Top 10 Things to Do in Xiamen

One of the must-see places in Xiamen is Gulangyu Island, located in the southwest corner of Xiamen Island and faces the downtown across the sea. It was listed in the World Heritages in 2017. There collect various buildings mixing Chinese and Western architectural styles, variety of shops and a number of gardens and museums. Climb the Sunlight Rock to see the sunrise or sunset and overlook the whole island; admire the rockery and sea hidden in Shuzhuang Garden; enjoy the music in Piano Museum and Organ Museum; tour the Haoyue Garden with the architectural style of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) … these are top things to do in Xiamen. In addition, have a drink or taste in some romantic shops, such as the milk tea in Zhang Sanfeng and pies in Miss Zhao’s Shop. Seafood is a highlight in Xiamen, such as oyster omelets and fish balls. Book a sea view room if your budget allows. As the sea wind blowing, your tiredness and anxiety will be gone.

 Recommended Tour:  3 Days Xiamen City Tour with Gulangyu Island from $369

Xiamen University was founded in 1921 by Chen Jiageng, a famous patriotic overseas Chinese leader. It was built beside the mountain and near the sea, and contains many unique buildings combining Chinese and western architectural cultures, making it one of the most beautiful universities in China. One must-do in Xiamen is to see the interesting doodles painted by students on the walls of Furong Tunnel inside the campus. You can also have a romantic sight with your partner along the beautiful Furong Lake or in the Valley of Love.

One of the top things to do in Xiamen is to visit Zengcuoan Village, which used to be a fish village but now the hottest innovative cultural village. Deep and serene alleys, red bricks and old houses present its primitive simplicity. Almost every lane is full of souvenir stores and snack bars, serving delicacies such as thick toast, Taiwanese sausage with sticky rice, satay noodles, varied sub-tropical fruits and fresh seafood. Different home stays gather there, including the traditional yards, the single-family villas with Baroque style, ancient local houses and lively youth hostels. You can go to the seaside watching the sunrise with your beloved, listen to folk songs in the bars at night, or write a letter and send it to the person you miss.

 Recommended Tour:  5 Days In-depth Xiamen Tour with Zengcuoan from $719

Located at the foot of Wulao Peak, South Putuo Temple is deemed to be the most renowned Buddhist temple in Xiamen. In the Hall of Heavenly King, you can worship the smiling Maitreya for more good luck and wealth. The Great Buddha’s Hall houses the Three Saints of the West and the Avalokitesvara was enshrined in Great Mercy Hall. You can also see Eighteen Arhats on both sides and various Buddhist cultural relics stored in the Depositary of Buddhist Texts. One of the top things to do in Xiamen is to taste the vegetarian food in Puzhao Building. Don’t forget to buy vegetarian cakes, which is a famous specialty of Xiamen.

 Recommended Tour:  Xiamen Day Tour to Gulangyu Island & South Putuo Temple from $139

One of the best things to do in Xiamen is to cycle along the seaside Huandao Road. The road is 31 kilometers long and also known as five-color road: blue sea, golden beach, green grass, red track and gray highway. You can enjoy the fun of the seaside ride and the beautiful scenery along the way: Hulishan Fortress, Yefeng Village, Wuyuan Bay, etc. The cycling route from Yefeng Village to International Convention and Exhibition Center is the most attractive section.

Fujian Tulou, a kind of earth towers with a history of over 1,000 years, is a group of residential buildings in mountain villages and rich in the Hakkas traditional culture. Having a Tulou tour is one of the best things to do around Xiamen. Most Tulous are distributed in Nanjing and Yongding Counties, about 155 km (96 mi) from Xiamen. In Yongding, you can see various shapes of  earthen buildings, round, square, five-angle and octagonal; there exists 360 round buildings and more than 4,000 square buildings, which is just like a grand Hakkas dwellings museum. A collection of the tallest, largest, smallest, strangest and best-protected earth towers in Nanjing will also make you unforgettable.

 Recommended Tour:  1 Day Xiamen to Yongding Tulou Tour from $149

The most striking in Yunshuiyao Ancient Town are various Tulou buildings dotted at the foot of the mountain, on the field and near the river. The gurgling Changjiao River winds through the village quietly and slowly. On its bank, a group of 13 centuries-old Banyan trees are pretty spectacular, one of which covers an area of 1,933 square meters. It requires over 10 adults to hug the bottom of the trunk, making it the largest Banyan tree found in Fujian Province. One fun thing to do in the morning is to stroll in the ancient paths and perhaps you will see the original appearance of the village.

Located to the south of Xiamen University, Baicheng Beach is a free leisure park with lots of interesting sights, such as giant mouse sculptures and half-ringed flyovers that look like clocks. You are recommended to have a view of the sunset lying on the beach.

Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street is a landmark in Xiamen. You can appreciate its unique arcade buildings and historical relics to feel long history and rich culture, purchase souvenirs in the markets hidden in the alleys, or drink a bowel of peanut soup in Huang Zehe, an old famous restaurant. In addition, the twenty-fourth floor of Haibin Mansion is the best viewing post to overlook the whole Gulangyu Island.

 Further Reading: Xiamen Shopping

Also founded by Mr. Chen Jiageng, Jimei School Village, one of the best places to visit in Xiamen, is the general term of various schools and cultural organizations. The buildings here are integrated with Chinese and western styles, such as Daonan Building in Jimei Middle School and Nanxun Building in Jimei Overseas Chinese School. The most popular attractions in the village are the former residence of Mr. Chen, Ao Park, Dragon Boat Pool, etc. Without much noise and disturbance, you can walk around the village or ride a bike, feel the wind gently blowing your face and hair, and watch the sunset gradually dyeing the sky.

 Recommended Tour:  5 Days Xiamen Tour with Jimei from $659