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XIAMEN Coastal Comfort
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oasting a pleasant climate yearround and a great diversity of activities for travelers, the coastal city of Xiamen is one of the most popular tourist destinations in southern China. Located on the Taiwan Straits, with Taiwan-administered Jinmen Island lying less than 6 kilometers away, the Hokkien city of Xiamen shares similar customs, cuisines and an almost identical language with residents of the Chinese territory of Taiwan. One of the four special economic zones opened to foreign investment in the 1980s, the former treaty port now hosts the annual China International Fair for Investment and Trade, one of the largest investment events in the world. This past year the fair was held online due to the COVID-19 situation. Aside from financial prowess, Xiamen is home to the island of Gulangyu – a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site that sees tourists flock
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to it day in, day out. Located only a five-minute ferry ride away from downtown Xiamen, the pedestrian-only island boasts beautiful beaches and unique architecture, and is one of the ‘most visited’ tourist spots in the PRC. On Xiamen’s historic Zhongshan Lu, rows of qilou , a traditional veranda-like structure, greet visitors and serve as a reminder of the city’s past. The Buddhist Nanputuo Temple, which dates back to the Tang Dynasty, is a must-visit national treasure in Xiamen; while Zencuo’an, a former fishing village, is a hub for pubs, hostels and street food stalls. In this seaside city, there is no shortage of restaurants serving up fresh seafood and you’d be crazy to leave Xiamen without trying the city’s renowned shacha noodles, oyster omelet and fish ball soup.
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