Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Xiamen (China). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: South Putuo Temple, Landmine Museum, and Bada Tower. Also, be sure to include Gulangyu in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Xiamen (Fujian).
Table of Contents
South Putuo Temple
Also known as: 南普陀寺
Sprawling Tang Dynasty Buddhist temple. South Putuo or Nanputuo is a famous Buddhist temple founded in the Tang dynasty in the Chinese city of Xiamen. It is so named because it is south of the Buddhist holy site Mount Putuo in Zhejiang Province.[1]
Address: 515 Siming S Rd, 361005 厦门市
Landmine Museum
Museum. The Landmine Museum is a museum in Lieyu Township, Kinmen County, Taiwan.[2]
Bada Tower
Tower in Lieyu. The Bada Tower is a tower in Lieyu Township, Kinmen County, Taiwan.[3]
Gulangyu
Also known as: 鼓浪屿
Island in Xiamen, China. The Gulangyu, Gulang Island or Kulangsu is a pedestrian-only island off the coast of Xiamen, Fujian Province in southeastern China. A UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, the island is about 2 km2 in area, and is reached by an 8-minute ferry ride from downtown Xiamen. Although only about 20,000 people live on the island, Gulangyu is a major domestic tourist destination, attracting more than 10 million visitors per year, and making it one of China's most visited tourist attractions. Gulangyu not only bans cars, but also bicycles. The only vehicles permitted are small electric buggies and electric government service vehicles.
Visitors can reach Gulangyu by ferry from the ferry terminal in Xiamen. Local residents are allowed to use a shorter 5-minute ferry to/from the Lun Du Ferry Terminal. During the day (every 20 minutes, from 7:10 AM to 5:30 PM in Winter and Spring / from 7:10 AM to 6:30 PM in Summer and Autumn), tourists and non-locals take a 20-minute ferry ride from the Dongdu International Cruise Terminal to either San Qiu Tian Terminal or Nei Cuo Ao Terminal in Kulangsu Town. A ticket costs 35 CNY. After 6:00 PM, there is a more convenient ferry from Lundu Terminal 2, which drops off at San Qiu Tian Terminal in Kulangsu Town. That service runs all night, and also costs 35 CNY.
Gulangyu Island is renowned for its beaches, winding lanes and rich architecture. The island is on China's list of National Scenic Spots and is classified as a 5A tourist attraction by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA). It ranks at the top of the list of the ten most scenic areas in the province.
Gulangyu covers an area of 1.91 square kilometres (0.74 sq mi), with a household population of 15,373. Administratively, the island constitutes the Gulangyu Subdistrict, part of Xiamen's Siming District.[4]
Hujingtou Battle Museum
Museum. The Hujingtou Battle Museum is a museum in Kinmen National Park, Lieyu Township, Kinmen County, Taiwan.[5]
Kinmen Bridge
Extradosed bridge. The Kinmen Bridge is a cross-sea bridge currently under construction in Kinmen, Fujian, Republic of China. Once finished, it will connect Greater Kinmen Island and Lieyu Island.[6]
Haicang Bridge
Also known as: 海滄大橋
Suspension bridge in Xiamen, China. Haicang Bridge is a suspension bridge located in Xiamen, Fujian Province, China. Built in 1999, it has a main span of 648 meters.
Haicang Bridge is a very important bridge that links Xiamen Island (where the city center is located) with the city's Haicang District located on the mainland.[7]
Address: No.127 Dongdu Road, Huli District, 361013 Xiamen
Shimao Cross-Strait Plaza
Shimao Cross-Strait Plaza, also known as Shimao Straits Tower, Shimao MO Sky Mansion, and Xiamen Shimao Straits Mansion, is a skyscraper complex in Xiagang, Siming District, Xiamen, People's Republic of China. The project was completed in 2015, and the architect was Gensler.
The complex has two towers, Xiamen Shimao Cross-Strait Plaza Tower B and Xiamen Shimao Cross-Strait Plaza Tower A, which are nicknamed the "Twin Towers of Xiamen". Tower B is taller, at 295.3 meters, while Tower A is 249.9 meters.
The primary use of the towers is for office space. Tower B also includes a hotel, and Tower A has "small office/home office" units. The complex has an observation deck from which the island of Kinmen can be seen. In between the two towers is a shopping center called Emall.[8]
Dadan Island
Island in Asia. Dadan Island is an island in Lieyu Township, Kinmen County, Fujian Province, Republic of China. The island is in the Taiwan Strait, along the coast of Mainland China. It is located approximately 12,000 m to the southwest of Lesser Kinmen and approximately 4,400 m from Xiamen.[9]
Binlang Islet
Binlang Islet is an islet located in Lieyu Township, Kinmen County, Taiwan. The islet can be seen from the shore near Lingshui Lake and from the shore near Shaxi Fort in the southwestern part of Lesser Kinmen as well as from Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian, China. The highest point on the islet is 47 m above sea level.[10]
Xiamen International Centre
Skyscraper. Xiamen International Center is a skyscraper under construction in Xiamen, China. The tower was topped out in April 2016, and the building is expected to be completed in 2023.
The China Post & Telecommunication Tower, a planned 342-meter tall office building was previously planned to be at the same location. The project began construction in 1996 but was halted at podium level. The current building began construction in 2014, and is expected to be completed in December 2025.
From 2016 to present, Xiamen International Center has been the tallest building in the city of Xiamen, as well as tallest in the Haixi Metropolitan Area.
The Xiamen International Center, when completed, will serve as a hotel and a office after completion in 2025.[11]