Whenever holidays arrive, Gulangyu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, invariably trends on social media. However, during this year's Dragon Boat Festival, the "Sea Garden" has once again become a focal point, but this time it feels bittersweet.
Covering ten Christian cultural heritages, Gulangyu Island, Xiamen, China's southeastern-coastal Fujian Province, is among the World Heritage List. It boasts the Trinity Church, which was considered at one time China's most beautiful Protestant Church, a Catholic church, a Christian cemetery, and other Christian properties.
According to reports from mainstream media such as China's state TV broadcaster CCTV, undercover journalists have revealed numerous issues on Gulangyu, including rampant tourist scams, high expenses, and poor experiences. The problem of overcharging tourists has even formed a "grey industry chain."
The issues with Gulangyu tourism are not new. For over a decade, friends and visitors have frequently shared with me the varied problems they encountered. For example, a seasoned traveler from Beijing compared the elegant and serene Gulangyu of early 2007 with the current situation, where illegal businesses are rampant. He lamented, "If proper governance is not implemented to restore Gulangyu's elegance, tranquility, and leisure, tourists will eventually be driven away!"
When people speak of Gulangyu, they are inevitably drawn to its enchanting scenery, exquisite architecture, and beautiful music. For Christians, this small island holds even more significance as a landing site for the gospel in modern times. The island is home to many Christian churches and historical sites, telling the stories of the spiritual predecessors' footsteps.
The current chaotic state of Gulangyu is not only due to fragmented policies and chaotic management but also to the deliberate destruction by some profit-driven businesses, which is also an important factor leading to its current situation, disregarding the island's cultural environment.
The painful present state of Gulangyu is a result of human sinfulness. However, there are still many law-abiding merchants who conduct fair business, leaving a positive impression on visitors. For instance, some of the island's original residents (including many fellow believers) run guesthouses and shops. They engage in civilized business practices and have never exploited tourists. Some of them are well-versed in Gulangyu's culture and share the island's history and gospel testimonies with visitors, making their trip worthwhile.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
每当节假日到来之际，作为世界文化遗产的鼓浪屿总会成为热搜。可今年端午节“海上花园”再度成为人们关注的焦点，却显得那么苦涩。
据央视新闻等主流媒体报道，通过记者暗访，发现鼓浪屿上存在着旅游套路多、花费高、体验差等等问题。而且宰客问题更是形成了一条“灰色产业链”。
鼓浪屿旅游的问题，并非今日才有。十几年来常有朋友、游客向我反映他们所遇到的种种问题。比如有位北京旅游达人就对比了2007年初鼓浪屿的淡雅、娴静和如今各种不法商家的泛滥。进而痛心地指出：“不好好治理一下，让鼓浪屿重归雅致与宁静，悠闲。早晚会让游客厌弃的！”
说起鼓浪屿，人们无不为其旖旎的风光、精美的建筑以及美妙的音律所吸引。而对于基督徒来说，这个小岛更是近代福音登陆之地。岛上有着众多基督教会的建筑、遗迹，讲述着属灵前辈的佳美脚踪。
而鼓浪屿如今有不少乱象其中除了政出多门，管理混乱外，某些利益熏心的商家，不顾鼓浪屿的人文环境，蓄意进行破坏也是导致其现状的重要因素。
鼓浪屿今日令人痛心的现状，是人类罪性造成的结果。但是也有不少遵纪守法的商家，从事公平的买卖，给来到这里的游客留下了美好印象。比如岛上有些原住民（包括不少主内肢体），他们同样经营民宿、商店。可他们却文明经商，从未坑害游客。而且他们当中有些人熟悉鼓浪屿文化，还会给游客们讲述岛上的历史以及福音的见证，让不少人觉得不虚此行。
对于鼓浪屿旅游乱象的反思
Whenever holidays arrive, Gulangyu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, invariably trends on social media. However, during this year's Dragon Boat Festival, the "Sea Garden" has once again become a focal point, but this time it feels bittersweet.
Covering ten Christian cultural heritages, Gulangyu Island, Xiamen, China's southeastern-coastal Fujian Province, is among the World Heritage List. It boasts the Trinity Church, which was considered at one time China's most beautiful Protestant Church, a Catholic church, a Christian cemetery, and other Christian properties.
According to reports from mainstream media such as China's state TV broadcaster CCTV, undercover journalists have revealed numerous issues on Gulangyu, including rampant tourist scams, high expenses, and poor experiences. The problem of overcharging tourists has even formed a "grey industry chain."
The issues with Gulangyu tourism are not new. For over a decade, friends and visitors have frequently shared with me the varied problems they encountered. For example, a seasoned traveler from Beijing compared the elegant and serene Gulangyu of early 2007 with the current situation, where illegal businesses are rampant. He lamented, "If proper governance is not implemented to restore Gulangyu's elegance, tranquility, and leisure, tourists will eventually be driven away!"
When people speak of Gulangyu, they are inevitably drawn to its enchanting scenery, exquisite architecture, and beautiful music. For Christians, this small island holds even more significance as a landing site for the gospel in modern times. The island is home to many Christian churches and historical sites, telling the stories of the spiritual predecessors' footsteps.
The current chaotic state of Gulangyu is not only due to fragmented policies and chaotic management but also to the deliberate destruction by some profit-driven businesses, which is also an important factor leading to its current situation, disregarding the island's cultural environment.
The painful present state of Gulangyu is a result of human sinfulness. However, there are still many law-abiding merchants who conduct fair business, leaving a positive impression on visitors. For instance, some of the island's original residents (including many fellow believers) run guesthouses and shops. They engage in civilized business practices and have never exploited tourists. Some of them are well-versed in Gulangyu's culture and share the island's history and gospel testimonies with visitors, making their trip worthwhile.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Reflections on Chaos in Gulangyu Island Tourism
