Xiamen

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Xiamen, a scenic port city, is situated at 118.04' east longitude, 24.26' north latitude on the southeastern coast of China, directly facing Taiwan Island with the Taiwan Straits in between. This garden city covers a total area of 1565.09 square kilometers, while Xiamen Island proper, floating about a mile off the serpentine coastline, is about 130.56 square kilometers (it is said that in ancient times, flocks of egrets settled on this island, and thus it is also called Egret Island). Xiamen lies in Jinmen Bay and at the estuary of the Jiulong River in southeastern Fujian, in close proximity to Quanzhou and Zhangzhou; the three cities form the south Fujian Golden Triangle Economic Belt, nestled snugly between the Strait and the mainland. The total population of the city is about 1.6 million.

Where to go

Gulangyu Island

Gulangyu Island is located just southwest of Xiamen City. Visitors can reach it by steamship from Xiamen City in about 5 minutes. Gulangyu Island is renowned for its delicate natural beauty, its ancient relics, and its varied architecture. The island is on China's list of National Scenic Spots and also ranks at the top of the list of the ten most-scenic areas in Fujian Province.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the island was called 'Yuanshazhou Island'. It got its present name from the huge reef surrounding it. When the tide comes in, the waves pound the reef and it sounds like the beating of a drum. The island came to be named 'Gulang'. Gu in Chinese means 'drum', and Lang, 'waves'.

During the later Ming Dynasty, the troops of national hero Zheng Chenggong were stationed here. After the Opium War in 1842, 13 countries including Great Britain, France and Japan established consulates, churches, and hospitals, turning the island into a common concession. In 1942, Japan occupied the island until the end of the War of Resistance against Japan.

Gulangyu Island has about 20,000 permanent residents, all of whom enjoy a comfortable, relaxing life. Only electric-powered vehicles are permitted on the island, so the environment is free from the noise and pollution of combustion engines. Breathing the clean air, appreciating the ever-present green trees and lovely flowers, anyone here can feel like they are in heaven. With classical and romantic European-style architecture, the island truly deserves to be called the'Architecture Museum'. It is also known as the 'Cradle of Musicians' and 'Island of Music' because of its reputation for music appreciation.

The Island Ring Road, which circles the island, allows you to fully enjoy all the sights of this small, charming island.

Among the many scenic spots on the island, the most attractive are Sunlight Rock and the Shuzhuang Garden.

• Sunlight Rock
  Located in the south-central part of the island, Sunlight Rock is the island's highest point with an altitude of 92.7 meters (304 feet). Though it may not rank with high mountain peaks, it appears superb and grand when seen from afar. The name comes from a sun-shaped formation in the granite. When the sun rises, the morning light illuminates the granite in Sunlight Temple and the rocks are bathed with sunlight.
  At the foot of Sunlight Rock stands the Memorial Hall of Zheng Chenggong, built in honor of the hero's feats which include expelling the Dutch colonists and re-occupying Taiwan. Wandering up the steep rock path, visitors will see many profound inscriptions left by poets, the oldest of which dates back to over 400 years. This is the main cultural sight on the hill. Continuing on, you will see the preserved training grounds of Zheng Chenggong's troops. Near the field is a huge rock bridging two cliffs, forming a natural entrance to a cave. This is called 'Old Summer Cave' (Gu Bishu Dong) where you can feel a pleasantly cool breeze. It's the perfect viewing spot to appreciate the scenery of Gulangyu Island. A fantastic panorama of Xiamen City, including Nanputuo Temple, Xiamen University, and Hulishan Battery is within view.

