Longtou Road or Dragon Head Road is the main commercial street of Gulangyu Island in Xiamen, China. It is basically a network of interconnected streets and alleys. People can find many shops, restaurants, and commercial establishments housed in century-old European-inspired mansions.
Since the whole island is pedestrianized, it is very easy to navigate the area on foot freely. No need to look back for incoming vehicles and pause at crossings and stop lights. Very ideal =)
This is Longtou Road aka Dragon Head Road:
After my eventful walk and some snacking on the boulevard, I wandered off in the Longtou labyrinth which is very easy to find as it is where the boulevard ends at the ferry terminal. This terminal is where the exclusive ferry for the locals departs. Gulangyu has a different ferry service for tourists and non-locals. I am for “locals first” of course especially when the number of tourists has increased drastically, which is the case for the island.
Read here for my eventful arrival on the island and information on the ferry ride: In just less than an hour on Gulangyu Island
During the walk, I discovered the bustling street food alleys, and I only later realized that the alleys were very much a part of Longtou road. This street has unbelievably many extensions and connections, it is like an octopus with more than 8 tentacles. They are all one and the same street! #puzzled (see map picture above)
What I do love about Longtou is, of course, the exotic street food scene and the convivial atmosphere. Places like these give me the travel thrill. The smell, the sounds, the variety of food and the hectic activity around me gives me energy and excitement. I really travel for this.
China, er rather, the whole Asian continent is all about eating outdoors, casually on the streets, which I do miss a lot in Europe. Although the south of Europe does have its own street food version especially during the warmer months, it is by far not the same. Nothing can compare the authenticity, fun, and experience with street food in Asia. I am sure everyone would agree.
But I must, however, say, that Longtou is very touristy, after all, everyone who visits the island flock here for shopping and eating. It is the only commercial area in Gulangyu but you can’t go wrong coming here. Well, everyone ends up here anyway.
So nevertheless, I was quite ecstatic about the street food scene, and obviously, my pocket camera did not rest, haha. I took lots of pictures of Longtou!
This post will be more of a photo essay… let me share them with you, rather, come walk with me =)
More soon of Gulangyu!
Travel Period: December 2016
Destination: Gulangyu Island, Xiamen (Fujian), China
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Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
All pictures were taken by a point and shoot pocket camera or a smartphone.