Gulangyu Islet

5-minite ferry riding across the 600-meter wide Lujiang straits to the south-east ofXiamen island lies the world-famous islet---Gulangyu Islet or "Drum Wave Islet" in Chinese. It gets the name because of the Gulang Rock on the southwest of this islet, when breakers pound the rock, it sends the sound like beating drums.
Among the many satellite-like islets of Xiamen, Gulangyu Islet is the biggest one with 1.91 sq km. land area, and about 20,000 residents. Owing to the breaking of the waves for thousandsof years, this small island has many secluded valleys, massive rocks, sheer cliffs, ridged reefs and sandy beaches, all of which contrast pleasingly with each other.

Gulangyu's roads are short with many twists and turns crisscrossing the islet. Now it has a ring road, which consists of a paved road, tunnels and zigzag bridges. It starts from the ferry wharf and followed, to the east, many scenic spots and tourist resorts, such as Bright Moon Park, Dadeji Bathing Beach, Sea View Garden, Shuzhuang Garden, Gangzaihou Seaside Resort, Hero-hill Tunnel, Gulang Rock, Gulang Villa, Overseas Chinese Garden for the Introduction of Subtropical plants, Fujian Art & Crafts School, Neicu'ao, Yanwei Hill, Shanqiutian Tourist Wharf, Underwater World and back to Ferry Wharf. Vehicles and bicycles are banned here, so this small islet is a haven of peace. Gulangyu has long been known as "Garden on the Sea". Walking on the quaint and quiet roads or riding in the special battery-run car, visitors can breathe the pure air, and enjoy the picturesque scenery. The whole island is verdant green dotted by the red-and-white houses with red roofs in different architectural styles.
Gulangyu is known as "Cradle of musicians" and "Isle of piano", in this tiny island there are more than 600 pianos, more pianos per capita than anywhere else in China. Wherever you go, pleasing to your ears are the melody from the pianos, the tune from violins, the rhythm from guitars and the song sung by the islanders. All these accompanied by the beats of the waves pounding the rock compose a charming symphony. In Gulangyu there is a music school, a well-equipped music hall, a symphony orchestra, a piano museum, many world-famous pianists and well-known pianist families. On weekends or holidays various concerts are often held by different organizations. Many families also hold piano or other musical instrument recitals or singing performances at that time. On these occasions three even four generations will join in. Music has become a part of the islander's life.

Gulangyu is also regarded as "An Exhibition of World Architecture", Numerous large, graceful colonial houses that used to serve as consulates or residences of European, Japanese and US diplomats in the late 19th or early 20th century are now still standing amidst the traditional Chinese courtyard mansions. So the sightseers are able to appreciate diversified architectural styles of different countries, such as English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Greece building styles and the southeast-Asian tropical and Japanese building styles.
Gulangyu"s night is especially charming. The multicolor spotlights cast on the sunlight rock, the Bagua Building, The piano-shape waiting hall of the ferry wharf, the giant stone statue of Zheng Chenggong and other main buildings. All of them appear crystalline and clear-shaped. Looking from downtown area of Xiamen, Gulangyu Islet is like a big brilliant flower basket floating on the glittering sea. Some laser beams shed across the sky combined with the neon lights and spotlights from the downtown area. The three dimensional space of the islands gives an unbelievable and fantastic view.

Nanputuo Temple Scenic Spot Area

Nanputuo Temple scenic spot area lies on the southeast of Xiamen Island. This area is characterized by the island's history, culture and custom, as well as the sea view. Xiamen University (founded by Mr.Tan Kah Kee in 1921), and the only national key university in special Economic Zones), Lujiang Vocational University, Overseas Chinese Museum, Xiamen University Anthropology Museum, Xiamen University Lu Xun memorial Hall, Nanputuo Temple (an Buddhist temple), and Hulishan Fort are all in this area. Along the Island Ring Road there are many seaside resorts. Besides, Taiwan Folk Village and Xiamen International Conference & Exhibition Center are also places that attracted sightseers.

Nanputuo Temple sits at the south foot of Wulao Peak (Five Elders Peaks). The temple's magnificent complex ornate structures were built over 1,000 years ago in Dang Dynasty. There are many giant statues of Buddha in this temple. It is also home of a few hundred monks. They burn incenses, chant scriptures and strike the bells every day.

Nanputuo Temple not only attracts hundreds of millions pilgrims from China and Southeast Asia, but also millions of other visitors from home and abroad every year.