• Shuzhuang Garden
  First built in 1931 on the southside of the island, Shuzhuang Garden was once a private villa. It became a garden park open to the public in 1955. It is divided into two parts-the Garden of Hiding the Sea (Canghaiyuan) and the Garden of Making-Up Hills (Bushanyuan). It was exquisitely designed to embody three important characteristics in gardening---hiding elements, borrowing from one's surroundings, and combining movements.
  The principle of hiding elements is embodied in the way the ocean remains hidden from view even if you walk right up to the garden gate. However, once you emerge from the bamboo forest, the seascape leaps into view. Climb the Tower of Tide-Viewing to really get a terrific look at the sea.
  Borrowing from one's surroundings refers to cleverly using naturally available scenery. Using the original slopes facing the sea, the reefs in the bay, and the shape of the shoreline, the former garden owner built bridges and pavilions at various levels. The panorama changes from a small bay to a vast ocean as you ascend. Here, visitors can taste the spray of the surging waves and get a bird's-eye view of other charming islands. Both Sunlight Rock and Hero Hill (Yingxiongshan) are also visible.
  The garden also possesses another characteristic - the combining of movements. Its unique arrangement joins a rockwork that includes a maze of connected caves with fine pavilions on the side of the slope. Lovely children chasing and gamboling among the caves represent movement and activity, while people resting in the pavilions give a feeling of tranquility and harmonious contemplation.
  As a complex of Chinese traditional gardens, Shuzhuang Gardens entices visitors so much that one cannot help but want to see inside.
  Gulangyu Island has other sights worth seeing including the Bright Moon Garden, the Seasight Watch Garden, Yu Park, and Xiamen Museum. The Bright Moon Garden is located in the southeast of the island with an area of over 20,000 square meters (23921 square yards). It is a statuary garden of national hero Zheng Chenggong with enchanting views. The appealing Seasight Watch Garden boasts villas of various styles of both China and the West. It has become a noted resort for visitors.

Hulishan Battery

Xiamen is a pretty coastal city in Fujian Province. It is characterized by a beautiful beach, ample sunshine and mild climate. Hulishan Battery Scenic Spot is one of the most exciting attractions of Xiamen. In the Scenic Spot, the Hulishan Battery and the Rongguang Museum are the main attractions.

Hulishan Battery lies to the south of the Xiamen Island. Construction began in 1894 during the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) and ended in 1896. It covers an area of more than 70,000 square meters (about 17 acres) and is composed of barracks, a tunnel, a magazine and other fortified buildings, all surrounded by a granite wall. The ground on which the battery is built is quite solid because it is made of a mixture of ash, mud and sand with glutinous rice and brown sugar. Two large cannons once guarded the east and the south sides, but only one remains. These cannons, produced in 1886, were bought from a German arsenal at a cost of 80,000 taels of silver each. The remaining cannon is more than 13 meters (about 42.7 feet) long and weighs 50 tons. It has a range of 1,600 meters (about one mile). It is the largest and oldest 19th century breechloader in existence. Additionally, there are more than 50 iron cannons made during in the Ming (1368 - 1644) and the Qing Dynasties on the grounds. Between the eastern and the southern batteries is a tunnel in which 29 cannonballs are now on display. At the exit of the tunnel are the barracks. Hulishan Battery was an important defensive factor during the war against Japanese aggression in 1900 and 1937.

In the Rongguang Museum, tourists can see ancient firecrackers, guns, swords and unusual natural stones from around the world. Exhibits include the world's smallest cannon, which was made by the Portuguese in the 13th century. It has a length of 11 centimeters (about 4.33 inches) and a weight of 0.22 kilograms (about half a pound). Its diameter and caliber are 22 centimeters (about 8.67 inches) and 0.8 centimeters (about 0.31 inches) respectively. Included in the exhibit of stones are two unusual ones. The first is a Burman stone with a weight of 2.5 tons, which has a long, wavy stripe from the northeast to the southwest that looks like 'a picture of huge amount of water pouring from the sky'. The second one is even more interesting; it bears an astonishing resemblance to a piece of meat with skin, fat and muscle.

Around Hulishan Battery, there are many other attractions, including Wanggui Platform and Pangui Platform from which tourists can see Dadan Island and Erdan Island through a telescope. All in all, the Hulishan Battery Scenic Spot is worth your visit.

