island with an array of colonial mansions built of red bricks and mortar.
They blend Minnan and Western styles, displaying a curious cultural fusion.
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It houses China's largest and only collection of pianos, with more than 100 objects.
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Below the museum is a beautiful seaside garden dating back to 1913. It was once an estate of the Taiwanese magnate, Lin Erjia.
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At the time of construction (1907), it was the largest residence on the island.
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The building is often referred to as the Bagua Mansion (Eight Trigrams Residence) for its red octagonal dome.
The museum houses dozens of century-old pipe organs, including a gigantic instrument from England.
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Across the strait, the seaport of Xiamen has long served as a gateway to China.
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It features a tidy waterfront with Western-style architecture and a maze of crumbling traditional shophouses.
The view of modern Xiamen from Kulangsu Island.
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