Hulishan Fort is located strategically on the beach beside Xiamen University. It is only a few minutes bus-ride from Nanputuo Temple. The fort boasts the giant cannon and Rongguang Treasures Museum.
During the Opium Wars, in the mid of 19th century, the fort was equipped with two major Krupp cannon are well preserved. The Krupp cannon was made by the Krupp Munitions Plant in Germany. It is 13.96 meters in length, 59,888 kilogram in weight. The cannon has a caliber of 120mm, and the maximum shooting range is 10,460 meters. It is recorded that this cannon is the only largest one among its king, and is known as "the king of the Ancient Cannons in the world".

Rongguang Treasures Museum, which was set up in 1997, is in the Fortress. The exhibits include the world exotic stones, ancient armaments and tree fossils. There are 3850 old pieces of natural exotic stones of which the color and veins assume images of mountains, rivers, birds, beasts, flowers, trees etc. The cannons, guns, swords, armors, and shields are from many countries dating from the 13th century. All the exhibits are supplied by Mr., Zhang Rongguang, an overseas Chinese in Singapore. He was born in a family of collectors for seven generations.

Taiwan Folk village is located by the Island Ring Road, surrounded by the mountains in three sides and facing Jinmen across the sea. There one can not only learn the history, the custom, the architecture style of Taiwan, but also enjoy Taiwan folk songs and dances, taste Taiwan's food and appreciated the natural exotic stones, and thousands of butterflies specimens.

Ten-thousand Rock and Botanical Garden Sightseeing area

Ten-thousand Rock and Botanical Garden sightseeing area is situated on the eastern part of the city. It is composed of the long rang of rocky and evergreen hills and Wanshiyan Reservoir. There are many scenic spots and historical sights there. It is also an area rich in rare plants and giant strange-shaped rocks.

Ten-thousand Rock and Botanical Garden is a picturesque park perching on the north side of Wulao Peak, stretching to and covering the whole Lion Hill. It is, in fact, a natural botanical park well displayed and cultivated. Some 5,000 tropical and subtropical plants flourish in the 29 special-species nurseries or gardens. Some of them are rare plants found nowhere else. Besides the various plants, strewn across the picturesque hills are countless boulders. Some of them get beautiful names according to their shapes or legends, such as "Ten-thousand Hu (hand-board in ancient time) pointing the sky", "Laughing Rock of Peace", "Morning bell in Heaven", "Elephant-nose Peak", etc. Half hidden in the trees, bushes, flowers and rocks are caves, meandering streams, zigzag bridges, green houses, waterside pavilions and ancient temples. Several teas-houses may relax your legs, and various kings of recreational and sport facilities may add some pleasures during your trip.

Treading along the winding trail to the west comes to the Tiger Brook Rock scenic spot. The impressing feature of its landscape is the rocks, the cliffs, and the caves. When you ascend any of the rock and gaze into distance, meeting your eyes are sharp-cut cliffs, huge boulders with valuable inscriptions by the famous scholars and outstanding political personages in history. Some trees take roots indomitably in the crevices making fantastic views. A spring gurgles ceaselessly from the crevice before a cave under the huge Tiger Brook Rock forming a brook called "Tiger Brook", There is a famous sight known as "Night Moon at Tiger Brook". "White-Deer Cave" is one of the many strange big caves in the area boasting its famous scenic sight "white deer Retaining Smoke". Besides, there are some historic site in this area, such as "reading Place of Zheng Chenggong" "The spot where Zheng Chenggong killed Zhenglian" etc.

Following the beaten path, you will come to another park called Hong Hill Park, where Zheng Chenggong stationed his troop to guard the Xiamen Harbor at the end of Ming Dynasty. Due to its unusual geographical position, on rainy day, the wind currents blow the rain both vertically and horizontally, creating a unique sight, "Knitted Rain on Hong Hill". On the top of Hong Hill, you will have a bird eye view of the whole Xiamen and Gulangyu Islet and Xiamen harbor.

Haicang Sightseeing Area

There are many tourist attractions in Haicang district. Visitors can bathe hot spring in Xinglin holiday resorts; hunt in forest park of Mount Tianzhu; play golf in the East Country Golf Club; fish on the sea bay; and getting some knowledge about rare animals in Haicang Wild-life Zoo.

Huoshaoyu Islet (or Flaming Islet) is an ecological natural park, where Great masses of red rocks in all shapes look like flame. Schools of white dolphins, a national protection animal, swim freely in the sea; flocks of egrets, our city bird, hover happily over the trees. Xiamen Science & Technology Museum for Youngsters is also set on the islet, Where children and teenagers make all kind of experiment and learn a lot of knowledge about science and technology.