Jimei

Jimei is located in the north of Xiamen Special Economic Zone, 17 kilometers (about 11 miles) from the city center. It is opposite to Xiamen Island and is at the foot of Tianma Mountain facing the sea on three sides. Jimei is the hometown of Mr. Tan Kah Kee (Chen Jiageng) (1874-1961), a renowned educator and leader of overseas Chinese. Nowadays, Jimei is one of the four most popular tourist sites of Xiamen City, especially for its academic atmosphere as well as pretty natural and social sights.

The most remarkable feature is without doubt the Jimei Study Village founded by Mr. Tan Kah Kee in 1913. It is the only one in China. It occupies an area of over 10 hectares (about 25 acres) on a variety of various levels and schools ranging from primary to higher education and from traditional to vocational schools. The magnificent scale of this project has no equal elsewhere in China.

Jimei University was formed by the amalgamation of five former colleges and it is now Xiamen City's major center of education and culture and has been given the general designation of Jimei Study Village. The buildings of Jimei Study Village are a combination of eastern and western styles, facing the beautiful seashore, and they are attractive places for visitors. Recently, Jimei Study Village has been selected as a protected cultural relic of the nation together with another spot in Jimei, Ao Yuan.

Ao Yuan, lying on the southeastern seashore of Jimei, was built in four years from 1950. The Jimei Liberation Monument of 18 meters height (about 59 feet) and the tomb of Mr. Tan are sited in Ao Yuan. There is a corridor extending from the entrance to the garden. The side walls of the corridor are inscribed with groups of carvings. In addition, various kinds of stone inscriptions can be found all over the garden.

Compared to the gorgeous structures in Jimei, a two-storey building appears simple and plain, this is the former residence of Tan Kah Kee. Mr. Tan had made many contributions to the educational undertakings; the schools he set up number more than 100, however, his lifestyle was always frugal and simple. To the west of Mr Tan's residence is a display charting his life story. Guilai Tang is to the south of the former residence of Tan Kah Kee. It was built for the wish of Mr. Tan. He wished to provide a place for the overseas Chinese to get together when they returned to their homeland. Guilai Tang was finished one year after Mr. Tan passed away. It occupies an area of more than 4,000 square meters (about 4,784 square yards) and the main body is in a traditional palace style. In front of Guilai Tang, there is Guilai Yuan constructed in 1983, and a bronze statue of Tan Kah Kee stands in the garden.

In addition to the spots mentioned above, Jiageng Park, Dragon Boat Pond, Yanping Gulei, Crocodile Garden, etc. are also appealing to visitors.

Nanputuo Temple

Situated at the foot of Wulaofeng (Mountain of Five Old Men) and facing the sea, Nanputuo Temple is deemed to be one of the must-go tourist places in Xiamen, Fujian Province. Even if you are not interested in Buddhism, you will find the place a scenic area providing you with a refreshing experience.

This Buddhist temple was once called Puzhao Temple (Universal Grace Temple). It was first built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and was later destroyed in the warfare during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). During the reign of Qing Emperor Kangxi (1662-1722), a naval general ordered it to be rebuilt into a Buddhist Temple and named it Nanputuo Temple.

The temple covers 30,000 square meters with four main buildings on the north-south axis. The buildings include Devajara Hall (the Hall of Heavenly Kings), Mahavira Hall (Daxiongbaodian), Dabei Hall (the Hall of Great Compassion) and a Pavilion built in 1936 in which Buddhist scriptures, Buddha images from Burma, ivory sculptures and other works of art are stored. The many rooms flanking the main buildings include dormitories, libraries and study rooms for monks.

Devajara Hall:Also called the Hall of Heavenly Kings (Tian Wang Dian), Devajara Hall is the location of the statues of four ferocious Heavenly Kings. In the center of the hall stands a fat Buddha, Maitreya or Milefo. With a broad smile, bare chest and exposed paunch, Maitreya represents the Buddha of the future, also known as the Laughing Buddha.

