A panoramic view of Gulangyu Island, Xiamen. [Photo/IC]

The 11th Gulangyu Poetry Festival recently took place in Xiamen, attracting poets from countries like Russia, Spain, Colombia and more.

Amid the island's extraordinary mix of architecture from around the world, they crafted 35 transcultural poems.

These showcased the profound heritage and unique charms of Gulangyu, a historical international community that continues to spark intense interest from people, from far and wide.

Since achieving UNESCO World Heritage status eight years ago, Gulangyu has remained committed to preserving its core values of cultural diversity and harmony.

Leveraging its distinctive music culture, Gulangyu continues to resonate globally and breathe new life into its cultural heritage.

Poetry and music intertwine to create a cultural garland on Gulangyu Island. Through an "invitation in" approach, Gulangyu has fostered an international artistic hub, hosting a rich array of events such as daily music concerts, weekly displays, monthly masterclasses and seasonal celebrations.

Annual events like the Gulangyu music festival, Gulangyu piano art week and the New Year music concert have garnered international acclaim, attracting 358 foreign guest artists from 28 countries since 2024, harmonizing the island's musical heartbeat with the world.

Seven internationally renowned artists currently were introduced into Gulangyu, offering regular concerts, masterclasses and lectures on the island.

These global artistic masters have evolved beyond mere visitors to become cultural ambassadors for Gulangyu, spreading the island's artistic essence across the global cultural landscape.

In May, Gulangyu signed cooperation agreements with institutions from Germany and Uzbekistan, fostering international exchanges in world cultural heritage and the island's music culture, marking a new phase in Gulangyu's global network.

Since the implementation of China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy, the daily average flow of foreign tourists visiting Gulangyu has surged by 44.8 percent.

This has prompted Gulangyu to continue to improve its public services and aim to set an even higher standard for inbound tourism services.