Wired on the Beach

Wired on the Beach

Xiamen is a city that's doing a lot of catch-up, and it's doing it in style! It now has at least a dozen laid-back cafés with wireless networks—even a local McDonald's has Wi-Fi. Recently, China's largest wine importer, ASC Wines, began pouring a steady stream of fine vino into the island of old Amoy. In sum: this once sleepy little coastal city is now becoming very special to big money—even more so than when it first became a Special Economic Zone in 1980. Yet Xiamen's main attraction is still its subdued beach scene. One of the best places for an endless Xiamen summer is Siming, just east of downtown. Framed by mountains and defined by clean beaches, its sunsets are timeless. The beaches of Gulangyu island are another favorite, particularly because cars have been banned from the isle altogether. Cobblestone streets, colonial buildings, towering tree canopies, and its rich milieu of pianists and other musicians make this one of China's most popular seaside destinations.