Revival of Sea (Zai Sheng Hai 再生海)

This full-service restaurant has a classy wood-heavy interior and a couple of tables in a sunny garden, making it a relaxing place to duck out of its crowded tourist neighborhood for lunch. The kitchen’s local and international dishes are well executed and easy to enjoy, and the menu is well translated into English. Try the […]

Long Tou Shark Balls (Long Tou Yu Wan Dian 龙头鱼丸店)

When Kulangsu locals miss the flavors of their hometown, many of them miss most of all the shark-ball soup from this little, locally run shop, which has been on the island for several decades. As you can see from the woman hand-rolling the shark balls at a counter at the front of the restaurant, there’s […]

Kang Family Oyster Omelette (Kang Jia Long Tou Hai Li Jian 康家龙头海蛎煎)

This sidewalk stand is an ideal place for a mid-afternoon pit stop to sample one of the island’s classic local specialties: the oyster omelette. Here, the delicious dish is turned out with speed and consistency while you stand by on the sidewalk. Watch and appreciate the artistry in the street chef’s careful construction of the […]

Kulangsu Supermarket (Xian Shang Chao Shi 夏商超市)

Kulangsu’s main supermarket is not huge, but it’s a great store and an essential point of reference on the island. The market is clean, well-run, and well-stocked, with fast and efficient service at the check-out lines. A good variety of fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables is always available, along with a modest selection of mostly […]

Listening to Kulangsu (Ting Gulangyu 听鼓浪屿)

My first introduction to Kulangsu was “Gulangyu Zhi Bo,” played by Jing. I had heard it at least fifty times before I ever saw Kulangsu, and before I even knew this was originally a song with words. It was my favorite song on Jing’s CD, which I played obsessively in my car when she was […]