Mahavira Hall: Mahavira Hall is built in 1921 and features the statues of the Trinity of the Three Ages (Sakyamuni, the Buddha of the Present; Kasyapa, the Buddha of the Past; and Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future), Avalokitesvara (Guanyin Bodhisattva, the Goddess of Mercy) and Avalokitesvara's disciples. Most of the attractive murals on the wall depict Buddhist stories and figures from India.

Dabei Hall: The Dabei Hall is an octagonal tower which was rebuilt in 1928. Inside, four Statues of Avalokitesvara are enshrined on a lotus-flower base. The Bodhisattva with his arms crossed in front of his chest has 48 hands stretching out. Each hand features a miniature scared eye. Two banyans are planted on each side of the hall.

Sutra-Keeping Pavilion: The Sutra-Keeping Pavilion was built in 1936 and houses thousands of Buddhist scriptures, Buddha images from Burma, ivory Sculptures, wood sculptures, bronze bells, incense burner and other works of art. One particular porcelain Avalokitesvara in the Pavilion is said to be very precious.

The many rooms flanking the main buildings include dormitories, libraries and study rooms for monks. Vegetarian food is also served in the temple. The dishes' unique colors, fresh tastes and poetic names make them popular with the tourists.

Weather

Situated in a sub-tropical zone, Xiamen has maritime climate and congenial, spring-like weather during all four seasons. The city receives plenty of sunshine (a total of 2,276 hours annually), a blessing for those planning to go sunbathing on the beach. The annual average temperature here is 20.8C (69.44F). The coldest month, February, never goes below 10C (14F).

The city's bright sunlight, gentle breeze, lush plants and colorful flowers can be enjoyed all year round. With its high level of cultural and educational development, its economic prosperity and picturesque scenery, Xiamen is one of China's top ten most habitable cities. It is also a common hometown for overseas Chinese.

Dining in Xiamen

Cuisine

Xiamen cuisine is the main representative of Fujian cuisine which is famous throughout China. Besides Xiamen dishes, food of other parts of the country also can be found here, making Xiamen a good destination for gastronomes. Being fresh, light, crispy and slightly spicy in taste, Xiamen cuisine is characterized by the following dishes:

• Seafood in Xiamen is famous for its extreme freshness. The location of Xiamen on the southeast coast of China provides it with abundant sea products. Dating from the Qing Dynasty, the seafood locally is always a traditional delicacy make from fresh local fish, prawns, crabs and more, with the flavor depending on the various seasonings.

• Herbal Meal has a long history in China and is celebrated at the Lujiang Restaurant in Xiamen. Here, the herbal meal is delicately made according to the seasons and the various effects of the herbs. It is delicious in flavor and very nourishing.

• Vegetable Dishes in the Nanputuo Temple are made of vegetable oil, flour, beans, vegetables and fruits. In accordance with the disciplines of the traditional Buddhist diet, the vegetable dishes made here mainly depict the Buddhist ideas and topics, attracting many tourists from both home and abroad.

Snacks

Snacks in Xiamen should not be missed during your trip as they are great in variety and reasonably priced. Xiamen snacks have distinct flavors and some of them are listed below:

• Tu Sun Dong is made from a sea product called Xing Chong and is eaten with the seasonings including sauce, vinegar, chili, catsup, mustard and garlic. It is now becoming one of the most important cold dishes in any banquets.

• Peanut Soup is simply made from peanuts but with very complicated production process. It has a sugary flavor and is best eaten with some dim sum dishes such as deep-fried twisted dough sticks, steamed stuffed buns and similar. Many believe the best Peanut Soup is served at Huangzehe Restaurant in Zhongshang Road, Xiamen.

• Spring Roll is a fried rolled pancake filled with slices of various vegetables, meats and seafood. The local people of Xiamen like to have Spring Rolls as traditional snacks during festivals.

