Xiamen, located on the southeastern coast of China in Fujian Province, is a wonderfully charming seaside city. As one of China’s most international cities, Xiamen attracts global travelers with its breathtaking island views, rich history, culture, and unique Minnan (Southern Fujian) style. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or someone who loves natural landscapes and modern city life, Xiamen offers the perfect blend for an unforgettable travel experience.

Xiamen’s Natural Beauty: Where Islands Meet Gardens

As an island city, Xiamen’s most striking feature is its stunning coastal landscape and pleasant climate. The clear waters, soft sands, and fresh air make it an ideal vacation spot for relaxation and leisure.

1. Gulangyu Island: A Garden by the Sea

Gulangyu Island, known as the “Garden on the Sea,” is famous for its lush greenery, vibrant flowers, and mild, spring-like weather year-round. The island features an eclectic mix of European and traditional Minnan architecture, making it a visual treat for visitors. Key attractions include Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden, and the Piano Museum, each offering rich historical significance and cultural value.

On the west side of Gulangyu, you’ll find Shapowei, an area once home to fishermen but now a trendy destination filled with local character. It’s a popular spot for surfing, thanks to its large waves, and features graffiti walls, art shops, and cozy cafés. Exploring Shapowei offers a glimpse into Xiamen’s unique coastal culture and creative energy.

2. Nanputuo Temple: Serenity by the Sea

Located in the southern part of the city, Nanputuo Temple is one of the most important Buddhist temples in southern China. Backed by the majestic Wulao Mountain and facing the blue sea, this peaceful temple is a place of spiritual solace. Surrounded by lush greenery, its ancient architecture and tranquil atmosphere offer a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life.

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Xiamen’s Cultural Richness: A Fusion of History and Modernity

Xiamen has long been a vital port city, with a history dating back to the Maritime Silk Road period over a thousand years ago. Today, it stands as a symbol of the fusion of Chinese and Western cultures, reflecting its deep-rooted Minnan traditions.

1. Xiamen’s Historic Sites

One of the best ways to explore Xiamen’s history is by visiting its well-preserved streets and historic landmarks. Zhongshan Road, once the city’s commercial heart, is now a bustling pedestrian street lined with old buildings that blend traditional Minnan style with Western architectural influences.

While strolling along the road, visitors can also indulge in local delicacies such as Sha-cha noodles and peanut soup, immersing themselves in the city’s authentic flavors.

2. Xiamen University: A Campus by the Sea

Ranked among the most beautiful universities in China, Xiamen University is a true cultural gem. The campus, located by the sea, is known for its picturesque surroundings, with lush trees and unique architectural styles. Visitors can tour historical buildings or simply walk along the serene paths, soaking in the atmosphere of academic and historical prestige.

Adjacent to the university is Baicheng Beach, a pristine spot where the sand is soft and the waters are clear and calm, making it perfect for swimming. With plenty of nearby cafés and convenient accommodation, Baicheng Beach offers an ideal place for relaxation after a day of sightseeing.

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The Modern Charm of Xiamen: A Blend of City Life and Leisure

As Xiamen rapidly develops economically, the city’s modern charm continues to shine through. Today, Xiamen is not just a travel destination, but one of China’s most dynamic and vibrant cities, offering an exciting mix of contemporary urban living and traditional cultural experiences.

1. The Urban Landscape of Xiamen

One of the most striking aspects of Xiamen’s modernization is its skyline. The commercial districts in Siming District boast international shopping centers, high-end hotels, and sleek office buildings, contrasting sharply with the city’s historical old town.

In the bustling streets, you can enjoy a mix of modern retail therapy and traditional street food. The city’s welcoming attitude towards global culture makes it a great place for travelers to experience diverse cuisine and the latest fashion trends.

2. Xiamen’s Nightlife: A Romantic Seaside Escape

Xiamen’s nightlife offers another layer of the city’s charm. The night views at Gulangyu, Huandao Road, and Xiamen University are particularly enchanting, with the sparkling sea and gentle sea breeze creating a tranquil yet romantic atmosphere. After dinner, visitors can take a leisurely stroll along the coastline, enjoying the night air and the beauty of the starry sky.