There are some cultural relics and historical sites in this area. Qingjiao Ciji Palace, also called East Palace, in Haicang was built in 1151 Sung Dynasty in honor of Wu Ben, a "Medical Saint". It is well preserved, and now a cultural heritage site under state protection. Besides, Liantang Villia and KuiXing Mansion are also buildings of sung Dynasty.

Jimei Scenic Sightseeing Area

Jimei district lies on the mainland just across Xiamen Bridge or the parallel Xiamen Sea Wall. It is Tan Kah Kee's hometown and a college town. In the small Jimei town-ship, Mr.Tan Kah Kee, a patriotic overseas Chinese, set up 12 schools of different levels from kindergarten to colleges. The subjects cover navigation, aquaculture, finance, economic, teacher training and physical education. In 1994 five colleges founded by Mr. Tan Kah Kee combined into one big University, Jimei University. So Jimei is an important educational and cultural center of Xiamen. Jimei is a prime tourist site with distinctive strong local culture. Most of the buildings in the township are of Mr. Tan's unique architectural style: white stone wall with red brick-inlaid decoration under the traditional Chinese roof of green or golden glazed tiles. The buildings along the Dragon-boat Lake are especially charming with the wall half-hidden in the green trees and the roofs glittering under the sun, all of which are reflected in the lake presenting a fantastic view.

Aoyuan ( Turtle Park), one of the highlights, lies in the southeastern corner of Jimei, stretching out to the sea. It is so called because Mr. Tan Kah Kee's Mausoleum is shaped like a turtle. The park is composed of three parts: the portico, the Monument to Liberation and Tan's Mausoleum. The park has a marvelous display of 653 carvings. There are relief carvings, sunken carvings, shadow carvings and other traditional and foreign carving styles. The carving pictures depict in detail various historical scenes, personage stories from ancient to modern China, and the inscriptions by many prominent personages. Various kinds of flowers and rare animals are carved on the stone railings. The carvings are so fine and exquisite that visitors marvel at the craftsmen's skill and feat.

Jimei has many other scenic spots. Xiamen Sea Wall, on which the railway laid, was built in 1950s. It is a wonder project of "Remove Mountain and Drain Sea". In addition, Xiamen Bridge, a highway bridge with flyovers at both ends, the ruins of Yan Ping Camp, Tan Keh Kee's former home, the Returnees' Hall, Jimei spaceflight Center, Jimei Marine-life Museum, Nan Shun Crocodile Zoo are all attractions to the visitors.

Tong'an Toruist Attractions

Tong'an district is situated at the center of South Fujian Provine with the mountains at the back and sea in the front. Jinmen Island is only 2260 meters. to the south across the sea. Its coastline stretches 86 km. Tong'an is the transportation hub in south Fujian Golden Triangle Area, 36km south to Xiamen island, 64 km, Mortheast to Quanzhou, an ancient seaport city, and 68 km southwest to Zhangzhou , a city of flowers and plants.
Tong'an was established as a county in 933 AD. Historically, it jurisdiction covered Xiamen, Jinmen, Jimei, Penghu and Taiwan. So Tong'an is rich in natural landscapes and cultural relics. There are 51 cultural heritage sites under state or provincial protection in this area.

"Twelve Dragon Pools is a beautiful place in Beichen Mountain, also called North Mountain. Ample water cascades down the sheer, 500-meter high rock in different terraces creating 12 deep limpid pools. This fairyland brings plenty of folklore. Due to abundant water resources on North Mountain, county magistrates of all dynasties often traveled here to pray for rainfall in times of drought.

Dalun Mountain (or Big Wheel Mountain) lies to the north of Tong'an township. The undulating mountain range is like a big wheel rolling several miles. The hill, the rock, the springs and the trees form 18 romantic picturesque sights, all graced with the names like: "cold Bamboo and Pine Tree in the Wind" "Red Phoenix Facing the Sun" "Gold Turtle Kneeling for Seal", "Lotus Towering the Sky", etc.

Fantian Temple, one of the oldest temples in south Fujian Province, is located at the foot of Dalun Mountain. This magnificent temple was first built in Sui Dynasty 581 AD, ruined in a fire in 1354, and rebuilt in 1370. Many famous personages and eminent monks throughout the ages visited or lived there. They left a great amount of beautiful poetry and prose, and many inscriptions on the precipices.

Other historical sights include "Susong (1020-1101) Science & Technology Hall", "Susong's Former House", "Confucius Temple", "Ruined Ancient Porcelain Kiln", "Brahman Pagoda" and "Fengshan Stone Pagoda" etc.