Xiamen

Geography and Climate

Xiamen is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Fujian province. It is one of China’s original four special economic zones with a strong economy as well as a coastal city which enjoy great tourists’ attraction. Located at the seaside, Xiamen borders Quanzhou to the north and Zhangzhou to the south. The city comprises Xiamen Island, Gulangyu Island and the coastal area stretching from the left bank of the Jiulong River and Tongan District. It has six administrative districts while the whole urban area covering 1,569 square kilometers with a population of 2.5 million.
Because of its location, Xiamen has a monsoonal humid subtropical climate with the annual temperature of 21 centi-degree and the even precipitation account for 1,200 mm. Effected by air current from Pacific Ocean, the city usually suffers from Typhoon four to five times annually. Neither too cold in winter nor too hot in summer, Xiamen is an ideal place to live. The former president of the US, had praised the city as the’ Oriental Hawaii’.

Economy

Xiamen has enjoyed a high-speed growth since the establishment of the Special Economic Zone. Once was an ancient island gateway to China, today’s Xiamen port ranks 8th among the top ports in China and 30th among the world’s top 100 ports. As one of the top ten ports in China, Xiamen has navigation routes to over 60 ports in more than 40 countries and regions.  A new International Cruise Ship Terminal due for completion in late 2007 will enable Xiamen to rival existing cruise ship centers such as Hong Kong and to capture the growth of the cruise ship industry in the Asia - Pacific region.
Xiamen was also ranked among the top 10 Chinese cities in relation to comprehensive strengths with its GDP increasing by an average of over 20% annually. In 2009, the city’s GDP reached 162.3 billion RMB, increased by 8.0% compared to that in 2008, with annual total industrial output value of enterprises account for 278.4 billion RMB. Following the further economic reforms is the booming international trade, the city’s total import & export value of foreign trade in 2009 approached approximately 113.2 billion RMB with a year-on-year growth of 20.7%.
Xiamen is also an ideal place for holding all sorts of international conferences and exhibitions. The present 9.8 China investment and trade conference every year has become one of the largest international economic and trade gatherings all over the country. Other sorts of conferences and exhibitions are held successively. Xiamen is working toward the goal of becoming a famous city for international conferences and exhibitions. In addition, Xiamen has a highly developed banking system and the biggest bank in the city is the Sino-Foreign joint venture Xiamen International Bank.
 
Tourism

Known as the’ Garden on the Sea’, Xiamen is dotted with beaches, forests and winding streets that extend in all directions. The picturesque island of Gulangyu allows people an ideal land for escaping hectic city life. Motor vehicles are banned on the island to ensuring a tranquil living environment. With a rich and dramatic history, Xiamen is in abundance of historical sites. For instance, tourists are usually eager to visit the Hulishan Cannon Platform where they can explore the history of the region. Sights such as Sunlight Rock or the ancient fishing village of Dadeng Tri-Islet Touring Area provide ample opportunity for sunbathing, long walks and water-sports while alongside the Zheng Chenggong Memorial and Nanputuo Temple where a number of halls and statues give visitors an introduction the Buddhist Faith. Visitors can also experience the monks’ life and are welcomed to eat the famous vegetarian food in the temple.
Bordering the Eastern Sea also provides the city with fresh seafood, which is a specialty of the area. Numerous of restaurants over the city can entertain visitors to Fujianese and all other Chinese cuisines. One of the local delicacies visitors should be sure to try is the Yupi Peanut: crispy, flour covered nuts available all over the city as snack-foods and gifts. Visitors can indulge in a little shopping too, hunting for lacquer sculptures, porcelain, and stone carvings which have been associated with the region since the Tang Dynasty.

Education

Xiamen University is the most reputed educational institute in the region. It is a national key university under the direct jurisdiction of the ministry of education, and is the institute that belongs to both ‘211’ and ‘985’ projects. Contemporary Xiamen University is a comprehensive university which offers a wide range of traditional and specialized subject interests. Founded in 1920, the university has developed into a crucial university focusing on subjects like theoretical and applied economics, law, ethnology and other social sciences, with qualified faculties in the areas of science, marine science, and biology etc.