Botanical Garden Temples
A temple known as the Tiger Stream Temple is located near the botanical gardens on the western side of Drunk Immortal Mountain. This area is noted for its ancient calligraphy found on many boulders here. It is said that on the 15^th day of the lunar month, the light of the moon makes the clay figurines seem to come alive. Visiting pilgrims come to this spot during the Mid-Autumn Festival to see this magical transformation.

Gulangyu Island
The top attraction in Xiamen is Gulangyu, the islet that is located just 700m off shore from Xiamen Island. Originally settled in the 13^th century, during the Yuan dynasty, the small island boasts lush tropical vegetation surrounding an incredible collection of late-19^th century buildings, representing top architectural styles from around the world. Narrow, twisting lanes wind their way past the high walls of mansions on the island’s hills, and with no vehicular traffic permitted on Gulangyu, this is an ideal place for leisurely walks.

Huli Hill Fort
It took nearly five years from the beginning of construction in 1891 for Huli Hill Fort to be completed. Perched on a bluff about 25m above the sea, this massive structure was built from sand, clay, lime juice and glutinous rice. This construction made the fort, later further protected by a German-made 280mm coastal defence gun—reported to be the largest cannon in the world, virtually impregnable.

Nanputuo Temple
Just outside of Xiamen University’s old gate isNanputuo Temple, which in 686 AD was the very humble cave dwelling of a single monk. The original cave is now part of a much larger complex comprising more than 20 buildings and four halls. A highlight of the temple is its scripture collection which includes copies of most every Chinese Buddhist scripture. There are more than 50,000 scriptures in all, with the oldest dating from around 2,000 years ago.

Ring Road Sites
The Xiamen Island Ring Road runs for nearly 20 miles (30kms), beginning at the harbour where it’s actually an elevated road that arches over the sea. Sites of interest along the road include the Huli Hill Fort, Music Square, numerous gardens and sculpture parks and the International Exhibition Centre. You can see more than 200 works of art along the way, with the first located on the grassy medium outside Xiamen University. This is a sculpture that’s actually a 247m long musical composition comprising the notes making up the ‘Song of Gulang Islet.’ In 2001 the sculpture was recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest musical sculpture anywhere.

Ten Thousand Rock Botanical Garden
Opened in 1960 the gardens feature thousands of rocks, nearly two dozen nurseries and many beautifully-landscaped trails. More than 5,300 species of tropical and subtropical plants are found here, including some that are not found anywhere else in the world. Located in the centre of Xiamen, the gardens are dotted with large granite boulders bearing inscriptions in calligraphy. Underneath the gardens is a series of caves.

Enjoy Jingzhou Park. Located in the south-eastern part of Xiamen Island, the park faces the sea and is backed by mountains on three sides. Its gardens are European in style and there’s an amusement park that is popular with children. The well-known Taiwan Folk Village is situated here.

Hike to the temple at Xian Yue Lu. The climb to the top of this hill is rewarding for the panoramic views of the area and the beauty of the temple itself. You can stop for tea at the monastery and have your future told from a stick of incense.

Stroll in Nan Hu Park. This is a place where you’ll find older Chinese in conversation or playing board games underneath the shade of ancient trees, where you’ll marvel at the vivid colours of the flowers and can stroll along the great expanses of green lawns. There’s a blend of Asian and French colonial styles here, and a Hong Kong-style restaurant that’s popular with locals as well. The park borders Yundang Lake.

Treat yourself to a foot massage. At Da Tong Shui,near Bailu Zhou, you can take a break from your hectic day and sit back and relax in privacy while your tired feet are given an aromatic bath and invigorating massage.Refreshments and light snacks are also on offer.

Taste local food and the Iron Guanyin tea. At the Lun Du area which faces Gulangyu, you can have a rest from sightseeing, try some local delicacies and taste speciality tea. On offer are Iron Guanyin and Tie Guanyin teas, combinations of green and oolong teas. The area is a spectacle of coloured lights after dark.

Visit Heaven Border Temple. To the west of the Wanshi Botanical Garden you’ll come across Drunken God Rock, where Heaven Border Temple was built at the time of the Qing dynasty. As you ascend the steps to the back of the temple, you’ll pass by spots with unique names including Ask Buddha the Way, Buddha Bathing Basin, God Ruin Rock, Long Howl Cave and Stone Chessboard. The summit is known as Camel Peak, where the reward for the climb is the fantastic view of Xiamen below.