xiamen, china
 

I have a chance to spend 4-5 days in Xiamen, China. The guide books don't have too many details, thus seeking help from Fodor friends.

Would love to find out if any of you have had to chance to travel to this city. And could you share some highlights of things to do, see and any tips of special shopping in the area.

Planning to travel in June and expecting hot weather. Thus, any tips on how to cope with high heat also. Should I be carrying somethings from the US to help me in China during the hot weather.

This would be my second trip to China so I am somewhat familiar with the country. But any help/suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.

You might look at www.lonelyplanet.com website. They have some information on the website. They also have a feature where you can buy just a chapter from one of their guidebooks for download by pdf. So you don't have to pay for the entire China guide just to find about about Xiamen.

As for clothing, for any hot and humid climate most recommend light weight loose fitting natural fiber clothing including a sun hat.

Perhaps you need to cast about a little more widely. Some guidebooks have quite extensive coverage of Xiamen, and perhaps what you've seen covered is all there is. There's certainly plenty of information on-line.

The key attraction is Gulangyu, and islet covered in pseudo-European buildings dating back to Xiamen's era as a treaty port. This was the foreign enclave, and repays a day's wandering.

The coast of Xiamen (itself a larger island) opposite Gulangyu has a warren of shop-house streets also linked by narrow passages.

Otherwise there are boat trips to see (but not visit) an island nearby still under Taiwanese control, and bus trips to a gun emplacement a little up the coast, a temple or two, and other minor pleasures.

It is also possible to journey inland to see the earth fortresses (tulou) of the Kejia people, around Yongding.

Altogether Xiamen is one of China's more pleasant cities and worth the visit. Pleasant Quanzhou (which rather more to do) is also reachable fairly swiftly by direct bus.

Peter N-H

Laurie ann-thanks for your suggestions.

Peter N-Apprecite your input and advice. You are an expert on China travel, so please help again. I will be meeting some university students and would like to take a very tiny token gift for them. Thus, any suggestions will be appreciated. I was thinking of maybe t-shirts from my area and National Geographic magazines, and postcards.
Not really sure what the university students will like more. Chocolates are not good idea as it will be hot.

Did you see feature today in Chicago Tribune travel section about Xiamen?http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel...,2015450.story

Gulangyu Island http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulangyu_Island
I would say that Lujiang Hotel Xiamen, the hotel is nice to live in.

Laurie ann and lynn lynn_ Thanks for such wonderful information. It is all very helpful. Appreciate your time and effort.
have a great day.