Gulangyu Island is famous for its western-styled buildings. [Photo/visitxm.com]

Gulangy Island in Xiamen, in eastern Fujian province, was an international community with cultural diversity created by the Chinese, overseas Chinese as well as expatriates from many countries from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century.

The island joined the UNESCO world heritage list in 2017.

Yiyuan is a conventional building on the island, but the story and history behind it is remarkable.

Located at No 24 Fujian Road, Yiyuan was built in the late 19th century. The building has a western style exterior and a traditional Fujian style interior. 

Yiyuan is an unremarkable building on Gulangyu Island with a remarkable story. [Photo/visitxm.com]

Lin Henian, owner of Yiyuan, was born in Fujian's Anxi county in 1846.

Lin was selected as a transfer officer at the age of 36. He then served in various positions for nearly 10 years before being transferred to Taiwan at the age of 46.

Lin devoted himself to the development of Taiwan immediately. In addition to building railways, he bought advanced machinery from Europe and America to help build water conservation stations and develop gold mines in Taiwan.

In 1895, the Sino-Japanese War broke out and Lin actively engaged in the struggle against the enemy. But before the situation had become a foregone conclusion,  Lin and his family withdrew to Fujian and settled down in Gulangyu. He then built Yiyuan on the island.

During Lin's stay in Xiamen, shipping, mining, newspaper and other local affairs was significantly developed due to his advocacy and promotion.

For more than 100 years after Yiyuan's completion, Lin's descendants have lived there for six generations.