Xiamen
From ChinaTravelGuide
East China (华东) » Fujian (福建) » Xiamen (厦门)
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[edit] Overview
Xiamen (厦门) is a vibrant sub provincial city on China's southeast coastline in Fujian province. It faces the Taiwan Straits to the east. It covers an area of 1,565 square kms and has a population of 1.27 million.
Recently voted China's cleanest city, Xiamen is a beautiful "seaside garden", and known as "A city on the sea and sea in the city". Xiamen and its surrounding picturesque countryside provides magnicient scenery and unspoiled spectacular beaches lined with beautiful trees. The local traditions, Taiwanese influenced customs, delicious seafood, exotic buildings and Spring like weather in four seasons are other reasons tourists are flocking to this seaside city every year.
Xiamen is well known as a hometown of many overseas Chinese (estimated at about 400,000), living in such diverse places as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, North and South America, Europe, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao.
[edit] Video
| Xiamen |
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| Xiamen (厦门) is on China's southeast coastline and faces the Taiwan Straits to the east. It covers an area of 1,565 square kms and has a population of 1.27 million.. |
[edit] History
Xiamen was colloquially known as Amoy or E-meng in the local Minnan dialect. It was essentially a trading port which prospered during the last hundred of years. Xiamen became one of the five Special Economic Zones in the early 1980s. This transformed Xiamen into a manufacturing hub for apparel, industrial, chemical, electronics and export oriented industries.
[edit] Weather
Xiamen's climate is subtropical. The summers are hot and humid with plenty of rainfall. The winters are mild and wet.
| Weather averages for Xiamen | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Avg high °C (°F) | 17 (63) | 17 (63) | 19 (66) | 23 (73) | 27 (81) | 30 (86) | 32 (90) | 32 (90) | 30 (86) | 27 (81) | 24 (75) | 19 (66) | |
| Avg low °C (°F) | 10 (50) | 10 (50) | 12 (54) | 16 (61) | 20 (68) | 24 (75) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 24 (75) | 20 (68) | 16 (61) | 12 (54) | |
| Rain cm (inches) | 2.86 (1.1) | 5.61 (2.2) | 8.16 (3.2) | 9.99 (3.9) | 11.6 (4.6) | 13.96 (5.5) | 10.38 (4.1) | 17.27 (6.8) | 12.49 (4.9) | 2.97 (1.2) | 1.8 (0.7) | 2.22 (0.9) | |
| Source: per MSN 2008 | |||||||||||||
Current Conditions (2012-05-21 02:00:00, local time)
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Xiamen |
Temp: 70°F (21°C) |
Xiamen Weather Forecast
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[edit] Map
[edit] Getting in & Getting out
Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport serves domestic and international flights for 60 airlines while Xiamen Port has sea routes with more than 60 cities in over 40 countries and regions. Xiamen is also connected to other areas in China through Yingtan-Xiamen Railway, and many expressways and freeways.
[edit] By Air
Xiamen is served by many International destinations via Hong Kong. There are daily flights from Bangkok, Singapore, Manila and Japan. Xiamen is served by Xiamen Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Dragon Air, China Southern Airlines, Spring Airlines and other mainland based airlines.
[edit] By Train
The train is not a good option for trips along the coast (for example from Fuzhou, Shantou or Hong Kong) because it takes a circuitous route through the mountains. This will be changing in the near future, a new high speed rail line along the coast is under construction, but as of mid-2008 it is not near completion. For now, use the bus from coastal destinations.
Some train times and costs:
- Guangzhou: ¥261 hard sleeper, 14 hours.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] By Bus
Xiamen is well connected to neighboring Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangxi and other provinces. The long distance routes is served by the Songbai Long Distance Station located in Xiamen.
[edit] By Ship
You may come across references to a ferry service from Hong Kong. It no longer operates (as of November 2004).
A boat service operates to and from Kinmen in the Republic of China hourly from 0830-1730 every day. Tickets cost NT$700 from Kinmen and CNY 180 from Xiamen. This route has only just been opened to foreign travellers.
--from wikitravel
[edit] Getting Around
[edit] By Public Bus
The local bus system is very good, but the bus routes are listed in Mandarin and do not have English on them.
[edit] By Tour Bus
[edit] By Metro
[edit] By Taxi & Rental Car
Taxis are cheap, starting at ¥8 for the first 3 kilometers. You can go anywhere on Xiamen island, including the airport, for under ¥40.
[edit] Attractions
- Also known as Piano Island, Gulangyu Island is a popular destination for weekend getaways with spectacular views of the city. It's a must-see for your trip to Xiamen
- The most renowned Buddhist temple in Xiamen, Nanputuo Temple is a national treasure. It is located at the foot of Wulaofeng (Mountain of Five Old Men).
- A national historical and cultural site. It houses barracks, a secret tunnel, command tower, sentry platforms, ammunition depot a trench and castle. The rectangular castle is made of granite rocks and covers an area of 13,000 square meters.
- Xiamen had been on the front line in the battle with Jinmen (or Kinmen) until 1978. Today, many tourists join cruise ships that sail right up to Jinmen to get a better view of the "enemy" and the island under Taiwanese control.
- A marvel of plants, and a nature lover's paradise. More than 20 botanical zones, cultivating grounds and display rooms cover the park. Over 4,000 varieties of flora ranging from palms, bamboo, orchids, and bonsai to medicinal plants color the park. Its plant diversity is so renowned the garden has even become a major research center. Famous scenic spots in the garden include the Morning Bell of Heaven, the Reading and Music Playing Cave, the Cloud Locking Stones, the Jade Scepter Rock and the Peace Stone.
More attractions at Xiamen attractions
[edit] Hotels
[edit] Budget
[edit] Mid Range
[edit] Luxury
[edit] Restaurants
- There is a whole strip of cafes and bars along the lake next to the Marco Polo Hotel, more-or-less all with patios and/or balconies that give a view of the lake.
- Geo Geo Cafe — Furthest from the hotel in the strip, serves good Italian and American food and coffee. The food is excellent. Having tried all of the cafe's along "Coffee Street" this is easily the best
- Marco Polo Hotel itself does a good Sunday international buffet for RMB 120 plus service.
- On the side street off the lake by the hotel are several more places.
- Tutto Bene — A very good Italian place.
- Javaroma — Good coffee, run by an Aussie. Very quiet except for Tuesday Night "two for One deals" on pizza's.
- Local Chinese Restaurants:
- Little Chili's — Offers excellent Chinese food at an affordable price. The menus are in English.
- With a view:
- Lujiang Harbourview Hotel has a nice sixth floor al fresco restaurant looking out at Gulangyu Island. The restaurant has an English menu and serves Fuijian specialities. Highlight was some excellent wasabi marinated cucumber slices.
Generally speaking the western food restaurants in Xiamen are not very good, or perhaps better described as disappointing. You can perhaps forgive Chinese owned and run restaurants which try to offer "Western" food when it turns out to be not quite as expected but it is quite a different matter when western owned and/or run establishments turn out average or below average meals.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Shopping
Xiamen is filled with many shopping districts filled with the latest apparel and electronics goods. Shopping district is located on Zhongshang Lu. This is the old area with many historical shophouses. The other shopping district is on Xiahe Road. This include the Shimao Shopping Mall adjacent to the Xiamen Railway Station.
