Explore Xiamen
Discover the Wonders of Amoy

Xiamen, a coastal port of Fujian Province, is an island city boasting a rich and dramatic history, replete with pirates, rebel leaders, and European merchants. Known historically as Amoy, Xiamen was a centre of British trade in the 19th century. British settlements, later taken over by Japanese invaders at the start of World War II, were established on the small, nearby island of Gulangyu; many of the old treaty-port and colonial buildings still survive today. Xiamen was declared one of China’s first Special Economic Zones in the early 1980’s, taking advantage of the city’s heritage as a trading centre and the proximity to Taiwan. Today Xiamen is one of China’s attractive and well-maintained resort cities.

Founded in 1394, at the beginning of the Ming dynasty, Xiamen was established as a centre of defence against coastal pirates. In the mid-17th century, Xiamen and Gulangyu Island became a stronghold of Zheng Chenggong, a Ming loyalist with a legendary background. After the Opium Wars, Xiamen became one of the first treaty ports to accept foreign trade and settlement. Following the Treaty of Nanjing in 1842, Gulangyu Island transformed into an international settlement, where many Victorian and Neoclassical style buildings still survive. Prosperity returned to Xiamen in the early 1980s, when Xiamen was designated as one of four Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

Gulangyu Island is a ten-minute ferry ride from the southwestern coast of Xiamen. The 2-square-km island still features Western-style mansions, churches, warehouses, and government buildings of the 1842 settlement period. Riguang Yan, or Sunlight Rock, dominates the island, towering 93 metres above the sea. The island includes a statue of Zheng Chenggong and museum, which documents the storied career of this pirate-turned-resistance-leader. The Xiamen Museum (Xiamen Bowuguan) features more than a thousand exhibits, including various porcelain and jade collections. The island’s southern shore is home to the lush Shuzhuang Garden, once belonging to a Taiwanese businessman.

Discover the wonders of ancient Amoy and experience all this important coastal city has to offer. Xiamen and Gulangyu Island await your exploration!

 

Attractions
Attractions

Gulangyu Island  

 
As a place of residence for Westerners during Xiamen's colonial past, Gulangyu is famous for its architecture and for hosting China's only piano museum.

Home to more than 200 pianos, it's no wonder Gulangyu has been bestowed nicknames such as "Piano Island," "The Town of Pianos," and "The Island of Music". The Chinese name for Gulangyu even has musical significance. Kó͘-lōng, translated as "drum waves," refers the sound of ocean waves crashing upon the island's reefs.

Gulangyu is also host to a Koxingga museum, Hai-toe Se-kai Marine World, a subtropical garden containing plants various foreign and exotic plants, as well as Xiamen Museum.

A pedestrian-only destination, the only vehicles on Gulangyu are fire trucks and electric tourist buggies. The narrow streets on the island, coupled with varied international architectural styles, make it rife for exploration. The site is classified as an AAAAA scenic area by the China National Tourism Administration.

Nanputuo Temple 


Nanputuo Temple consists of four separate halls of worship, as well as monks' quarters and some of the pristine grounds and landscaping you'll find in any Chinese temple. Stone carvings, lotus-filled ponds and secluded caves are scattered about the grounds. If it's good luck you seek, try tossing a coin onto the rock behind the main temple. Legend has it that if the coin stays put, good luck is in your future. Behind the smoky courtyards you will discover libraries, the monks' quarters, temples and statues of chubby Buddha Milefo (Wǔlǎo Fēng, 五老峰). Stroll out upon the "peak of five old men," which overlooks the South China Sea and offers stunning views of Xiamen University campus and the sprawling urban metropolis of Xiamen.

Quick Facts
Quick Facts

Coastal Xiamen has been an important port for centuries, and became one of China’s first Special Economic Zones in the 1980s.

It is a dynamic, affluent and modern city, known for its clean and pleasant environment.

The main tourist area is Gulangyu, a small traffic-free island, which is home to some beautiful old colonial-style buildings.

