Xiamen Things To Do

by SLLiew, 1 more photos

There is a regular ferry service from Xiamen downtown to the opposite island of Gulangyu.

The island was where foreign Western traders were limited and hence the European architecture. The island is now a pedestrian only island with no cars. You can walk all around the island, there are seafood restaurants, shops selling sea products and pearls.

There is a small beach and you can see the smaller islands of Taiwan in the horizon - a big deal for the Mainland Chinese who until recently could not visit Taiwan.

The ferry runs until midnight and it is quite nice if you come back at night.

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	GuLangYu Island Tip Rating:

Updated By cheekychic on September 19, 2004

Me & Anna on GuLangYu Island

by cheekychic

Gulangyu Island is the biggest island of Xiamen. Gulangyu's roads are short with many twists and turns crisscrossing the islet. Vehicles are forbidden on this tiny island. If you have the time, take a leisurely walk on Gulangyu's paved, 4 kilometer ring road. Numerous large, graceful colonial houses that used to serve as consulates or residences of European, Japanese and US diplomats in the late 19th or early 20th century are now still standing amidst the traditional Chinese courtyard mansions.

The island is also called the “Island of Pianos”, with its very good music tradition. There are more than 500 pianos among 6000 households on the island, Many famous musicians in China were born and brought up on the island.

Directions: 10 minutes ferry riding across the 600-meter wide Lujian straits to the south-east of Xiamen island lies Gulangyu Island. Admission Fee: RMB 85 Opening Hours: 6:00am to 5:50pm

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	Buddhist Temple : Nanputuo Tip Rating:

Updated By SLLiew on November 8, 2007

Tian Wang Dian (Temple of
Heavenly Kings)

by SLLiew, 1 more photos

Nanputuo is a popular and must-see Buddhist temple in Xiamen. Went there twice myself.

The history of the temple dated back a thousand years to the Tang Dynasty. It is now a popular place to pray for local and overseas Chinese tourists. There is a series of prayer halls built on the slope of the hill and so wear a pair of good shoes to climb the steps.

There are some giant boulders where Chinese characters and sayings are carved out from the rock. Nice views from the top. Just watch your steps.

You caan buy lucky charms at the souvenir shop.

There is a nice lotus pool at the front of the temple if you rather wait and enjoy the views while others in your group climb the steps.

Address: Next to Xiamen University, near downtown.

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	Jimei University Tip Rating:

By SLLiew on September 8, 2006

Jimei University logo
with founder's photo

by SLLiew

This is a popular tour destination especially for overseas Chinese visitors. This famous university was built from funds from poor Fujianese who went to seek their fortune abroad and those who turned from rags to riches, sent money back to help build this university.

It is located about 17 km from Xiamen downtown and by the sea. So the surrounding scenery is pleasant for a photo or two.

Opening time: 8:30am to 4:50pm. It was closed when we got there and already quite dark.

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	Huli Fort Tip Rating:

By cheekychic on September 18, 2004

Huli Hill Fort has always been considered the door to Xiamen. Huli Hill Fort is virtually impregnable, thanks to its construction built of sand, clay, camphor tree juice, lime, and glutinous rice. The fort boasts the World of Exotic Stones and an exhibition of ancient weapons, including a 60 ton German Krupp. Built in 1896, this is the last of China's over 100 coastal cannons, and the longest in the world. With a range of 16,640 meters, it could easily lay into Taiwan - occupied Jinmen island, a mere two miles offshore.

Directions: On the beach outside Xiamen University

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	An old coastal fort - Huli Fort Tip Rating:

Updated By SLLiew on November 8, 2007

by SLLiew

Huli Fort is another major tourist destination in Xiamen.

At the top of the Fort, is a panaromic viewing of the harbor including the outlying island of Jin Mei of Taiwan.

Xiamen was one of the few ports first opened to Europeans by the Qing Dynasty after the defeat of the Opium War to the British. This cannon fort was not at par to handle the "hairy barbarians". Ironically, the cannons were actually German made.

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	Gulangyu Island Tip Rating:

Updated By Marisola on March 16, 2008

Xiamen Page by Marisola

Gulangyu Island

by Marisola, 1 more photos

Take a ferry to Gulangyu Island for:
Sightseeing, Shopping, Beach, Museum, Park, Cats, Ghosts?...
It can be:
Interesting, Fun, Exciting, Romantic, Mysterious, even Spooky!
You can see:
Bright Moon Garden, Seasight Watch Garden, Yu Park, Xiamen Museum, Enchanting oceanfront views, Streets of souvenir shops, Swimming areas, interesting piano museum, romantic paths through the parks, stray cats, and maybe even be a part of mysterious ghost stories...
You can do:
Climb up to the Bright Moon Garden Park and sit at the foot of the amazing giant statue of national hero Zheng Chenggong who is protecting China! Buy China sea pearls from the energetic salespeople at the rows of boutiques, swim proudly with schools of silverfish in the Taiwan Strait, stroll with the stray cats that come out at night, visit the museum and find out if a ghost really lives there!

Address: Ferry for island at end of Zhongshan Road, Xiamen

Phone: +86 (0)592 205 4022

Directions: Bus Route: 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 25 to Ferry, Then Transfer to Ferryboat Admission Fee: 85 RMB (including fees of round-trip boat, Sunlight Rock and Shuzhuang Park) Opening Hours: 06:00 to 17:50

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	Jimei Scenic Sightseeing Area Tip Rating:

Updated By cheekychic on September 19, 2004

Jimei University

by cheekychic

Jimei is Tan Kah Kee's hometown and a college town. Mr.Tan, a patriotic overseas Chinese, set up 12 schools of different levels from kindergarten to colleges and combined into Jimei University. Jimei is also a prime tourist site with distinctive strong local culture. The buildings along the Dragon-boat Lake are especially charming with the wall half-hidden in the green trees and the roofs glittering under the sun, all of which are reflected in the lake presenting a fantastic view.
Aoyuan ( Turtle Park), one of the highlights, lies in the southeastern corner of Jimei, stretching out to the sea. The park has a marvelous display of 653 carvings, depicting various historical scenes, personage stories from ancient to modern China, and the inscriptions. The carvings are so fine and exquisite that visitors marvel at the craftsmen's skill and feat.

Directions: Jimei district lies on the mainland just across Xiamen Bridge or the parallel Xiamen Sea Wall. Admission Fee: RMB 10 Opening Hours: 8:30am to 4:50pm

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	Xiamen University (Xia Da) Tip Rating:

By cheekychic on September 18, 2004

Xiamen University, the picturesque campus by the sea, is a wonderful place to stroll around on a sunny morning or afternoon. First head for the lake in the center of campus. If you walk the paths around the lake you will discover arched bridges and an island with bronze life-size statues. From the lake, there's the view of modern architecture of the new administration and classroom buildings as well as the original ancient style dormitory buildings on the opposite sides. Behind those buildings you can hike up the mountains in the back. There are many trails that lead over the mountain to the botannical gardens on the other side.

Directions: Next to NanPuTuo Temple

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	NanPuTuo Temple Tip Rating:

Updated By cheekychic on September 19, 2004

Inside Nanputuo temple

by cheekychic

Nanputuo Temple sits at the south foot of Wulao Peak (Five Elders Peaks). The temple's magnificent complex ornate structures were built over 1,000 years ago in Dang Dynasty. Nanputuo Temple's halls and pavilions sprawl across the Five Old Men Mountains like an oversized Chinese miniature landscape. There are many giant statues of Buddha in this temple. It is also home of a few hundred monks.