China Travel Guide

Name: Xiamen Yanpinggulei Relics (Yanpinggulei)
City: Xiamen
Address: South of Jimei County
Admission: Free

Jimei Turtle Park is located in the southeastern part of Xiamen. It covers an area of nearly 9,000 square meters. It was constructed in 1951 and it got its name because of the shape of the park, which is like a turtle head. The whole park is close to the sea with beautiful scenery. Jimei Turtle Park was built by Tan Kah-Kee during his life time and was later chosen as his gravesite. Mr.Tan was a famous overseas Chinese leader who devoted himself wholly to education. The Jimei Turtle Park project was divided into three parts: the covered corridor, Jimei Liberation Monument and Mr. Tan Kah-kee’s tomb. After full deliberation and preparation, the construction of the Turtle Park began in 1951. Mr. Tan was general designer and engineer. Ten years passed from the beginning of construction in 1951, with the essential completion in 1957 with the burying of Mr. Tan and the covering of the tomb. The covered corridor is 50 meters long, on both sides of which stood two granite walls. The bottom of Tan Kah-Kee’s deeds is pasted faced down, the green granite is decorated, and the magnificent relieves carved 58 pictures shown historical stories of China. In the middle of the left wall are 24 pictures about the prophesy of Zhu Geliang who was a smart strategist in the Three Kingdoms period (25-280 AD) and at the head are pictures about Chinese traditional opera. Jimei Liberation Monument, with an inscription of Mao Zedong on the front and a tablet record written by Mr. Tan on the back, stood in the centre of the park. The stone foundation of the monument consists of two stages. The low stage has eight steps which represent the eight-year Anti-Japanese War, the upper stage consists of three steps, symbolizing the three year Liberation War.

Continue reading ‘Xiamen Jimei Turtle Park, Jimei Haigui Gongyuan’ »

Ciji Palace is situated at the hub of Xiamen, Zhangzhou and Quanzhou. It is superior for geographical position and picturesque scenery all around. Xiamen Island, Nine Dragons River, Zhangsong Highroad are all not far. Ciji Palace is the site where the famous doctor Wu is worshiped. According to legend, doctor Wu was good at leechcraft and used to cure patients whenever he met them. He helped relieve and recover from pain, so he was most welcome by locals. After his death, in order to memorialize his kindness, the locals collected money and built the Ciji Temple, which was named Ciji Palace later. From then on, more and more people go to worship doctor Wu. The palace is also a site for worshiping the ancestors. In each spring festival, people, especially overseas Chinese from Hong Kong and Taiwan, congregate to pray.

Continue reading ‘Xiamen Ciji Palace, Ciji Gong’ »

Name: Xiamen Dongmen Island Scenic Area (Dongmenyu Fengjingqu)
City: Xiamen

Chongwu Ancient City is located 24 kilometers on the south of Chongwu Peninsula in Huian County of Quanzhou City. It is one of the better preserved stone cities of the country.

Continue reading ‘Xiamen Chongwu Ancient City, Chongwu Gucheng’ »

Five Old Men Peaks, as its name indicates, is the shape of the peaks, looking just like five old men watching the sea far away for thousands of years. At the entry to Five Old Men Peaks, there is a huge rock with gorgeous calligraphy on it. Situated at the foot of Wulao Peak on the southern end of Xiamen is South Putuo Temple, first built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). And on the top of the peaks, there are many Love Trees from Taiwan, and so this place attracts many Taiwan tourists.

Name: Xiamen Five Old Men Peaks (Wulao Feng)
City: Xiamen
Address: Behind Putuo Temple, Fujian Province
Admission: Free
 

Nanputuo Temple is located at the foot of Wulao Mountain (Five Old Men Mountain) and facing the sea. It is deemed to be one of the must-go tourist places in Xiamen. This Buddhist temple was once called Puzhao Temple (Universal Grace Temple). It was first built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and was later destroyed in the warfare during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD). The temple covers 30,000 square meters with four main buildings on the north-south axis. The buildings include three Buddha Halls and a pavilion built in 1936 in which Buddhist scriptures, Buddha images from Burma, ivory sculptures and other works of art are stored. Many rooms flanking the main buildings include dormitories, libraries and study rooms for monks. Also called the Hall of Heavenly Kings (Tian Wang Dian), The Tianwang Buddha Hall is the location of the statues of four ferocious Heavenly Kings. In the center of the hall stood a fat Buddha named Milefo. Mahavira (meaning the Buddha of the future) Hall is built in 1921 and features the statues of the Trinity of the Three Ages (present, past and future). The Dabei Buddha Hall in this temple is an octagonal tower which was rebuilt in 1928. The Sutra-Keeping Pavilion was built in 1936 and houses thousands of Buddhist scriptures, Buddha images from Burma, ivory Sculptures, wood sculptures, bronze bells, incense burner and other works of art.

Name: Xiamen Nanputuo Temple (Nanputuo Si)
City: Xiamen
Address: The foot of Wulao Peak/near Xiamen University
Admission: CNY3
Hours: 04:00 am -06:00 pm
Tel: 0086-592-2087282    

First built in 1931 on the southside of the island, Shuzhuang Garden was once a private villa. It became a garden park open to the public in 1955. It is divided into two parts-the Garden of Hiding the Sea (Canghaiyuan) and the Garden of Making-Up Hills (Bushanyuan). It was exquisitely designed to embody three important characteristics in gardening—hidden elements, borrowing from one’s surroundings, and combining movements. The principle of hidden elements is embodied in the way the ocean remains hidden from view even if you walk right up to the garden gate. However, once you emerge from the bamboo forest, the seascape leaps into view. By climbing the Tower of Tide-Viewing, you could get a terrific look at the sea. Borrowing from one’s surroundings refers to cleverly using naturally available scenery. The garden also possesses another characteristic – the combining of movements. Its unique arrangement joins a rockwork that includes a maze of connected caves with fine pavilions on the side of the slope.

Name: Xiamen Shuzhuang Garden (Shuzhuang Huayuan)
City: Xiamen
Address: Southern Gulangyu
Admission: CNY30
   

Name: Xiamen Eryilou Hakkas Earthen Buildings(Eryilou Kejia Tulou)
City: Xiamen
Address:
Admission: Free
  

Xiamen University was founded by overseas Chinese renowned patriotic leader, Mr. Chen Jiageng in 1921. It was reputed as “the best of southern”.
It is the first university organized by overseas Chinese in the history of education during recent modern time. It is also the only university situated at the special economic zone of the country under the “211 projects” and “985 projects” with proper quality requirements of high level university.
The university is equipped with more than 80 development facilities. Among which, there are two state level key laboratory, one national project engineering research center, four Ministry of Education key laboratories and five Ministry of Education Liberal arts Key Research Bases.
The university occupies a land area of 7,868 Chinese acres (524.5 hectares). The campus surrounds Xiamen Gulf, according to mountain and near the river. It has become one of the most beautiful university campuses of domestic recognition.

Name: Xiamen Xiamen University (Xiamen Daxue)
City: Xiamen
Address: No.422 Siming South Road, Xiamen
Admission: Free
Hours: 24 Hours
Tel: 0086-592-2186110