Nanputuo Temple
Nanputuo Temple has a history dating back to the Tang Dynasty. It was expanded during the Ming Dynasty and renovated during the Qing Dynasty. Facing the harbor and worshipping Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy), the temple is akin to the Guanyin Temple on Putuo Mountain in Zhejiang Province, hence its name "Nanputuo" (literally, "South Putuo"). The temple is nestled snugly at the foot of five soaring peaks–the Bell Peak (the First Peak), the Second Peak, the Middle Peak (the Third Peak), the Fourth Peak, and the Drum Peak (the Fifth Peak).
Kulangsu
Kulangsu is a symbol of Xiamen, and has been praised as "Island of Music" and "Exposition of Worldwide Architectures". Kulangsu covers an area of 1.87 square kilometers, and has famous tourist attractions like Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden and Harmonium Museum.
As the tide comes in, the waves hit rocks, producing great sound like beating drums, and this is how Kulangsu gets its name. Here you may stroll to a quiet lane, or take a sunbath on the beach; there are Chinese and western architectures of various features, and natural scenery that will make poets and literary men want to compose poems and prose.
Shu Ting, a famous poet, said: "Kulangsu has tied me to her skirt. Neither can she get rid of me, nor can I leave her." Indeed, Kulangsu is a beautiful place that people would find it hard to forget.
Xiamen Botanical Garden
Xiamen Botanical Garden is the first of its kind in Fujian Province, and has an area of 4.93 square kilometers. Sitting in the cradle of mountains and lakes, the Garden is the host of a variety of tourist attractions, including over 7,000 kinds of plants and many precipice inscriptions. Here you can get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Railway Park
The Railway Culture Park which is situated between Wenping Road and Heping Pier used to be a part of Yingtan-Xiamen Railway. The old railway tracks had been wasted for years until 2011 when the construction of the Railway Culture Park began. Today it is a belt-shaped park which connects neighboring scenes and trails.
Yundang Lake
Yundang Lake was originally called Yundang Port. Historically, the northern shore of the port was flanked by a massive grove of giant bamboo trees known locally as "Yundang", hence the lake's current name. Land reclamation in the 1970s turned the port into a 1.7-square-kilometer lake, with a 400,000-square-meter terrace in the middle, called "Bailuzhou".
The lake has a fascinating nightscape that originated from the erstwhile "Yundang Fishing Lights". The areas around the lake contain a large number of sightseeing, leisure, recreational, fitness, shopping and catering facilities. Being the geographic center of both the city's old and new urban districts, the lake is a testimony to the extraordinary changes of the city over the time.
Zhongshan Road
Located at the southwest of Xiamen Island, Zhongshan Road was built in 1925 and is about 1.2 kilometers long. Since its establishment, Zhongshan Road has been the economic center of Xiamen and is the only commercial street facing the sea in China. Zhongshan Road is the main commercial pedestrian street in Xiamen. It is 1,198 meters long and 15 meters wide. Most of the buildings along the street were constructed by the returned overseas Chinese in 1920s. Nowadays there are hundreds of department stores, restaurants, and theaters on both sides of the street, attracting both locals and tourists with endless array of beautiful commodities.
Zengcuo'an
Zengcuo'an has developed from a fishing village into an artistic village with a main population being students and young artists. Over the years, the art village has begun to take shape as more and more artists like sculptors, musicians, poets and travelers swarmed to this village. Strolling along the five streets and eighteen lanes of Zengcuo'an, you will encounter artistic pieces of all kinds of styles.
Shapowei
The old inhabitants of Xiamen called the coastal section of Siming South Road Shapowei, which is situated between Yanwu Road and Dashengli. Sha Po Wei is the only shelter dock in downtown Xiamen and represents the memories of the old Xiamen locals for the ocean. Now it has become a great place of seafood and boutique shops. While Zengcuo'an is more of a neighborly and cozy place, Shapowei presents a rather international and refreshing appearance.
Xiamen University
Situated at the foot of mountains and beside the sea, Xiamen University boasts fascinating scenery. Together with its unique architecture, it is praised as the most beautiful university of China. Walking in the campus, you can see the classical red corniced architecture of Tan Kah Kee style. It is a blend of the swallow-tailed ridge and red-brick walls of the southern Fujian style and the high stone walls and flower-shaped window frames of the western style.
Houtian Community
Houtian Community has preserved the complete fabric of a traditional Minnan fishing village, with its ancient houses, old banyan trees, historic wells, ancestral halls, and temples.
The community has carefully collected and restored 34 ancient residential houses covering approximately 3,000 square meters. Using brick, stone, red tile, and rammed earth, the village's original character has been revived, giving shape to the "Houtian Art Village" project.
The Minnan Timewalk
The Minnan Timewalk, China's first Minnan-themed scenic area, will launch a series of events to create an immersive New Year experience starting from December 31st, 2025.
Performances such as fantasy-themed shows and large-scale immersive theatrical productions will take turns on stage, while activities like themed block tours and interactive parades will offer a seamless experience from day to night.
Xiamen Botanical Garden
Xiamen Botanical Garden is hosting a series of events at the Rose Garden, centered around the theme "nature + culture + family experience" from December 30th, 2025 to January 3rd, 2026.
The "Whimsical Botanical Garden" activity slated for 2:30 pm on January 1st, 2026 will invite families to freely color and create by drawing inspiration from real plants in the garden, expressing their hopes for the new year.
A hands-on intangible cultural heritage craft workshop will be held at 3 pm on January 2nd, 2026, allowing citizens and visitors to experience the unique charm of traditional craftsmanship up close.
Xiamen Horticulture Expo Garden
Xiamen Horticulture Expo Garden will hold a New Year celebration and a phoenix flower fair from the evening of December 31st, 2025 to January 3rd, 2026. From 7 to 11 pm on December 31st, three themed performance spots will be set up along the waterfront block east of the central square of the Horticulture Expo Garden, covering the front, middle, and rear sections.
Citizens and visitors can enjoy a series of carefully curated performances, including an energetic opening by a popular band at the front stage, as well as the "Horticulture Expo Garden Light Show" and the "12 Flower Goddesses Stage Show" at the central stage.
The "Minnan Golden Hits Special" will convey warmth and joy through songs in the local dialect, while jazz dance troupes and bands will continue to unleash the youthful energy of the New Year's Eve celebration.
