Meet Xiamen! Three Days of Popular and Lesser-Known Attractions

In the Year of the Snake, my old friends and I once again traveled to Xiamen, a seaside city full of warmth and romance. It took us just over four hours to travel from Guangzhou East Railway Station to Xiamen by high-speed rail, and we were ready to start our three-day, two-night free tour. As soon as we got off the train, we went straight to Gulangyu Island. This small island, listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site, is like a pearl of the world, separated from Xiamen by the sea, and only 500 meters away at its closest point. On less than 2 square kilometers of land, more than 1,000 old villas are scattered, and they are the guardians of history, each with a moving story behind it. Walking among them, you can feel the artistic atmosphere, and the architectural style of combining Chinese and Western styles makes this place full of poetry. Attractions such as Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden, and Haoyue Garden are like pearls embedded in the embrace of Gulangyu Island, and every photo you take is a beautiful picture. At night, Hulishan Fortress tells the story of the past in the interweaving of light and shadow. It was once a key coastal defense site, and now it has become a popular check-in point. The world's largest existing coastal cannon, the "Krupp Cannon", carries the indomitable spirit of the Chinese nation. When the lights come on, the ancient fort collides with the cool light and shadow, and the "immersive" interactive experience makes us feel as if we have traveled through time and space to witness the vicissitudes of history. On the morning of the second day, Xiamen Botanical Garden welcomed us with a green feast. Built in the 1960s, this botanical garden is a kingdom of plants, home to more than 6,000 species of tropical and subtropical plants. The tropical rainforest area is misty, like a fairyland; the cactus exhibition hall is full of cacti of various shapes, which are eye-opening, as if you are in a desert oasis. In the afternoon, the artistic atmosphere of Shapowei is intoxicating. It is a perfect blend of old Xiamen and new art, with the old fishing port memories of Xiamen hidden in the typhoon shelter, and the trendy shops and art stalls on the streets exuding youthful vitality. Walking through the old streets of the arcade, you can feel the fireworks of the city and capture the beautiful figure of the Twin Towers. In the evening, we climbed to the "Cloud Xiamen" observation deck of the Xiamen Twin Towers, and the scenery of Egret Island was in full view at an altitude of 300 meters. Half is mountain, half is sea, Gulangyu Island, Xiamen University, Shapowei, and other iconic landscapes are all spread out under your feet. Unfortunately, the visibility was not good that day, and if the sky was clear, the scenery would be even more shocking. Then, we came to the Ten Mile Long Dike, which is a new "urban living room". In the sunset, the sea is sparkling, the subway and high-speed rail shuttle by, and the fishing boats are quietly moored, forming a beautiful picture. Here, we also encountered the "Xiamen Mid-Autumn Music Festival", and felt the romance and enthusiasm of Xiamen in the singing and moonlight. On the day of our return trip, we ended the trip romantically on the "Eye of the Tide" Ferris wheel. The Ferris wheel, which is 62 meters high, has a 360° panoramic view of the mountains and sea, and the 13-minute and 14-second romantic journey takes in the beautiful scenery of Xiamen. During this trip to Xiamen, we also stayed at the Xiamen Harbor Indigo Hotel, and the excellent location, artistic design, and delicious food in the riverside restaurant left a deep impression on us. In addition, the old Xiamen private dishes of Tangyan, such as yellow croaker noodles and crispy taro duck, also made us feast. Xiamen, a charming city, brings new surprises every time we meet. This trip in the Year of the Snake will become an eternal and beautiful memory in my heart.