Xiamen – China’s ‘Garden on the Sea’

The Chinese south-eastern port city of Xiamen in the Fujian Province, was in the news as the host city of the 9^th BRICS Summit in September 2017.  Formerly known to the Western world as Amoy, the city, with an urban population of 1.8 million, encompasses 2 main islands and a region on the mainland. Known as the ‘Garden on the Sea’, Xiamen has an excellent harbor, sheltered by a number of offshore islands.   The city is known for its mild climate, Hokkien culture and colonial architecture, as well as its relatively low pollution. It was a British treaty port from 1842 to 1912.

Until 1840, Western powers were allowed to trade only in Canton (now Guangzhou), under strict controls.  After China lost the First Opium War in 1842, Britain took over Hong Kong and forced China to open five treaty ports – Canton, Xiamen, Fuzhou, Ningbo and Shanghai.  In Xiamen, the Gulang Island or Gulang-Yu became a foreign enclave with consulates and luxurious homes.   

After the Communists established the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the new government focused considerable attention on developing Xiamen’s infrastructure and economy.  When Deng Xiaoping initiated his Opening Up Policy, Xiamen was made one of the first four Special Economic Zones in 1980 with special investment and trade regulations attracting foreign investment, particularly from overseas Chinese. Being the home town of many overseas Hokkien Chinese, who had migrated to South East Asia during the rule of Qing dynasty, Xiamen benefited from their contribution and its economy prospered rapidly.

Today, Xiamen has more Taiwanese investment than any other city in China. With Siming and Huli districts forming its SEZs, the city has a diverse and well developed economy.  Important industries are fishing, shipbuilding, food processing, textiles, machine tools, telecommunications and financial services.

Ferry ride to Gulang-Yu

A visit to Xiamen would not be complete without setting foot on Gulang-Yu, the island just across the harbor. A UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, the island is about 2 km² in area, and is reached by a 5-minute ferry ride from downtown Xiamen. Although only about 20,000 people live on the island, Gulang-Yu is a major domestic tourist destination, attracting more than 10 million visitors per year, and making it one of China's most visited tourist attractions.  Gulang-Yu not only bans cars, but also bicycles. The only vehicles permitted are small golf cart like electric buggies and electric government service vehicles.

Soon after Xiamen became a treaty port following the First Opium War and the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, foreign residents from as many as 13 countries established their presence at Gulang-Yu. As with the Shanghai International Settlement, the British played a predominant role in the administration and Sikh policemen from British India were entrusted with the policing of the Settlement.  The consulates, churches, hospitals, schools, police stations, etc. built by those foreign communities explain the predominantly Victorian-era style architecture that can still be seen throughout Gulang-Yu.

The spread of Christianity in 1900s brought western music to the island. Churches and museums were built, and people enjoyed going to music halls to hear performances. Since then, the island's local culture mingled with western music and art, altogether transforming Xiamen’s cultural environment. Xiamen, home to a number of prominent musicians, also has the honour of hosting China’s only Piano Museum, thus earning the sobriquet ‘The Island of Music’.

Xiamen’s oil painting industry

Xiamen is also famous for its oil painting industry.  80% market shares in European and American market is taken up by hand painted oil paintings exported from this city.  Xiamen Wushipu Oil Painting Village has more than 5,000 artists, with ability to produce all kinds of oil paintings with different specifications and styles.

Nanputuo Buddhist Temple

Another important attraction in Xiamen is the Nanputuo Buddhist Temple, adjoining the beautiful campus of the Xiamen University. Nanputuo Buddhist temple has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. Its latest incarnation dates to the early 20th century, and today it’s an active and busy temple with chanting monks and worshippers lighting incense. The temple is fronted by a huge lotus lake.  Visitors can climb the mountain behind the temple for beautiful views of Xiamen and surrounding nature. 

With its clear waters, long and wide sandy beaches as well as its stable winds, Xiamen is one of the major hot spots for Kite Surfing in China, and often hosts various domestic and international competitions.  From April till December you will find perfect cross-shore winds and warm to mild water temperatures 

Xiamen may not exactly be in the same league as Taipei or Hong Kong, but it is a typical sea side  city with abundant tourist attractions in the form of picturesque islands, mountains, temples and parks etc., providing visitors with a full sightseeing schedule.

2017/9/9