Southeastern China’s tropical port town has dialled down since it’s days as a trading hub along the maritime Silk Road, but the laid-back vibe is all part of its charm.
With glorious beaches, colonial buildings, hot bars and restaurants, and a creative scene that flies under the radar, Xiamen’s attractions are diverse and never ending. It has lively street markets, impressive temples and a blooming art zone in a former refrigeration plant in Shapowei. Plus, it serves as a springboard for surrounding islands like Gulangyu, the hill station of Wuyishan and the Unesco World Heritage–listed tulou — round houses in the countryside that house Hakka and southern Fujianese communities.