Xiamen

Once known to Westerners as Amoy, this island city is southeast China’s hot spot for both business and leisure

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1 GULANGYU

The small island of Gulangyu is big with Xiamen’s tourists. From early morning until late afternoon, its winding narrow streets are chock-a-block with visitors taking in the sights, marveling at the old colonial architecture, snapping pictures of the great city views from Sunlight Rock and the large statue of the ancient Chinese military leader Koxinga, or just chilling on the sandy beaches. China’s only piano museum is also found here as are many seafood restaurants, as well as shops famous for beef or pork jerky and snacks made from dried seafood, such as Huang Sheng Ji (89 Longtou Road). Getting to the island is an easy 5-minute ferry ride from the pier opposite the island, but foreigners must catch a ferry from the International Cruise Terminal on the west coast – a 45-minute boat ride costing RMB35 ($5) each way.

2 ZHONGSHAN LU