There are plenty of snacks that are not only well-known but also truly delicious including the Xiamen Pie, Oyster Pancake, Rice Dumplings and Shacha Noodles.

Get around

By Bus

Bus transport in Xiamen is well developed and is considered convenient by most tourists. Over 50 bus routes make nearly 300 stops around the city. The Ferry dock, Xiamen University and the railway station are the main starting stops. Buses operate from 6:00 to 23:00. There are ordinary public buses and double-decker buses with or without a conductor, and every line charges 1RMB per person.

In addition, a special tourist bus route is also available. Starting from the Ferry Dock, the bus runs through Xiamen and covers many famous tourist attractions, and only charges 1RMB per person. The specific route is:

Ferry Dock < -- > Zhongshan Road < -- > Culture Palace < -- > Park < -- > Ten Thousand Rock < -- >Nanputuo Temple < -- > West Village < -- > Xiamen University Hospital < -- > Baicheng < -- >Hulishan < -- > Pearl Bay < -- > Zeng Cuo An < -- > Zengshan < -- > Haiyun Stage < -- > Huangcuo Coast < -- > Coconut Village < -- > Huangcuo Shizhoutou

By Taxi

A taxi is also a good choice when you tour Xiamen. The city's large numbers of taxies are more convenient and inexpensive than those of some other hot tourist destinations. A Xiamen taxi charges 8RMB for the first three kilometers (about 1.9 miles), and 2RMB for the next five kilometers (about 3.1 miles) plus a 50% surcharge for each extra kilometer.

Xiamen is not very large in area, so taking taxies around the city doesn't cost much. Here is some information for reference:

he Railway Station < -- > Ferry Dock; about 15RMB

The Railway Station < -- > Island Ring Road (near Baicheng and Hulishan Battery); about 18RMB

Gaoqi International Airport < -- > the city center; 25-30RMB

The Railway Station < -- > Jimei University; about 100RMB

By Ferry

Ferryboats run between Xiamen Island and Gulangyu Island. It takes only five minutes and costs 8RMB per person for a round trip.

The first departure from Xiamen Island is at 5:45 a.m. Ferry service from Gulangyu Island begins at 5:30 a.m. The ferryboats leave every ten minutes between 7:00 - 8:30, 11:30 - 12:30, 13:30 - 14:30, 17:00 - 18:30 and every 15 minutes during other periods during the day. There are also liners at night every 20 minutes until midnight. Please note that rush-hour ferryboats between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and in the afternoon between 13:30 and 14:30 are not available on Sunday.

Rental Cars and Bicycles

There are some rental car agencies in Xiamen. Rental fare varies from 120RMB to 300RMB depending on the make of the car. Valid identification and a deposit are needed. Reservations are recommended.

Bicycle rental services are mainly offered on the Island Ring Road. The cost usually is 20-30RMB per day plus a deposit of 300-500RMB. Moreover, 5RMB is needed for a toll on the Island Ring Road. However, touring the city on a bicycle will certainly be an exciting experience.

Chill indoors

Hotel list:

Class	Area	Address
5-star hotel
Powerlong Hotel,Xiamen	Bailuzhou Scenic Spots	No. 133 Hubin Zhong Road , 361012
Yeohwa Hotel, Xiamen	Huli Industrial District	No. 101,Yue Hua Road, Huli District , 316006
Xiamen International Seaside Hotel	The International Conference & Exhibition Center	No.199, Huizhan Er Road, Siming District , 361008
4-star hotel
Lujiang Habourview Hotel, Xiamen	Lundu Station Old Urban Area	No. 54 Lujiang Road, Siming District , 361001
Xiamen Marine Garden Hotel	Gulangyu Scenery Spots	No. 27 Tianwei Rd., Siming District , 361002
Marco Polo Hotel, Xiamen	Huli Industrial District	No. 8 Jianye Road, Hubin Bei , 361012
Hua Xia Hotel, Xiamen	Railway Station	No. 935, Xiahe Road , 316004
Hua Qiao Hotel, Xiamen	Lundu Station Old Urban Area	No.70-74 Xinhua Road , 361003

