City guide · 厦门 Xiamen
Xiamen
A garden on the sea: Gulangyu, Nanputuo Temple and the Round-the-Island Road
Xiamen is a bay city on the southeast coast of Fujian, made up of Xiamen Island, Gulangyu Island, and other islands, plus the mainland coastal areas of Haicang, Jimei, Tong'an, and Xiang'an. In two to three days you can cover Gulangyu Island, Nanputuo Temple, Xiamen University, Island Ring Road, Zhongshan Road, and the Eighth Market, then leave half a day for Jimei School Village. Xiamen is known as the "Garden on the Sea" and is a popular tourist destination in mainland China, with Gulangyu Island in particular being a World Heritage site. Also worth visiting in the city: Nanputuo Temple, Xiamen University, Island Ring Road, Zengcuo'an, Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street, Hulishan Fortress, Jimei School Village, Xiamen Botanical Garden, Shapowei, Wuyuan Bay and Xiamen Garden Expo Park.
History
How the city came to be
In 1387 in the Ming Dynasty, fortifications were built for defense against Japanese pirates, marking the starting point of Xiamen's urban history. In the mid-17th century, Zheng Chenggong used Xiamen as a base to resist the Qing and prepare to expel the Dutch who occupied Taiwan, and for a time renamed Xiamen Island "Siming." After the Treaty of Nanjing was signed in 1842, Xiamen became one of the five treaty ports; on January 10, 1902, the Gulangyu International Settlement Charter was signed, and the following year the Gulangyu International Settlement Municipal Council was established, with 13 countries setting up consulates on the island in succession, making Gulangyu the "International Architecture Exhibition." Xiamen was occupied by Japan from 1938 to 1945; Xiamen was liberated in October 1949. In 1980, Xiamen became one of China's first special economic zones; in 2017, the Historic International Settlement of Gulangyu was inscribed on the World Heritage List.
- 1387Fortifications were built in the Ming Dynasty.
- Mid-17th centuryZheng Chenggong used Xiamen as a base and renamed the island "Siming."
- 1842The Treaty of Nanjing was signed, and Xiamen opened as a treaty port.
- 1902The Gulangyu International Settlement Charter was signed; the following year the International Settlement Municipal Council was established.
- 1938 to 1945Japan occupied Xiamen.
- 1949Xiamen was liberated in October.
- 1980Xiamen became one of the first special economic zones.
- 2017The Historic International Settlement of Gulangyu was inscribed on the World Heritage List.
Trips beyond the city
These places can be explored from this city but lie outside it. See each place for transport and visiting guidance.
Regional deep dives
Read deeper into each place
Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian Province · Island / Historic District
Gulangyu Island
Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2017 as a "historic international settlement": a small island with no motor vehicles, holding every layer of international architecture, piano music and Minnan red-brick houses.
Explore the local guide ↗Source leads: UNESCO World Heritage "Kulangsu: A Historic International Settlement" (2017); Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism / Gulangyu Management Committee.
Image source · Slyronit · CC BY-SA 4.0
Source leads are being checked individually; confirm travel details with local official notices.
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