Legs Up in Xiamen

by+Chen+Lin

In November， Xiamen is one of the best tourist destinations in all of China. Long after the tourism madness of the National Day holiday ends in early October， tourists visiting Xiamen in November will not only save a lot of money， but also enjoy better service.

Located in Fujian Province and only a stones throw from Taiwan， Xiamen is one of the earliest cities in China to implement opening-up policy. It is no exaggeration to call the coastal city one of the most exciting and pleasant places in the country. Its clean and attractive beaches， botanical gardens and parks， waterfront promenades， pleasant climate， and of course， hospitable locals， cement Xiamens reputation as one of the best holiday destinations in China. Compared to Chinese cities abundant in historical treasures， such as Xian and Chengdu， Xiamen is young. However， its history as a delightful tourist city is relatively long. Today， the city attracts steady streams of foreign visitors， and is even called “Shanghais little sister.”

Of Xiamens myriad scenic spots， Gulangyu is the crown jewel. The island is cut off from the city by the 600-meter-wide Lujiang River and requires only a 5-minuteferry trip from Xiamens wharf. Gulangyu Island is considered a “garden on the sea.” A former international settlement once home to 14 foreign consulates， Gulangyu has well preserved structures built by many different countries including Japan， UK， and the U.S. Motorized vehicles are banned on the island， forcing tourists to walk， which greatly enhances the fun of exploration.

Another must-visit in Xiamen is South Putuo Temple， dedicated to Bodhisattva Guanyin. The famous Buddhist temple was first built in the Tang Dynasty （618-907）. The structure that stands today was rebuilt during the reign of Emperor Kangxi （1662-1722） in the Qing Dynasty. Facing the sea and with mountain as its backdrop， the temples location is considered very auspicious in terms of feng shui， the time-honored Chinese philosophical system of harmonizing everything with the surrounding envi- ronment. The temple is home to gorgeous structures and rich Buddhist cultural relics including Buddha statues， ancient books， and Buddhist scriptures.

Xiamen is home to another unique attraction： Xiamen University. Established in 1921， the institute is considered to have the most beautiful campus in China due to its picturesque scenery as well as structures of distinctive styles. It is adjacent to South Pu- tuo Temple， making it convenient for tourists to visit both attractions in a single trip.

Of course， tourists should not miss local delicacies. Like those in most coastal places of southern China， Xiamen chefs excel at seafood. Additionally， a great variety of snacks can be found there， such as Xiamen spring rolls， meat rice dumplings， and peanut soup. Everyone will find something with which to fall in love.