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Xiamen Travel Blogs

Background: For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping and other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by 2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, living standards have improved dramatically and the room for personal choice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight.

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By Norma and John
July 6th 2007

China II - Xiamen Asia » China » Fujian » Xiamen

Wall Cartoon in the Revolutionary Restaurant

We've returned to Xiamen to visit friends and see some familiar sights from our adventure here last year. TRANSPORTATION TRIVIA An inexpensive and convenient way of getting around Xiamen is to use taxis. We collect and carry business cards of our hotel/apartment, certain restaurants, people we know etc. to communicate our destination to the drivers. The rules of the road are another matter. Canadian drivers might see these road warriors as bad drivers - lane changes are made at whim, vehicles drift to cut off others, near misses with bicycles, motorbikes and hapless pedestri [View Full Entry]

A Decadent Dish at the Revolutionary Restaurant

By Rob Donna
June 26th 2007

Hello from China - Into the eye of the Dragon - Gulangyu to Shanghai Asia » China » Fujian » Xiamen

Gulangyu Island, Xiamen, China
Walking around the island. This statue was huge - you had to walk up heaps of stairs to get to the top... so we didn't get to the top.

Well, we arrived safely in Xiamen, China last Monday (18 June) and yes it is true - travelling in China ain't easy. (Just wait for our blog on Beijing where we are now!!!) Virtually no one speaks any english (at least where we landed ) and there are very few signs in english. But just when you need help some one with enough english just seems to come along and get you out of the predicament. For example - Our guide book says - "turn east at the entrance of the airport and walk to the bus stop to the [View Full Entry]

By Carbonel
June 17th 2007

I am not a number! Asia » China » Fujian » Xiamen » Gulangyu

RECOVERED

We speed through Xaimen is favour of Gulangyu Island, which is well worth a nights stay, free ferry on the way over, 8RMB on the way back. It's just like the set from that old 60's tv show 'The Prisoner' where a spy wants to quit spying and he gets kidnapped and placed in a carefully designed 'village' for ex spies who know too much to live out the rest of their days. The lawns (LAWNS!) are immaculate, the only motorised transport allowed is the golf cart, there is even classical music piped in from hidden speakers from 6am till 10pm [View Full Entry]

By Ricechrisb
June 6th 2007

Gulang Yu (AHA!) Asia » China » Fujian » Xiamen

Whenever I say "Gulang Yu" that bloody ABBA song makes me go "Aha!" in my mind... Yes, well... We arrived with directions from Shannon as to where we should stay. Though Xiamen is an island off the coast of China with a long history as 'Amoy', Gulang Yu was our target. Just a few hundred metres from the ferry terminal the island sat in the searing sun looking something like a cross between Portugal and Italy. The terracotta red roofs and pale walls shining across at us and green everywhere else apart from a few rock outcrops and the grey line [View Full Entry]

By mrobertson
May 11th 2007

Wanshi Botanical Garden Asia » China » Fujian » Xiamen

Dragon Fruit

I went to a very nice botanical garden. It was huge, taking many hours to cover, with lots of spots left unseen. There were a couple small mountains in the area, a lake, and some temples. But no restaurants. I became very hungry, and had to settle for instant noodles from a shop. It's getting very hot in Xiamen. I will put some random things here. - I bought a watermelon bigger than my head, for about 50 cents. It was good. - Most supermarkets have at least half an aisle dedicated to MSG. - They sell Asparagus Juice in [View Full Entry]

By Laurie and Viv
May 10th 2007

Down and Out in China Asia » China » Fujian » Xiamen » Gulangyu

Get a Grip
The roots of a strangling fig clutch at the stonework of an old villa on Gulang-yu. © L. Birch 2007

The rain fell like stair rods as we sheltered beneath a street awning in Bangkok, waiting for it to stop. It rained most days now. People were saying that the rainy season was starting earlier and earlier each year. Was this a sign perhaps, that the effects of climate change were beginning to affect weather patterns that could once have been predicted with a near perfect accuracy? Change was not always for the better. Other changes meant that we had to keep a watchful eye on the number of days we spent in the kingdom. New regulations affecting the amount of [View Full Entry]

By mrobertson
May 6th 2007

Gulangyu and the Aquarium Asia » China » Fujian » Xiamen » Gulangyu

Man Tou
This is steamed bread, a common breakfast food. This particular one is pumpkin flavoured, but it doesn't taste very good. The standard ones are better.

Located about 3 minutes by ferry from Xiamen, there is a popular tourist spot called Gulangyu Island. It has many museums and sights, which I did not see because it was raining. But I did go to the aquarium. There are no cars on the island, just trams that are at a constant risk of running someone down. The ferry to the island is jam-packed, and they load the passengers on almost like cattle, but it's a very short trip, so it's not unpleasant. Aquariums are a really tough place to take pictures. Low light, moving fishies, lots of reflection... [View Full Entry]

By mrobertson
April 30th 2007

I Cooked Some Tofu Today Asia » China » Fujian » Xiamen

Apartment 1
This is in semi-downtown Xiamen, about 10 minutes from the train station. It was already furnished, including some strange stuffed animals and pictures on the walls. The dog looks like ET up close, bu... [more]

I Cooked Some Tofu Today Asia » China » Fujian » Xiamen By mrobertson April 30th 2007 I have many mosquito bites, and just got another. I will probably get malaria soon. I have little to say, as it took me hours to upload all those pictures on this scanty internet connection. The enthusiasm from the beginning has long sinc [View Full Entry]

By mrobertson
April 18th 2007

In the land of Mao Asia » China » Fujian » Xiamen

Window
View from Hotel window.

After a 12-hour plane trip, a 4-hour wait, and a 1.5 hour plane trip, I finally arrived in Xiamen. It is an island across the water from Taiwan (it's part of the PRC). The airline, China Eastern, is acceptable, but quite budget. They don't have personal TV's, which I believe is now a violation of certain FAA regulations. They showed "The Ant Bully", "16 Blocks", a French film, and a Chinese film. I didn't really pay attention to any of them. For lunch they served pork and rice, with an interesting sauce I had never tasted before (maybe it was [View Full Entry]

By JamesB
February 6th 2007

Mum's visit pt.2 Asia » China » Fujian » Xiamen

Botanical Gardens

The bus ride to Xiamen was comfortable and passed without incident. Although a particular highlight was the lunch break when I managed to hold a conversation(-ish) with some of our fellow travellers in my pidgin Chinese. They were quite impressed that Mum and I were travelling to Xiamen and to find out that I worked there. They also tried to teach Mum how to use chopsticks properly with hilarious results. Mum insists that it was all the attention that put her off and that she's usually actually quite proficient with chopsticks. I'll leave you to make your own minds up ; [View Full Entry]

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