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Xiamen’s Culinary Delights: A Taste of the Sea

Xiamen’s food scene is a standout feature of the city, offering a rich array of local dishes that emphasize fresh seafood and traditional Minnan flavors.

1. Xiamen’s Famous Street Foods

Xiamen’s food culture revolves around its abundant seafood.
Signature dishes like Sha-cha noodles, peanut soup, and oyster omelet showcase the unique flavors of Fujian cuisine. Sha-cha noodles are spicy and savory, while peanut soup offers a sweet and smooth finish. The oyster omelet, with its crispy exterior and tender inside, is a must-try for anyone wanting to taste authentic local food.

2. Fresh Seafood Banquets

Known for its freshness and variety, Xiamen’s seafood is unparalleled. In the city’s seafood restaurants, you can feast on delicacies like crabs, scallops, eel, and clams. For a true local experience, visit one of the many seafood markets where you can pick out your fresh catch and have it cooked to your liking right on the spot, making for an unforgettable culinary experience.

With its rich natural beauty, deep cultural heritage, and modern urban charm, Xiamen offers an extraordinary travel experience. Whether you’re interested in exploring ancient history, enjoying peaceful island life, or diving into the excitement of a bustling metropolis, Xiamen is the perfect destination for travelers from around the world.

Tickets for the Hulishan Fortress Scenic Area are not expensive, and it is quite big inside. In addition to the Krupp cannon, there are two artillery drills every day that are very attractive to children. And the scenic spot is on the beach, from where you can also look at the Golden Gate. Going out of the scenic spot, you will reach the roundabout road and the Baicheng beach. It is a great attraction for a family to play! It is very pleasant to take the old people and children to climb the mountain to see the scenery there. The performance still has a lot of fun for the children. Even if they return home, they still imitate the performance. The scenery and performances inside are fantastic. There is forest inside the scenic spot too, which also is worth a visit, and the tickets are not expensive. When the weather is hot, the forest is very cool.

Hulishan Fortress is well-deserved its popularity, and its historical and cultural heritage is very deep. In addition, there are 4D small movies and real-life reproductions, and performances, and it is estimated that the play time inside the scenic spot is within 3 hours. It is recommended to arrive Hulishan Fortress before 10 o’clock in the morning, so that you can watch the show. Every day there are two shows, and there are extra shows on holidays, which is worth seeing. After finishing your visit in the Hulishan Fortress, you can go to Xiamen University.

In short, the Hulishan Fortress is very interesting, very sentimental, and pays a lot of attention to the management. It is a good place for training the patriotic education spirit. And it is a great stage to tell history quietly and reproduce history.

Hulishan Fortress is a national key cultural relics protection unit. It is a must-see attraction in Xiamen. It has convenient transportation. This is a coastal defense fortress built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is large in scale and has many ancient and modern artillery pieces. If you like the history of guns, you can go and see the history of modern warfare and some shell structures and their principles. You will have new gains.

To go to the Wuyi Mountains, you can take the high-speed train to Wuyishan North Station, then take the bus directly to the Sangu resort area. There are many hotels and restaurants nearby. It is close to the south gate of the scenic spot and the impression Dahongpao performance venue is also nearby. The three-day joint ticket also includes the bamboo rafting experience, and the bamboo rafting ticket must be booked in advance during the peak season, as it is not sure whether there will be tickets available or not during that day. Climbing those attractions such as the Tianyou Peak, Huxiao Rock, One Line Sky, Dahongpao, Yunv Peak, Water Curtain Cave are very labor-intensive, and you need pay attention to arrange time reasonably, especially when you travel with children in the Wuyi Mountain. When going to Tianyou Peak, if you go uphill from the back mountain, you will find that the back-mountain step is very flat and will be easily walking. After arriving the Tianyou Peak, you can overlook the essence of Wuyi Mountain scenery. Then go down the mountain from the front, where the mountain road is steep, but the scenery is good. Jiuqu River has a panoramic view. Green mountains and green waters are very beautiful. The scenery in front of the Yunv Peak is also very pleasant. Many tourists are playing with water at the stream.

