Overview:
Ever heard of "Amoy" and wondered where in China it is? Welcome to Xiamen 厦门 (pronounced most basically, "shah men"). The second largest city in Fujian Province, Xiamen has enjoyed prosperous development since the PRC established the area as a Special Economic Zone in 1980. (Still wondering where "Amoy" comes in? Read further to the History section...)Location:
Xiamen is an island and the city is located on it. Xiamen Island sits just opposite Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait. It is the second largest city in the southeastern seaboard province of Fujian, after the provincial capital, Fuzhou.History:
Xiamen (Amoy) has a rich history. Read A Brief History of Xiamen to learn more.Features & Attractions:
Xiamen has some nice scenic spots and is a great city to visit if you’re interested in seeing a well-developed second-tier Chinese city. Go when the weather is nice and spend your time outdoors doing walks along the beaches, inland in the mountains or strolling the neighboring Gulang Yu.Nanputuo is the largest Buddhist temple in the area. The shrines are at the foot of a hill and as you pass through, you slowly make your way up the mountainside. There’s a nice park at the foot of the hill in front of the temple itself. After you buy your tickets, make your way through the temples and follow the path to the top of the mountain if you wish. The rock formations are interesting and you can join the worshipers in trying to throw money into the rock carvings. The shrine grounds connect with the Botanical Gardens so you can make quite a day of it. Kids will enjoy climbing around on the rocks and there are plenty of spaces to stop and have a secluded snack, so bring along your lunch. See Photos.
Gulang Yu is probably the most famous attraction in Xiamen. Get yourself down to the ferry terminal in Xiamen and in just a few minutes you can arrive on the island with the rest of the tourist hoards to stroll and enjoy. See Photos.
Jinmen Island is a big draw for mainland tourists. You don’t actually visit the island but you can see it from the tourist boats that take you to Gulang Yu. Jinmen was once one of the most heavily fortified island in the world, due to the cross-straight tensions between China and Taiwan. Read more in the History of Xiamen (Amoy).
Xiamen Beaches are clean and tourist-friendly, though it’s not a place to do much swimming. Xiamen, a busy seaport, gets a lot of container ship traffic meaning lots of water pollution, unfortunately. But you can spend a nice afternoon playing or just walking the palm tree lined boulevards. Take your running things and go for a very long run on one of the tree-lined running paths. The sea breezes keep the hot sun at bay for a while (wear sun screen) and you can stop for a refreshment a any number of kiosks and stalls along the way. There are proper restaurants as well where you can go and have a nice sea-side dinner. Xiamen is famed for its seafood.
Getting There
Xiamen is well-connected by air and rail. The airport is small but efficient and connects to a multitude of domestic destinations as well as international destinations in Asia.Tips
Xiamen has a relatively mild winter, although indoor heating isn’t great so it can be cold. Summers are very hot. The best time to go is spring and fall when the temperatures are milder and you can enjoy a lot of time outdoors.How much time should you spend there? Xiamen is perfect for a weekend getaway. 2-3 days is plenty of time to enjoy a slow visit to Xiamen.
