Gulangyu is a carfree island near Xiamen, south of Shanghai, China. Another living example of what a modern carfree city could be like. Once an international settlement, there are many beautiful old mansions that were quite obvious collaborations between architects from different parts of the world. It is quite a lively place, uncharacteristically relaxed and clean for a Chinese city (judging from the ones I've seen).

photos & text by Pete Menchetti, October 1999.