Top 10 Must-Visit Attractions in Xiamen: Gulangyu Island, Nanputuo Temple, Xiamen University

**Xiamen: A 3-Day Getaway for Foodies, Photographers, and Cultural Enthusiasts** *July 2024* *Cost per Person: 350 Yuan* *Travel Style:* Food, […]

**Xiamen: A 3-Day Getaway for Foodies, Photographers, and Cultural Enthusiasts**

*July 2024*

*Cost per Person: 350 Yuan*

*Travel Style:* Food, Photography, Culture, Free and Easy, Hiking, Biking, Bohemian, Budget Travel, Weekend Getaway

*Author’s Visited Places:*

– Gulangyu Island
– Sunlight Rock
– ShuZhuang Garden
– Piano Museum
– Haoyue Garden
– Organ Museum
– International Calligraphy Art Museum
– Meihua Beach
– Water Exercise Platform
– Huandao Road
– Beach along Huandao Road
– Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street
– Xiamen University
– Nanputuo Temple
– Hulishan Fort
– Zengcuoan
– Lover’s Valley
– Cat Street
– Huandao South Road
– Egret Island Park
– Wulao Peak
– Tianwang Hall
– Mahavira Hall
– Dabei Hall
– Sutra Pavilion
– Minnan Buddhist Academy
– Ji Mei Village
– Dragon Boat Pond
– Former Residence of Mr. Tan Kah Kee
– Ao Garden

*Published on:* 2020-09-13 16:06

*Xiamen, also known as ‘Lu Dao’, is a habitat for egrets.* It is a city suitable for leisure, strolling, daydreaming, and sunbathing.

1. **Xiamen Gulangyu Island:** The famous sea garden has seen the rise of international architecture a century ago, standing like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. After years of erosion and baptism, it now attracts countless domestic and international tourists. It is a concentrated display of Xiamen’s artistic style.
– *Location:* Gulangyu Island, Siming District, Xiamen
– *Transportation:* Ferry, ticket price 35 yuan
– *Admission:* No island entry fee, individual ticket for island attractions, or purchase a joint ticket: 100 yuan (including Sunlight Rock, ShuZhuang Garden (including Piano Museum), Haoyue Garden, Organ Museum, and International Calligraphy Art Museum).Time: All day (Top five attractions: Sunlight Rock, ShuZhuang Garden, Haoyue Garden, Gulangyu Organ Museum, Meihua Beach). There is also a memorable historical event on Gulangyu Island. The famous national hero Zheng Chenggong recovered Taiwan, a Chinese territory that had fallen for 38 years. At that time, Zheng Chenggong moved his troops to Gulangyu Island and built the Water Exercise Platform here. Zheng Chenggong stood on the Water Exercise Platform to command his numerous naval soldiers. To commemorate him, a statue of Zheng Chenggong was built on the huge rock at the southeast end of Gulangyu Island. The statue of Zheng Chenggong has become a landmark of Gulangyu Island.

2. Xiamen Huandao Road is one of the most beautiful marathon courses in China. The entire Huandao Road beach is distributed in a strip, connecting famous attractions such as Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street, Xiamen University, Nanputuo Temple, Hulishan Fort, Zengcuoan, etc. The beach of Huandao Road, with sunlight shining on the blue sea, the sea breeze whispering in the ear, clean and fine white sand, reefs, wooden plank roads, playing in the water, white gauze, short skirts, all make it very beautiful.

3. Xiamen University is one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. Xiamen University has attractions such as Furong Lake, Lover’s Valley Reservoir, etc. Location: No. 422, Siming South Road, Siming District, Xiamen. Transportation: Take bus 2, 22, 29 to Xiada West Village Station, then walk.
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**Zengcuo’an:**
Originally a small fishing village situated beside the Huandao Road, Zengcuo’an has recently become a gathering place for artistic youths. Its style rivals that of Gulangyu, making it a delightful tourist destination. Don’t forget to visit Cat Street while you’re there. Address: Siming District, Xiamen City, Huandao South Road. Transportation options include buses 29, 122, 47, and others. The taxi fare from Xiamen Airport to Zengcuo’an is around 50 yuan. Admission is free, and it’s open to tourists from 12:00 to 14:00 and 17:30 to 24:00 on weekdays, and all day during holidays.

**White Egret Island Park:**
White Egret Island Park is depicted in the following photo. Admission to this park is free, and it’s open all day.

**Sha Po Wei:**
Sha Po Wei stands as a memory of old Xiamen, surrounded by high-rise buildings. It offers a sense of nostalgia mixed with vicissitudes and humanities, as if time has stood still here, allowing you to smell the ancient flavor of old Xiamen. The seemingly dilapidated boats lined up seem to be telling their own stories.

**Xiamen Zhongshan Road:**
Xiamen Zhongshan Road is located in the southwest of Xiamen Island and is an east-west oriented road in Zhonghua Street, Siming District, Xiamen City. What makes Xiamen’s Zhongshan Road special is that it is the only commercial street in the country that leads directly to the sea. The cluster of Nanyang shophouse architecture, dazzling LED night scenes, a variety of Fujian and Taiwan specialty snacks, and the ancient Nan music echoing in the alleys and streets, constitute its distinctive style and characteristics.

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**Zhongshan Road, Siming District, Xiamen City**

– **Address:** Zhongshan Road, Siming District, Xiamen City.
– **Transportation:** Take buses 1, 20, and others to Zhongshan Road Station.
– **Admission:** Free.
– **Hours:** All day.

Zhongshan Road remains one of the most bustling shopping streets in Xiamen. It is the only sea-facing pedestrian street, offering a vibrant shopping experience.

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**Nanputuo Temple**

– **Address:** No. 515 Siming South Road, Siming District, Xiamen City.
– **Transportation:** Take buses 1, 21, 45, 751, 841, 959 to Xiamen University South Gate (Nanputuo) Station.
– **Admission:** Free.
– **Hours:** 4:00-18:30.

Nanputuo Temple, located at the foot of the Wulao Peak, is a must-visit after touring Xiamen University. Established in the Tang Dynasty, it enshrines the Bodhisattva Guanyin and offers free admission along with free incense, drawing a constant stream of visitors. The temple is said to be the largest and most ‘effective’ in southern China, located less than 50 meters from Xiamen University. The main buildings on the central axis include the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall, the Hall of Great Compassion, and the Sutra Repository. Additionally, there are bell and drum towers, meditation halls, guest halls, storerooms, the Minnan Buddhist Academy, and the Buddhist Yangzheng Institute on both sides, making the entire temple majestic and orderly.

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**Jimei Village**

– **Location:** Jimei District, Xiamen City, Fujian Province.

Jimei Village is recognized as one of the most beautiful and oldest villages in China, nestled in the Jimei District of Xiamen City, Fujian Province.

—It is both a cultural village and a famous tourist destination.
Address: JiaGeng Road, Jimei District, Xiamen City.
Transportation: Take buses 929, 901, 961 to Longzhou Pool Bus Station. Easily accessible on foot.
Admission: Free.
Operating Hours: The sites are open all day long; Chen Jiageng’s Former Residence: 6:30 AM – 8:00 PM; Jimei Jiaoyuan: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM.