Xiamen Lundu Port

Xiamen Holidays What You Can Do In 48 Hours | China |

These days, it would seem, one can hardly have a conversation about Xiamen without mentioning the word “chill.” The idyllic coastal city in China’s Fujian Province has endeared itself to many with its unpretentious nature—residents and tourists are often found strolling along its boulevards and beaches clad in casual wear and flip-flops.

Formerly known as Amoy, Xiamen was a centre of British trade in the 1800s, and some of its Western-style colonial buildings are still in existence today. Language and culture wise, it is said to have commonalities with the nearby Taiwan. For one, residents in both regions speak versions of the Min-nan (Southern Min) dialect.

Xiamen’s laid-back ethos coupled with the city’s medley of Chinese and European influences give it an identity distinct from its workhorse counterparts Beijing and Shanghai. The Lonely Planet describes Xiamen as a “wonderful oddity,” but notes that it could very well be southern China’s “most sophisticated city.”

A must-visit in Xiamen is the Nanputuo Temple, also known as the South Putuo Temple. There, you can request a free tour to better understand the Buddhist temple’s symbolism and history, admire lotus blossoms at the temple lake, sample the highly rated fare at the Nanputuo Temple vegetarian restaurant, and take a 40-minute hike up the nearby Wulao Mountain for a scenic view of the city and its neighbouring islands.

(To view other prominent landmarks in Xiamen, refer to What’s On Xiamen’s list of the “top 15 temples” in the city or TripAdvisor’s list of Xiamen’s historic and religious sites.)

To relax by the sea, head to the accessible Baicheng Beach in downtown Xiamen, which is frequented by students from the nearby Xiamen University (also worth a stroll through its leafy grounds.) You may also wish to visit the lesser-known and hence less populated Huangcuo Beach. The latter beach is so tranquil that a recent visitor claimed there was “no one else around in sight” when he spent an afternoon there—a rare occurrence for any major Chinese city. Unlike at Baicheng, beach vendors are nonexistent at Huangcuo, so bring your own supplies.

If you only have time for a single attraction, make it the intriguing Gulangyu Island, which is a 10-minute ferry ride from Xiamen’s Lundu Pier. The island is considered to be a time capsule of Xiamen’s colonial past, and it is also known as the “Island of Music.” Visitors will be transfixed by the Gulangyu Piano Museum, where pianos that have survived both world wars have been put on proud display.

Here are the entry and exit points for the Xiamen Bicycle Skyway:

BRT洪文站 (BRT Hongwen Station)
瑞景中学 (Ruijing Middle School)
忠仑公园 (Zhong Lun Park)
BRT蔡塘站 (BRT Caitang Station)
后坑天桥 (Hou Keng Overpass)
BRT金山站 (BRT Jinshan Station)
乐购-天虹 (TESCO)
市政务中心 (Municipal Administrative Center)
双十中学 (Double Ten Middle School)
枋湖北二路（BRT双十中学站） (BRT Double Ten Middle School Station)
BRT县后站 (BRT Xianhou Station)