Entertainment

Shopping

An advantageous geographical location and distinct natural environment endow Xiamen with plenty of special local products including sugarcane, fruits such as olives and longans as well as various sea products such as fish, prawns, crabs, abalone and lancelets. Among such abundant special local products, the pies on Gulangyu Island, the vegetarian cakes in Nanputuo Temple, and the dried sea products and tea leaves sold along Xiaxi Road should certainly be on your shopping list.

The following is a list of shopping areas or shopping malls:

Zhongshan Road

Zhongshan Road is one of the most prosperous traditional and comprehensive commercial areas in Xiamen. With a very long history, the architecture along the road is a combined style of East and West. The large shopping centers, together with a variety of small retail stores here, are characterized by an abundance of items as well as a fairness of price, attracting many tourists. The Buses Nos.2, 3, 4, 10, 12, 23, 25, 27, and 30 pass the road, making it not only easy to get to but also so crowded that many stores are open from nine o'clock in the morning until very late at night. North and South Siming Road and Lady Street nearby are also good places for shopping.

• Recommended Shopping Places
  Hualian Commercial Plaza
  Address: No.1, Zhongshan Road
  Xiamen No.1 Department Store
  Address: No.81, Zhongshan Road
  Paris Spring Department Store
  Address: No.76 - 132, Zhongshan Road
  Dafeng Shopping Mall
  Address: No.56 - 72, South Siming Road

Longtou Road on the Gulangyu Island

This is the main commercial street on Gulangyu Island and features diverse tourist souvenirs. There are plenty of stores on both sides of the street selling handicrafts, calligraphy, and painting. Traditional local crafts such as bead embroidery, lacquerwares, colored sculptures, and colored figulines are very popular with the foreign visitors, along with curios, boulders, paintings, and figulines from all over the country. It is also a good place to buy some dried fish and snacks like pies, peanut crisp, etc. However, when buying dried sea-products, it's best to bargain with the venders so you won't be overcharged.

Xiahe Road

Xiahe Road is an up-and-coming commercial street in Xiamen. A number of large commercial plazas and shopping centers are scattered along the road, providing a comfortable and pleasant shopping environment and a large number of good quality commodities.

• Recommended Shopping Places
  Lijing Commercial Plaza
  Address: No.358, Xiahe Road
  Friendship Shopping Mall
  Address: No.915, Xiahe Road
  Wal-Mart
  Address: International Trade Center, No.878 - 888, Xiahe Road

Egret Alluvion Shopping and Entertainment City

Located on the northern part of the Middle Hubin Road, the Egret Alluvion Shopping and Entertainment City is on the routes of the Buses Nos.8, 12, 26, and 72 so you can enjoy convenient transportation. It is a comprehensive center providing shopping malls, restaurants, and various entertainments. In addition, a series of small theme parks have been built, which often feature traditional folk programs and performances. You'll be sure to have a different shopping experience here.

• Recommended Shopping Places
  Huadu Department Store
  Address: No.51, South Hubin Road
  Fushan Chengda Shopping Mall
  Address: No.398, South Hubin Road

SM City Plaza

The SM City Plaza, which was built with investment money from the Philippines, is situated at the intersection of Xianyue Road and Jiahe Road. With six floors and a construction area of 126,000 square meters, it attracts many world famous brands like Wal-Mart, Watsons, Cybermart, McDonald's, and KFC, making it a combined emporium of furniture, home appliances, and daily commodities. The complex also includes an exhibition center, a business club, a gymnasium and some restaurants. The best collection of special local products from Xiamen is on the first floor. The clothes sold here are all in tasteful, fashionable style and the electronic products are the latest available. Moreover, it has the largest bookstore in Fujian Province.

