Mandarin Seaside Hotel Xiamen

Rock Inscriptions

by SLLiew

When visiting many Chinese temples, you will see Chinese characters carved in the stone or rock.

There are many writing styles of Chinese characters depending on the historic period and the choice by the author (carver).

Often, the characters are also painted in red or in Nanputuo, the character "Buddhism" ("Fuo")is painted in gold.

Famous Chinese epithets or idioms or good luck wishes are often depicted.

So do stop and ask your Chinese tour guide to translate the some of the more famous sayings and the history behind it to appreciate these rock inscriptions.

Gulangyu island

by bebejepang

This is the main tourist area for Xiamen. In the island there are several places that can be visited. All is a walking distance, or you can used a tourist car that facilited there (50 yuan ??).

Most buidings are western style, now function as souvenir shops, seafood restaurants, or others. There is a tourist information center too. At the tourist ticket office, you can take small picture for free with map behind the picture. You can select the place to be visited, price is depend on the place (price vary from 10-50 yuan).

This island famous as a musical island, so there are some music scholls here, beside the piano museum.

Gulangyu island open from 06:00 to 17:50.
This place can be easily reached by ferry (cost 8 yuan, pay at back way).

China's Hawaii?!?

by Marisola

I was looking for a job for the summer of 2002 in China and chose a job in Xiamen, China. I had heard it was an island off the Southeast coast of China called "China's Hawaii," and thought of beaches and palm trees....

What I found there was actually a more commercial place with high-rises like Manhattan or Hong Kong!

Although it wasn't what I had expected, I loved it there!!! Be sure to look at my travelogue below on "My Life in China." China is great!!!