Top Attractions in Xiamen - Best Attractions to Visit in Xiamen

Ranked among the four most significant Buddhist spiritual institutions in Xiamen, the Sunlight Rock Temple is a one of a kind religious attraction dating back centuries. Believed to have been built during the Ming Dynasty, the temple was renowned across China and attracted the crème de la crème of educated monks throughout the ages. Ideally situated near the Piano Garden, the best way to visit the Sunlight Rock Temple is to take a cable car ride up to the venue. The temple is also home to its very own aviary and a cinema, both of which are housed in the gardens surrounding the edifice. Open to visitors from 7 am to 8.45 pm, travellers can also take a ferry from Zhongshan Road to reach the temple.

Spread out over an area of nearly 1.8km2, Gulangyu Island is a popular tourist hub located across the sea from Xiamen City. While the island is not heavily populated there are a plethora of engaging highlights including the Shuzhuang Garden. Laden with stunning beaches, captivating architecture and winding avenues, it will come as no surprise that this charming island has earned a spot among the National Scenic Spots in the country. There is no fee to enter the island and the attraction is open all day and night long and can be easily reached via ferry.

Travellers looking for a way to dine and shop during a trip to Xiamen will find no finer alternative to exploring the bustling Zhongshan Walking Street after sundown. Lined with nearly two hundred stores and restaurants, the area is the perfect place to pick up tasteful souvenirs, handicrafts and all manner of consumer goods for unbelievable prices. The buildings in this part of Xiamen are a blend of Chinese and Victorian period architecture in which the vendors both live and use as retail spaces. The Zhongshan Walking Street is also ideal for digging into local delicacies and other food items although it is best to avoid this well-known leisure area during public holidays and weekends.

Constructed as early as 1891, Hulishan Fortress is a spectacular historical point of interest in Xiamen. Encircled by walls made of granite, the imposing gates of this mammoth structure are some of the most breathtaking sights one will come across. Sprawled across a whopping 13,000 square meters, the fortress is a well-preserved remnant of the military and building prowess of the Ming Dynasty as well as the subsequent Qing Dynasty. Fearing a secret tunnel, an ammunition depot, barracks, a tower and sentry platforms, the castle and the trenches make this one of the best defense structures in China. The venue also houses the largest surviving German origin Krupp cannon of its kind in the globe. Visitors based at Pan Pacific Xiamen or any other Xiamen hotels can tour the locale between 7.30 am and 6 pm.