Impressions of Fujian and Xiamen

Impressions of Fujian and Xiamen: A City's Poetic Dwelling In the southeastern corner of Fujian, Xiamen lies like a smooth shell, embracing thousand years of sea breeze and daily life. Here you'll find both the grandeur of waves crashing against reefs and the serenity of tea-scented old streets. To truly understand Xiamen, one must go beyond popular tourist spots and delve into its essence, feeling the warmth, cultural charm, and history hidden in the folds of time. 1. Warm Xiamen: A Kind-Hearted Home in the Bustle of City Life Xiamen's warmth lies in its details. In the early morning at the Eighth Market, amid the fishmongers' calls and salty sea air, a grandmother smilingly offers you a bowl of freshly made peanut soup, urging you to "drink it while it's hot." If you get lost, an old man fanning himself in the alley will guide you in authentic Minnan dialect: "Go straight ahead, turn the corner, and you'll reach Nanputuo Temple!" In the guesthouses of Zengcuoan, hosts often prepare Iron Guanyin tea and invite you to gather around the tea table, sharing stories of how a fishing village transformed into an artistic community. Amid the tea's fragrance, you can feel the city's pulse - never turning anyone away, but gently incorporating travelers into its daily rhythm. 2. Cultural Wanderings: A Symphony of Art and History Gulangyu Island is Xiamen's most touching poem. Under Sunlight Rock, the European-style villas were once overseas Chinese's connection to their homeland. Walking on stone-paved paths, piano music drifts from courtyards covered in bougainvillea, reminiscent of Lin Yutang's "Piano Island" from a century ago. To avoid crowds, follow the courtyard light at Wormhole Bookstore, read "Tales of Gulangyu" in a century-old foreign house, letting words converse with architecture. At Shapowei, old fishing port masts create fascinating chemistry with modern art graffiti. Spend an afternoon in a glass workshop crafting a wave-patterned ring, or pause at Fat Fat Beer Horse's terrace to watch the sunset paint the harbor orange - this is Xiamen's "coexistence of old and new." 3. Historical River: Living Heritage of Minnan Spirit Atop Hulishan Fortress, the Krupp cannon platform seems to echo with gunfire from the First Sino-Japanese War in the salty breeze. The weathered bullet marks tell tales of this "Southern Gate's" remarkable years. Walking into Jimei School Village, the red-tiled upturned eaves of Tan Kah Kee architecture complement Western colonnade, while Mr. Chen Jiageng's dedication to education still ripples through the Dragon Boat Pool. Deeper history lies within the arcade buildings of Zhongshan Road. Past the "Zebei Gantang" archway, visit the Huang Clan Ancestral Hall of Jiangxia Hall, where a 600-year-old oyster shell well still nourishes daily life. Around the corner, Lanqin Ancient House's wooden carved doorframes with Nanyang patterns silently tell stories of migration to Southeast Asia. These fragments piece together the Minnan people's "dare to strive and win" spirit. 4. Culinary Delights: Gifts from Sea and Mountain Xiamen's cuisine is a love letter written by mountains and sea. Satay noodles' rich broth swirls with Southeast Asian spices and local seafood, while crystal jelly holds fishermen's wisdom. At old establishments on Kaiyuan Road, watch grandpa fry five-spice rolls until sizzling, always adding: "Dip in sweet chili sauce for authentic taste!" For the most genuine flavors, follow fishermen to Gaoqi Fishing Port before dawn, watch returning boats unload dewy round scad, and celebrate freshness with blanched fish and soy sauce at dockside stalls. 5. Hidden Routes: Gentle Embrace with Time Dawn and Dusk: Wait for sunrise at Huangcuo Beach, watching the sun leap from Kinmen's direction; take an evening Lujiang cruise, letting Yanwu Bridge's flowing lights and Gulangyu's silhouette dance in your glass. Through Time: Start from Nanputuo Temple's morning bells, pass Xiamen University's Fuxing Tunnel graffiti wall, to Shapowei Art West District, experiencing Tang-Song incense, Republican elegance, and contemporary avant-garde in one day. Mountain and Sea Date: Hike the Linhai Health Trail, overlook "Xiamen's Little Switzerland" from Wanshi Cliffs, gaze at Greater and Lesser Kinmen from Pangui Tower, let sea breeze scatter your thoughts into clouds. Xiamen's beauty lies in its effortlessness. Like the royal poinciana stretching over old alley walls, blooming naturally yet helping passing travelers suddenly understand "poetic dwelling." As locals often say: "In Xiamen, don't rush the journey, experience it."