5 Reasons To Check Out Xiamen This Summer
By Aimee Groom
With its wide sandy beaches, balmy climate and laidback vibe Xiamen has consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the country. If you haven’t been yet, here are just a few reasons to go and check it out…
Great value flights Roundtrip flights from Shanghai to Xiamen are priced at excellent value throughout June and can be had for as little as RMB 1,030 (including tax), bookable via Ctrip (www.ctrip.com).
Explore Gulangyu, Xiamen’s treaty port heritage site
No visit to Xiamen is complete without a trip to Gulangyu, a picturesque, car-free island just a few hundred metres from Xiamen. Home to the city’s pre-World War II foreign concessions, it is filled with magnificent colonial buildings that once housed consulates, offices and families of wealthy Western foreign traders and diplomats. Spend an afternoon or more exploring its twisting, leafy lanes, courtyard cafes, parks, museums and gardens.
Get some winds in your sails! Those salty sea breezes are not just refreshing, they’re fun too! Xiamen’s year round high winds make it a great destination for sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. The area around Haiyuntai Beach is home to 59 Fly Kiteboarding Centre, an IKO certified kite school (www.59fly.net) and quaint sandy beaches with few tourists or swimmers. Windsurfing and sailing courses as well as equipment hire are available from the nearby Xiamen Sailing Club (www.xsailing.com.cn).
Enjoy a little R&R: A favourite laidback haunt is Zeng Cuo An, a small village located in Siming District just off Huandao Lu, the main coastal artery that runs from the city proper towards Xiamen University. It has recently blossomed into a hub of laidback bars, guesthouses and restaurants. Temple Café & Bar (Tel: (592) 209 6780) is a particular highlight, located in a converted and beautiful renovated Buddhist temple complete with an open courtyard and a stellar all-day breakfast.
Stuff yourself silly with seafood
For great seafood in casual surroundings, take your pick of the restaurants at the entrance to Zeng Cuo An and dine al fresco local style on plastic tables and chairs. Squid, oysters, prawns, you name it; all cooked up on the grill or stir-fried with delicious garlic or spicy sauces. For something a little more refined with sea views, head to Jia Li (3-4 Floor, 819 Hubin Nan Lu), a Xiamen seafood institution.
Where To Stay
Budget: There are lots of hotels and guesthouses to choose from on Gulangyu Island with prices starting from just RMB 146 per night on Ctrip. In Zeng Cuo An try Mark Hostel (Tel: (592) 251 9131 or 158 5921 8818) where double rooms are available at RMB 198 upwards.
Mark Hostel. 215 Huandao Lu, Siming District
Mid-range: The Asia Gulf Hotel on Huandao Lu is a good choice for tastefully decorated rooms with a sea view (RMB 798 upwards) or set back from the beach (RMB 433 upwards), bookable via Ctrip.
Asia Gulf Hotel. 98 Huandao Lu, Siming District
Luxury: If you’re looking for something a little more luxurious, check out the Seaview Resort, an expansive villa-style resort that sits in between the mountains and the sea with huge rooms complete with balconies and even bathtub views, lush green gardens and an infinity pool. Rooms start from RMB 832 on Ctrip.
Seaview Resort. 3999 South Huandao Lu, Siming District. Tel: (592) 502 3333, Web: www.xmseaview.com
Aimee Groom is an editor for ChinaTravel.net, a sister site to Ctrip.com, China’s leading online travel service provider. ChinaTravel.net brings readers everything they need to know to enjoy their China adventure to the fullest.
