As China campaigned to have Unesco grant its prestigious “world heritage” status to the historic town of Gulangyu, locals enjoyed a welcome influx of tourist money.
The former international settlement was duly given its Unesco certificate this week — but the latest success in President Xi Jinping’s drive to promote Chinese culture has come at a cost. The government had to curb the visitor boom to show it was serious about preserving the entrepôt’s unique architecture, a blend of European, south-east Asian and Chinese styles.
“The most important thing for us is to have more tourists but now there are fewer so sales are down,” says Huang Meirgong, a jewellery shop owner, as she recounts how she went from itinerant worker to budding entrepreneur thanks to the tourist bonanza.