How to Spend Two Days in Xiamen – A Charming and Multi-faceted City
The Chinese city of Xiamen will always be an interesting metropolis to explore. This destination is noted for its unpretentious laidback atmosphere, with residents as well as tourists often strolling through its beaches and boulevards in casual attire and flip-flops. Xiamen also inherits an interesting history, as indicated by its Western influences. Provided below are some general suggestions for experiencing and making the most of this captivating city in two days.
Visit the attractions
Gulangyu Island, Xiamen | Image via flickr
An interesting religious attraction in Xiamen would be the Nanputuo Temple where you will have the opportunity to enjoy a tour that will provide fascinating insights into this temple’s history and symbolism. You could also savor the outstanding vegetarian dishes at the temple’s restaurant and hike the neighboring Wulao Mountain, ideal for those looking for some outdoor adventure.
If you would rather enjoy leisure by the ocean, make your way to Baicheng Beach which is often visited by students attending Xiamen University, located nearby; you could also take a leisurely walk through this university’s verdant grounds.
Another noteworthy local attraction would be the engrossing Gulangyu Island which boasts many interesting features that are representative of the colonial period of Xiamen. A rather unique site of interest would be the Gulangyu Piano Museum which displays pianos that have survived despite the hardships of the world wars.
Experience the things to do
If you enjoy cycling, you will be in your element in Xiamen as you will have the opportunity to take a pedal-powered journey along the Xiamen Bicycle Skyway; it extends for 7.6 km making it the world’s lengthiest elevated route for cycling. You will be able to admire the stunning sights of the city while cycling along this path. A rather different kind of attraction would be Ding’aozai which happens to be a street that is devoted to cats! Here, visitors will encounter cat cafes, a Cat Museum, wall art and sculptures depicting cats, and merchandise relating to these furry felines.
On the other hand, culture enthusiasts will be captivated by the bohemian locality of Shapowei where they will find attractive coffeehouses and art studios. An accommodation choice to consider from which you could easily visit Shapowei would be Pan Pacific Xiamen which may be regarded as a pleasingly located Xiamen hotel near Zhongshan Road those based at such properties can also easily enjoy shopping along Zhongshan Road, home to many department stores and shops.
Savor the foods
Xiamen happens to be renowned for seafood, featuring an array of outstanding seafood restaurants that will delight the food lover. Meanwhile, if you would like to try authentic local dishes, you will not be disappointed as you will find restaurants that specialise in genuine Fujian cuisine. On the other hand, if you desire to enjoy fusion and Western cuisine, you will also find dining venues that feature this kind of fare.
In this city, you will also have the chance to enjoy typical Cantonese specialties like dim sum, which consists of a variety of small servings of food laid out in special steamer baskets. Also, make note that for your daily cups of coffee, the place to go would be Xidi Coffee Street where you will find an array of cafes as well as restaurants to choose from.
Enjoy the night-time experiences
After enjoying a satisfying Xiamen dinner, you could make your way to Zhongshan Road Walking Street where you will find plenty of drinks, snacks, and interesting souvenirs; you will also have the chance to experience a genuine Chinese night market. Another enthralling experience would be a night cruise on which you will have the chance to take in a unique perspective of the night-time city sights.
For nightlife seekers, Xiamen offers several attractive bars where they could enjoy classy cocktails and nightclubs at which to dance the night away. You will also find bars that are often frequented by ex-pats visiting the city lending to a cosmopolitan setting.
