Xiamen, China - The garden city

Xiamen, a scenic port city, is situated at 118.04' east longitude and 24.26' north latitude on the southeast coast of China, one and a half hours flight south from Shanghai, and directly facing Taiwan Island. This garden city covers total area of 1565.09 sq.km, while Xiamen Island proper, floating about a mile off the serpentine coastline, is about 130.56 sq.km.

Xiamen is the major commercial city (but not the capital - that is Fuzhou) in Fujian Province and one of the five Special Economic Zones in China, and one of the few cities that have been granted by State Council the provincial-level authority to enjoy the direct budgetary and financial ministration by the central government. There are seven districts under the administration of municipal government: Siming, Kaiyuan, Huli (which are on Xiamen Island) , Gulangyu, Jimei, Tong An and Xinglin, including Haicang investment district.

Lying in the sub-tropical Zone, xiamen has maritime climate, and congenial, spring-like weather in four seasons. People can enjoy the bright sunlight, the gentle breeze, the lush plants and the colorful flowers all year round. It is one of China's top ten cities suitable for human habitation with its high development in culture and education, economic prosperity and picturesque scenery.

Xiamen is rich in resources for tourism. Each year tens of thousands of tourists from home and abroad come here to enjoy the azure sky, blue sea, golden beach, green hills, grotesque rocks, fantastic caves, well-cultivated gardens and parks, rare flowers and plants, ancient temples and historical sites.

Previously known as Amoy, Xiamen is home to a handful of consulates, and with its initial trading history stretching back to 1516 it possesses a wealth of colonial history. The island of Gulangyu, easily reached by regular ferry or speedboat from the main port (it is only a 5 minute ride) is a fascinating walk with old colonial mansions, a great beach and no traffic.

Some of places of interest in Xiamen: Gulangyu Islet, Wulao Moutain and Nanputuo Temple, Ten-thousand rock Botanical Garden landscape, Bailuzhou recreation center, Jimei scenic spots, and other ecological environment tours outside the island.

Xiamen's communication facilities are being perfected. The 2.5G b/s broadband Internet, the GSM and CDMA mobile telephone network, and the all-digital program-control telephone network make the city keep in close touch with other cities, regions and countries around the world.

Xiamen has developed fast and convenient means of transportation to meet the needs of the tourists. Its natural, deep-water harbor can let the 10'000 tonnage ocean liners or cabin cruisers pass easily. Two long cross-sea bridges, Xiamen Bridge and Haicang Bridge, have connected the island with the mainland. The expressways and other highways radiate in all directions. Its railway system is part of the national railways networks. Xiamen International Airport, just 20 minutes from the city center, has more than 50 domestic and international flight services between Xiamen and other major cities home and abroad.

Xiamen has grown fast in recent years and is host of important international hotels like Sofitel, Sheraton, Marco Polo, Holiday Inn (Millenium), and Mandarin Hotel. Xiamen is also plenty of bars and has several discos and live music band clubs. Xiamen is a seafood lover's paradise with all manner of delicacies such as oysters, prawns and crabs in addition to garoupa and lobster which are farmed locally. Xiamen beer is also a decent brew and just right for those warm, sub-tropical summer days.

Xiamen has won the titles of "National Garden City", "National Sanitary City", "Model City for Environmental Protection", and "National Outstanding Sightseeing City". Also hosts the annual China International Trade Fair, which takes place every year in September and showcases all of China by Province with huge stands outlining the commodities and materials produced by each, fascinating stuff and the place to be if evaluating business prospect in China.