Yang Tao Hotel, Fu Xing Castle (Yang Tao Yuan Zi, Fu Xing Gu Bao Dian 杨桃院子, 复兴古堡店)

Surpassingly beautiful, unexpectedly artful, and deeply reminiscent of Kulangsu’s golden era, the Yang Tao Hotel in Fuxing Castle is an island paradise, an oasis of serenity at the intersection of past and future. The outdoor bar is gorgeous, and the restaurant, warmly lit and framed by graceful archways, is both cozy and elegant. It’s worth […]
Big Mama’s Home-Cooked Sichuan (Pang Ma Si Chu 胖妈私厨)

Don’t be confused by the “Kapok” logo on the glass or the advertisements for Western dishes on the outside of the restaurant’s entrance, which is set in a few steps from the street: this is actually a creative Sichuan-influenced fusion noodle house, run by a native Kulangsu woman who loves to smile. Her spicy pork noodles […]
Cai Yuan Zi Music Restaurant (Cai Yuan Zi Yin Yue Can Ting 菜园子音乐餐厅)

They say that back in the day, every house on Kulangsu had a piano. This touristy but lovely garden across the street from the tea house is holding up the tradition with an upright that sits just inside the entrance, but it only gets played by children. There is a lush, expansive garden with a […]
Marine Garden Hotel (Hai Shang Hua Yuan Jiu Dian 海上花园酒店)

Red turrets cap this giant hotel, which is strategically situated near to the entrances to Sunlight Rock and the Piano Museum. Facilities are fancy, as the property is tailored to special groups and official visitors. Marine Garden is a sprawling landmark on the island’s southern shore, visible in every aerial shot of Kulangsu. Inside the complex is a genteel garden worthy of […]