A garden on the sea
Xiamen, on the coast of Fujian province, is a garden city on the sea. Its most famous destination, Gulangyu Island, is a pedestrian-only island of colonial villas, piano museums, and winding lanes shaded by banyan trees — a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has earned the nickname 'Piano Island.'
The city's southern coastal scenery is spectacular. The Ring Road (Huandao Lu) hugs the coast past beaches, parks, and the statue of Koxinga, the Ming dynasty hero who liberated Taiwan from Dutch rule. On the mainland, the thousand-year-old Nanputuo Temple sits at the foot of Wanshi Mountain, blending Buddhist serenity with city views.
Xiamen's maritime history made it a cradle of overseas Chinese culture, and its connection to Taiwan remains strong. The bustling Zhongshan Road shopping street, seafood stalls, and the island's relaxed pace make Xiamen one of China's most lovable coastal cities — beautiful, historic, and effortlessly charming.
