Where is the fun in Xiamen? Do you have experience?

The best attractions in Xiamen are: Gulangyu Island, Xiamen University-Huandao Road, Wanshiyan, Nanputuo Temple, Jimei, Bailu Cave-Huxi Rock, and Huli Mountain Fort. For other attractions, please refer to my other travelogue with the same name. The seaside of Xiamen University Baicheng is very beautiful, and you can rent bicycles from there to tour around the island. Hulishan Fort charges 20 yuan for admission, and it is not very interesting for those who lack military knowledge and interest.

The Wanshiyan Botanical Garden is actually quite beautiful, but the garden is so big that you must go in the morning to have enough time to appreciate it carefully.

The incense in Nanputuo is very prosperous, and the altar in front of the main hall is filled with offerings such as fruits and snacks brought by pilgrims. In the temples I have been to before, the offerings brought by pilgrims can be taken away after the pilgrims have kowtowed and chanted sutras. Not so here. Looking at this small mountain of offerings, I couldn't help but think that the monks in this temple are really blessed. There are many futons wrapped in yellow cloth placed in some halls, and many pilgrims kneel on them to recite sutras devoutly for several hours. There is a small cave on the mountain behind the temple. The cave is densely filled with Buddha statues invited by the pilgrims themselves. There may be thousands of Buddha statues. The scene is quite spectacular. After walking around the cave, the ground was piled with broken pieces of porcelain or pottery Buddha statues. I couldn't help but sigh. It seems that this custom has lasted not for a few years, but for decades.

The architectural style of Jimei University is very interesting, but unfortunately there are guards at the door and they will not let you in easily. It's best to get a student ID card, lie that you are going in to see a certain classmate, and then register and then you can go in and see. If you really can’t go in, you can still go and see the Dragon Boat Pool. It is said to be a pond, but it is actually a large artificial lake. It is very impressive, and there are many egrets flying around. It really deserves the reputation of Xiamen's "Egret Island". Next to the Dragon Boat Pool is Jimei Middle School, which is the most beautiful middle school I have ever seen. The architectural colors of the two teaching buildings are breathtaking.

It costs 3 yuan to take a motorcycle from Longzhou Pool to Qiaoyuan. In fact, it only takes 2 or 3 minutes to drive there. You only need to walk along the road on the right from the Dragon Boat Pond, and you can walk there in about 15 minutes. The sea is always on the roadside, and the scenery is pleasant.

The entrance fee for Qiao Garden is 10 yuan, but in fact the garden is very small. Except for the unique tomb of Jiageng, there is not much to see, and it can also be found on the road outside Qiao Garden. Take a look at it from a distance. It is better to go to the "Return Residence" next to Jimei Middle School. It is the former residence of Tan Kah Kee and the bronze statue is also there, and it is free.

White Deer Cave and Huxi Rock are actually temples. I only found out after visiting them. These two temples are not big, especially Bailu Cave. I went there on New Year's Day. Apart from the monks and a few pilgrims in the temple, I was the only tourist there. This feeling was very strange. There is a small hall in the temple. There is a hexagram board on the incense table and a lot bucket next to the incense table. After asking for the signature, I went to a small cabinet next to the temple door and looked for the red slip of paper with the signature number. There was no monk there to collect money or take care of it. This seems to be rare in other temples. In addition, there is a path from the back door of Bailu Cave, from which you can walk directly to Huxi Rock. Both temples are free.

Xiamen travel and shopping guide, introduction to specialties, and famous shopping malls

As one of the five major special economic zones in China, Xiamen not only has charming and beautiful scenery, but also gathers rich and valuable products , creating a thriving and prosperous business. When you are in Xiamen's shopping district, you will be infected by its modern business atmosphere. Large shopping malls and department stores are dotted everywhere, and the unique commercial streets bring together products from all over the world. Famous brand home appliances, high-end fashion, gold, silver, jade, jewelry, handicraft treasures, antiques, calligraphy and paintings... Thousands of products, a dazzling array, Xiamen will make you truly addicted to shopping. Some specialty shops, street stalls, night markets and cheap supermarkets will also bring you unexpected surprises.

Credit cards are very commonly used in Xiamen and can be used in major hotels, hotels, tourism, shopping venues, etc., but you must check in advance what type of credit card you hold and the usage permissions; generally speaking, the Great Wall Credit cards such as Card, Peony Card, MasterCard, and Golden Harvest Card can all be used in Xiamen. In addition to the state-owned banks, the Sino-foreign joint venture Xiamen International Bank, and the wholly foreign-owned Xiamen Commercial Bank, Xiamen City has HSBC Bank, Jiandong Bank, Standard Chartered Macquarie Bank, Crédit Lyonnais of France, Citibank of the United States, and Daiichi Quanye Bank of Japan. More than 10 overseas banks, including China Bank, have established branches or representative offices in Xiamen.

Because of its superior natural conditions, Xiamen is rich in fish, shrimp, crab, abalone, squid, lancelet, mushrooms, sugar cane, longan, olives, etc.; as for its handicrafts, it is even more colorful, including bead embroidery and clay sculptures. , color tie, lacquer thread carving, etc. are not only sold well in China, but also deeply loved by international friends.

Xiamen has many prosperous commercial streets, such as Zhongshan Road, Xiahe Road, Gulangyu Longtou Road, Fushang Commercial Circle, Xiamen Street... they are all good places for shopping.

Zhongshan Road is the most prosperous street in the old city. It not only has large shopping malls, but also beautiful boutique shops with complete products and reasonable prices. It is one of the "Ten Main Streets in China" The transportation here is also very convenient. You can reach it by taking bus No. 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 12, 23, 25, 27, 30, 32 and double-decker bus No. 28.

Gulangyu Longtou Road is the main commercial street of Gulangyu Island. It mainly deals in tourist products. There are many handicraft shops, calligraphy and painting shops, not only local Xiamen handicrafts for sale, but also antique calligraphy and painting from all over the country; in addition, There are also shops selling dry goods from the South on Longtou Road, which greatly meet the needs of northern tourists, but be sure to remember to bargain.

Main featured markets:

Zhongshan Road

Zhongshan Road, known as one of the “Top Ten Famous Streets in China”, is Xiamen’s traditional bustling commercial district. Hundreds of shopping malls are lined up along the street. The shops along the street have a wide variety of products, which is spectacular. Most of them are reasonably priced, so you can buy with confidence. The business hours of various businesses on Zhongshan Road are generally from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., giving you enough time to do your shopping. Among them, the larger ones include Hualian Building, Huahui Shopping Mall, Paris Spring Siming Store, Jinlu Jewelry, etc.

The buildings on Zhongshan Road have different shapes and cleverly combine European architectural styles with coastal city characteristics, making them unique and interesting. This century-old street is the only commercial street in Xiamen that is directly connected to the sea. The transportation is very convenient. Besides shopping, you can also enjoy the scenery of Gulangyu Island.

Several streets such as Siming South Road, Siming North Road, Siming West Road, Siming East Road, and Jukou Street adjacent to Zhongshan Road are also good places for shopping, so you can stop by. .

Xiamen University Street

Xiamen University Street is actually only half of the street, and the other half belongs to Nanputuo Temple. The street next to Xiamen University is only a kilometer away, but there are hundreds of stores. Many of these stores sell fashionable clothing and cultural items. The most eye-catching thing is that it gathers all the important bookstores in Xiamen.

The main feature of this commercial street is its cultural atmosphere corresponding to Xiamen University. Whether operating catering or clothing, selling cultural supplies or sports equipment, every store exudes a gentle and elegant cultural temperament. Tourists passing through here are all attracted by this rich cultural customs.

Gulangyu Longtou Road

Longtou Road is the main commercial street of Gulangyu Island and the only way for tourists to visit the island. The handicraft shops and calligraphy and painting shops on both sides of the street sell local handicrafts such as bead embroidery, lacquer thread carvings, colored tie-ups, colored sculptures, colored porcelain, etc., as well as antiques, jade, calligraphy and painting, and porcelain from all over the country. Nanguo Dried Fruit Store is more suitable for tourists to purchase and give back to their relatives and friends.

World Trade Mall

World Trade Mall is the most prestigious large-scale shopping, leisure and entertainment venue in Xiamen. It is adjacent to the train station and has convenient transportation. It has internationally renowned Wal-Mart supermarkets, Printemps department store, McDonald's, and KFC fast food restaurants. The Coke Food Court in the mall brings together Xiamen's traditional and well-known snacks, as well as other domestic and foreign snacks.

In World Trade Mall, you can enjoy a warm and comfortable shopping environment and extraordinary shopping happiness.