Nightlife

After the scheduled sightseeing during daytime, you can also appreciate the lovely night scenery and participate in the colorful nightlife activities in Xiamen. The colored and sparkling lights decorated on the tall buildings especially along the Zhongshan Road and Siming Road make Xiamen more vigorous and lively at night.

Virtually there are many places to go at night. Various squares in the city provide popular nightlife venues for local people to stroll, chat, and do exercise. At the Egret Alluvion City Park, there will be musical fountain show at 8:00pm every day and singing and dancing performances during weekends. In the Huoshaoyu Islet (or Flaming Islet) Scenic Area, barbecues will be held at night and water-screen films will be on show sometimes.

Bars & Pubs

Binlang Bar Street is a nightlife venue of great popularity especially among young people and foreign visitors. Plenty of bars and pubs with their distinct styles and features can be found here to provide you a wide range of choices. For instance, the Night-Shanghai Pub appears in an old fitment style of Shanghai in the 1920s; the Jurassic Bar creates a vivid scene of the Jurassic Period with dinosaurs; the Cleopatra Bar features performance of Egyptian style, etc. Various bars and pubs in this street or other parts of Xiamen will be good places for entertainment and relaxation.

KTVs & Nightclubs

A variety of KTVs and nightclubs in Xiamen also enrich the nightlife of both local people and visitors. If you love singing very much, various KTVs with high quality facilities are at your convenience. Moreover, nightclubs with wonderful singing and dancing performances are likewise good choices.

Cafes, Teahouses & Odeums

Nightlife could be not only busy and noisy but also peaceful and leisurely. Nanhua Cultural Bar Street serves you many places to enjoy the serene and comfortable time of the night. In addition, cafes and teahouses here and there in the city are all good places for you to avoid the noisy crowd, or you can have a talk with your friends at a quiet piano bar.

Natural Scene

• Gulangyu Island
• Jimei School Village

Historical Site

• Nanputuo Temple
• Hulishan Fortress

Cultural Site

• Turtle Garden

Xiamen Highlights

Xiamen FAQ & Travelers's Tips

  Weather

1. When is the best time to go?

  Food

1. How about the taste of local food in Xiamen & Wuyishan?

  Other Hints

1. What to note before enjoying the exciting floating along Jiuquxi River?

• When is the best time to go?

  Xiamen has a subtropical monsoon climate and the weather here is mild and rainy.

  The average temperature for the year is about 21 C, the absolutely highest temperature is 38.4 C and lowest is 2 C. As the average annual rainfall here is 1100mm, it abounds mainly from May to July.

  It is a perfect place for you to visit all year round, but as an island, the sunshine here is very strong, so please be ready to do something to avoid sunstroke and the light. For example, things like sunscreen, sun umbrella, and sunhat are musts.

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• What to note before enjoying the exciting floating along Jiuquxi River?

  Floating along Jiuquxi River is a new-born popular tour, the exciting tour by a bamboo raft to see enchanting sight of exotic peaks and relics along the bank, here are something you need to read.

  1. Before getting on the raft, obey the arrangements of guide on the dock, get on raft in order; after getting on raft, please check whether you have life jacket and read "need-to-know about rafting" to get useful information, as how to keep safety on raft, dial Emergency Hotline and so on. Please don't bring valuables on raft.
  2. During floating, make sure you wear life jacket and obey guidance of raft-rower. Don't take photos on a moving raft, especially around rapids, torrents, sharp bends or curves. Please draw the safety rope to keep your body in balance.
  3. If there is a strong wind or thunder storm during the trip, please obey guidance of raft-rower to stop raft at safety place.
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• How about the taste of local food in Xiamen & Wuyishan?

  The cuisine of Xiamen mainly focuses on seafood. Taste of other dishes is mild; and chili sauce is a little bit sweet. While, the food of Wuyishan taste mainly savoury.

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