Check out our guide to life in Xiamen
Located at the south-east coast of China, Xiamen is a popular tourist city known for picturesque scenery, historical temples and architecture, great parks and an enchanting waterfront district. Built on an island almost opposite Taiwan, trade has been vital to Xiamen’s growth. The city’s origins date back 5,000 years. It is renowned within China for its fabulous street food and snacks. Traditional dishes stem from the southern Fujianese cuisine, but with a distinctly Taiwanese flavour. Xiamen is also famous for its puppet shows, music, Gezi Opera, and temple celebration events.
Xiamen Fast Facts
Prefecture-level and Sub-provincial city
Settled 1903 CE
Population 3,531,347
Xiamen Weather
Hottest Month July (29 °C avg)
Coldest Month January (14 °C avg)
Wettest Month June (108.3 mm avg)
Windiest Month October (14 km/h avg)
Annual Rainfall 595.8 mm (per year)
10 Things to See and Do in Xiamen
South Putuo Temple
Explore the expansive Tang Dynasty Buddhist temples, gardens, terraces, pools and pagodas.
Kinmen
Take a boat trip over to explore historic Kinmen county, just off the south eastern coast.
Hulishan Cannon Fort
Enjoy great ocean views and interesting exhibits for history buffs in this historic fortress.
Gulangyu
Walk about the romantic, pedestrian-only island and can enjoy shopping, music, and more.
Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street
The place to be if you love to shop big brand name stores and enjoy delicious food.
Xiamen Botanical Garden
You can spend a whole day exploring this vast park and its species of plants.
Xiamen Undersea World
Observe a wide variety of sea life in the aquarium and experience a trained sea lion show.
Overseas Chinese Museum
This collection includes historical and cultural artefacts from Chinese people living overseas.
The Londoner
If you’re keen to connect with other English-speakers, grab a beverage at this English pub.
Xiamen Piano Museum
Musicians will appreciate this museum’s unique, famous, historic and unusual pianos.
Cost Of Living
| ITEM | RMB | GBP | AUS | RAND |
| Cinema | 55 | 6.28 | 11.47 | 114.38 |
| Water | 2 | 0.23 | 0.42 | 4.18 |
| Beer in a bar | 17 | 1.94 | 3.55 | 35.35 |
| Beer in a shop | 6 | 0.68 | 1.25 | 12.48 |
| Coke | 2 | 0.23 | 0.42 | 4.18 |
| Meal at a cheap restaurant | 13 | 1.48 | 2.71 | 27.03 |
| Meal at an average restaurant | 35 | 3.99 | 7.30 | 72.79 |
| Meal at a high end restaurant | 100 | 11.41 | 20.86 | 207.96 |
| Gym per month | 200 | 22.83 | 41.72 | 415.92 |
| City bus | 1 | 0.11 | 0.21 | 2.08 |
| Monthly utility bills (electricity, heating, water, rubbish) | 352 | 40.18 | 73.42 | 732.02 |
| Loaf of bread | 13 | 1.48 | 2.71 | 27.03 |