Nature
Nature

Sunlight Rock
Sunlight Rock (Riguangyan), towering 92.68 metres above the sea on Gulangyu Island. The climb up to the 40-metre-wide rock is leisurely, wind through pleasant scenes of new mansions and ancient trees. At the high point of the mountain, you are rewarded with a spectacular bird's-eye view of the entire island!

Xiamen Botanical Gardens
Established in 1960 as a landscape park surrounding Wanshiyan Reservoir, Xiamen Botanical Gardens span an area of nearly 5 kilometres. The gardens are host to a collection of more than 5,300 types of tropical and subtropical ornamental plants. The grounds also feature 29 specialty plant gardens, including Palm Islet, World of Cacti, Flower Gallery, Pine and Fir Park, Fir Lawn and Rosery Park. With rolling hills, peculiar rocks, and a multitude of stone inscriptions, Xiamen Botanical Gardens is famous throughout the province scenic spot as a place of cultural intrigue and man-made botanical wonders.

Transportation
Transportation

Shangri-La Hotel, Xiamen, offers convenient transportation links, including various public transportation options, hotel limousines, and taxi services.

A local bus terminal is situated next to the hotel, and taxis are available to all destinations. The MTR is expected to be in operation this year, with metro station only a short walk from the hotel.

Shangri-La Hotel, Xiamen, is located just 10 kilometres from Xiamen International Airport and nearby to the Xiamen South train station.

Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture

Shuzhuang Garden
Shuzhuang Garden features majestic paths snaking through the grounds, crossing over koi ponds and winding through impressive rock sculptures. Hidden sculptures of all 12 zodiac animals make for a garden adventure - can you find them all? Shuzhuang Garden is also home to Gulangyu’s famous Piano Museum, a look at pianos throughout history, and a private art museum.

 Zengcuoan Village
In the ancient Zengcuoan Village, with a history spanning over a thousand years, each brick forms a painting, each old house implies a history, and each villager represents a fresh memory of Zengcuoan. Located at the side of Huandao Road, Wenchuang Village of Zengcuoan covers an area of 1.25 square kilometers and is hailed as “China’s artistic fishing village,” by domestic and foreign tourists alike.

Surrounded by mountains and the sea, with Xiamen University nearby, Zengcuoan spontaneously established the initial business of Wenchuang Village. Afterwards, the government provided support to business owners, merchants and youth, with a passion for culture and art, to negotiate for co-management of the village. Today, Wenchuang Village of Zengcuoan transformed into an enchanting “urban village.”

Living in a lodge, falling asleep in the sound of sea waves and waking up to birdsong, walking on the street lanes, where unique storefronts will catch your gaze and stop you in your tracks – this is life in Zengcuoan. Ramble about the sands and cycle along Huandao Road and soak in the gorgeous landscape of the original ecological village of Xiamen Island. Huandao Road embodies a beautiful vision in a joyful and peaceful place, far away from vanity and the modern-day hustle.

Explore this artistic fishing village and feel its youth, artistry, passion and dreams!

Shopping
Shopping

Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street
Centred in the heart of Xiamen’s commercial area, Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street covers a total area of 1 million square metres and comprises nearly one-third of the total business area of Xiamen. This beautiful and prosperous commercial corridor is home to a serried ranks of stores and draws daily crowds eager for deals.

Strolling along Zhongshan Road, one a palpable sense of vitality abounds as merchants jockey in competition. All merchants have agreed to a set of rules intended to maintain proper business ethics while offering various conveniences and advantages to shop-goers. Many of the shops and stores at Zhongshan Road have been awarded for their pleasant manners and trusted business enterprises.

The reputation of being a “good street” without “fake shops” have established the Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street as a positive and pleasant environment for trading, shopping, and doing business.

SM Mall
Located on Jiahe Lu and spanning 120,000 square metres, SM Mall is home to a Wal-Mart Super Center, a Watson's outlet, a variety of restaurants and fast food chains, large book store, a large selection of furniture stores, and a Cyber City, featuring a broad selection of computers, computer accessories, and a wide range of electronic products.

Address

Guanyinshan International Business Centre, No. 168 Taidong Road, Siming District, Fujian China

Phone

(86 592) 838 5888

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