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 Located
on the southeastern coast of Fujian Province is China’s cleanest, most
beautiful seaport island city Xiamen.
Historically, Xiamen has always played a central role as a trading port,
but since its establishment as one of China's first four Special
Economic Zones in 1981, Xiamen has become a showcase of sorts for
China's opening to the outside world.
It is one of the few municipalities enjoying a provincial level of power
in economic policy making.
In the last 10 years, Xiamen has increasingly focused on the cultivation
of international trade, education, and tourism. It now has a vigorous
economy and a fully modern infrastructure
Located on the coast nearest to Taiwan, it has a pleasant climate
similar to spring weather all year round.
The island is attractive to tourists for its beautiful parks, delicious
seafood, exotic buildings and the blend of both local Chinese traditions
and Taiwanese customs.
Highlights:
Nanputuo Temple
 The
Nanputuo Temple is located at the foot of Wulaofeng Mountain (Mountain
of Five Old Men) and facing the sea, the temple is deemed to be one of
the must-go tourist places in Xiamen, Fujian Province.
Even tourists not interested in Buddhism will find the place a scenic
area ideal for relaxing and being one with nature.
Covering an area of 30,000 square meters, the temple has 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.
Sunlight Rock
 Located
in the south-central part of Xiamen, Sunlight Rock is the island's
highest point with an altitude of 92.7 meters (304 feet). Although it
may not be as towering as other high mountain peaks, it provides a
definitely breathtaking sight when seen far afar.
The name comes from a sun-shaped formation in the granite. When the sun
rises, the morning light illuminates the granite 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.
Shuzhuang Garden
 First
built in 1931 on the southside of Xiamen, 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.
As a complex of Chinese traditional gardens, Shuzhuang Gardens entices
visitors so much that one cannot help but want to see inside.
Jimei
 Jimei
is a small town on the side of the bank facing north Xiamen Island. With
both Gaoji Causeway and Xingji Causeway meeting there, Jimei becomes the
sole gateway into Xiamen. As one of the four major scenic spots in
Xiamen, Jimei enjoys long-term fame for its tourist attractions like
Turtle Garden, Returnees Garden and the former residence of Mr. Tan
Kah-Kee.
Jimei is the hometown of Mr. Tan Kah-Kee, a famous overseas Chinese
leader who devoted himself wholly to education. In this small hamlet,
Mr. Tan built 12 different kinds of schools including Xiamen University,
a science center, gymnasium, library, hospital, and a navigation club.
These facilities changed Jimei from a rural village into a sizeable town
whose total student population of more than 100,000 exceeds that of the
local residents.
The Turtle Garden, which lies in the southeast of Academic Village Jimei,
was built by Mr. Tan during his lifetime and later was chosen as the
gravesite of Mr. Tan. The Turtle Garden was his first project. After
full deliberation and preparation, the construction of the Turtle Garden
began in 1951 on the former site of "Turtle Head Palace" from which it
got its present name. Mr. Tan was general designer as well as general
engineer.
10,000 Rock Botanical Garden
Xiamen's 227 hectare 10,000 Rock Botanical Garden has more rocks than
you can imagine. Millions of tourists and locals delight in the maze of
picturesque paths winding between hills and past jumbled boulders like
"Laughing Rock," many of which bear the calligraphic inscriptions of the
ancients. Tags along the trails give in Chinese and Latin the names and
origins of the plants.
On the peak overlooking Xiamen University is a Military Museum, as well
as the Buddhist nunnery that explains why centuries of Nanputuo monks
have worn so many trails over the Five Old Men Mountains in search of
enlightenment.
Zhong Shan Park
 Built
in honor of Dr. Sun Yat-sen (Sun Zhongshan, in Mandarin). Zhong Shan
Park (Sun Yat-sen Park) is home to a statue of the great man which bears
the inscription, "The Great Democratic Revolutionary Pioneer Dr. Sun
Yat-Sen."
Due to the national drive of "Less Walls, See Green," solid walls around
all of Xiamen's parks and institutions have been removed and have been
replaced by ornate wrought iron fences and shrubbery. Entry to Zhongshan
Park is also now free.
Zhongshan Park has a small zoo, rental paddleboats, and displays and
performances from all over China.
Xinjie Church
 China's
First Protestant Church Xinjie Protestant Church was built in 1848.
Because of this it has named the nickname "Birthplace of Chinese
Protestantism."
Today, over 1,000 worshippers fill the church on Sunday mornings and
afternoons. The basement bookstore is especially interesting. China now
prints so many kinds of Bibles and Christian books, so cheaply, that
some Chinese Christians from other Asian countries have come here to buy
them.
Xinjie is also especially festive at Christmas. Many churches (and
stores and restaurants) leave their Christmas trees and plastic Santas
up all year round, and Christians and non-Christians alike enjoy the
churches' Christmas Eve concerts.
Huli Hill Fort
Found on the beach outside Xiamen University, is Huli Hill Fort and the
famous Huli Hill coastal cannon which is possibly the largest cannon in
the world.
The fort also lays claim to having been built out of a strange set of
materials: sand, clay, camphor tree juice, lime, and glutinous rice.
The fort boasts a collection of Exotic Stones and an exhibition of
ancient weapons, including the 60-ton German Krupp.
Built in 1896, this is the last of China's over 100 coastal cannons, and
the longest in the world-longer even than the cannon Napoleon abandoned
in Moscow.
Visit beautiful China today!
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