Wuyi Mountains features the beautiful and colorful strange peaks, and the stream is crystal clear. The tea garden and the green plants are connected together. It is really awesome! One hour of Jiuquxi bamboo rafting will help you enjoy the beauty of Wuyi Mountains from another angle, but children under 1.2 meters also have to buy tickets if they want to experience bamboo rafting. Wuyi Mountains is too big. It is recommended to do a good job of tour guide before coming there, or you will be really tired.

The Wuyi Mountains scenic area is relatively clean and well managed. Sitting on the bamboo is worth the experience, and the boatman explains a lot about the Wuyi Mountains tour to add interest. In addition, the impression of Dahongpao is very exciting and worth watching.

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Located under the beautiful Five Old Peak in Xiamen, South Putuo Temple is a famous Buddhist holy land on the southeast coast. It is adjacent to Xiamen University and faces the beautiful harbor. It has a long history and has incredibly strong incense. Whenever you come there, there are so many people visiting the temple, especially during the holidays.  South Putuo Temple is one of the most famous spots in the country and one of the must-see attractions in Xiamen. It is an attraction free of charge. Climbing up the five old peak in the back mountain of South Putuo Temple, you will feel that the scenery is very good, and after going out from the back of the mountain, you will arrive at a botanical garden, which can be visited together, as it is really very convenient.

The lotus pond in the temple is very nice. There are fish in it, you can feed it; there is a pool, and a lot of Brazilian tortoises are in it, as well as pigeons, you can also feed. It gives people a sense of harmony and quietness. Along the mountain road, the image of the Buddha become less and less, and the mountain road is twisted. A variety of plants are well matched. The more you go to the mountains, the wider the vision you will have. It takes about two hours to finish your visit in the temple. In general, South Putuo Temple is a very beautiful place, with the beautiful environment, the fresh air, the tranquility etc, and it is worth a visit, especially if you are going to Xiamen for the first time, there is a need for a visit there.

In South Putuo Temple, you can calm down and enjoy the scenery. It has a different feeling from other temples. You can learn a lot of knowledge and appreciate the beauty while listening to the lectures. After the tour, the lunch in the temple is mainly based on vegetarian dishes, which is a major feature inside the temple and you can have a taste. There is also Xiamen University nearby, which is also worth a visit.

Gulangyu Island is more beautiful and literary than imagined.

The attraction that must be visited in Xiamen is Gulangyu Island. If you have never been to Gulangyu Island, it just like you have never been to Xiamen. Buy the ticket for Gulangyu Island on the Internet, you must buy it in advance, as there will be no tickets in minutes!

You can take a boat to Gulangyu Island from Congyu wharf in Haicang District. There are not many people and the scenery are not bad. This method of landing on the island is very suitable for tourists who want to go to Gulangyu Island temporarily but cannot buy tickets in time.

Whether it is a holiday or not, there are always a lot of people on Gulangyu Island. So, be sure to buy tickets in advance! It is recommended to book tickets three or four days in advance. On Gulangyu Island, you can take their sightseeing bus, but can only buy tickets back and forth at the dock, and on the halfway you cannot make up the ticket. There are all kinds of snacks on the Longtou road, but the price will be slightly more expensive, and the taste is different.

Gulangyu Island really needs spending a whole day to have a visit, and it is just a cursory look. If you specially like Gulangyu, you can stay here for a while and feel it, but the accommodation here is more favorable, you have to book the hotels online in advance. And the tickets booked in advance within ten days, is guaranteed to stay on the island.

Gulangyu Island is not as easy to find as an attraction we imagined, so you may think the recommended route on the map is not very useful, so just follow the feeling. But remember, snacks of Su Xiao Tang, Liuliangshiji, Zhang San Feng stores are delicious. It is recommended to eat authentic snacks on Zhongshan Road and Zeng Cuo An, as on Gulangyu Island it is only suitable for strolling, taking photos of the scenery, and then tasting the snack. If you don’t have the energy to go to the recommended spots, you can go to the Shuzhuang Garden and the Organ Museum, which are really worthy your visit.