Xiamen

City Introduction

Xiamen, the sub-provincial city of Fujian Province, is one of the five municipalities specifically designated in the state plan as well as one of China’s first batch of five special economic zones implementing the policy of opening up. It has been entitled the provincial-level economic administration authority and regional legislative authority.

History and Culture

Local dialect in Xiamen, one of China’ five special economic zones, is Hokkien. It is said that this place used to be the habitat for egrets, thus it was called “Ludao” (Egret Island). "Xiamen Cheng”, which implies the gate of the nation, was built since the 20th year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1387). Thereafter, the name of “Xiamen” was recorded. In A.D. 1933, the People’ Revolution Government of the Republic of China (i.e. Fujian People’s Government) established the specialized city of Xiamen, which was abolished soon. In October 1980, the State Council of the Party Central Committee made the decision to line out an area of 2.5 square kilometers in Huli, the north of Xiamen Island, and established Xiamen Special Economic Zone. Henceforth, Xiamen has become one of the special economic zones established at the earliest time. Entitled with provincial level of economic administration authority, it has been rapidly developing in economy. On the “Ranking list of China City Comprehensive Competitiveness” released by Economic Daily at the beginning of 2002, Xiamen ranked the fifth.

Natural Environment

Located in the southeast of Fujian Province, Xiamen adjoins Zhangzhou to the west, connects with Quanzhou to the north and stands in the face of Jinmen Islands across the sea to the southeast. Three representative areas of Xiamen, including Gulangyu Island, Nanputuo Temple and Xiamen (Wanshi) Botanical Garden, are recommended to all tourists. Gulangyu Island, lying in the southwest of the city, stands opposite to Xiamen Island across the sea. You can have a panoramic view of Xiamen when you climb onto the Sunlight Rock and overlook the city. Under the rock lies the Zheng Chenggong Statue. In the south of the rock alongside the sea stand the famous Shuzhuang Garden and the flat bathing beach covered with green plants. Under the Wulao Mountain in the southeast of the city, there lies the renowned and ancient Nanputuo Temple. At the back of the temple, it is a quiet and beautiful place with rocks and trees. The Yunding Rock standing on the Hongji Mountain is the summit of Xiamen Island. Xiamen University is standing nearby, where tourists can visit Luxun Memorial Hall, Human Museum inside. Xiamen Botanical Garden, lying in the east of the city, is covered with ridges and peaks rising one after another as well as varied wonderful sceneries.

Climate Change

The climate of Xiamen is subtropical climate. It is warm and rainy with an annual average temperature of around 21 ℃. It is neither too hot in summer nor too cold in winter. The mean annual precipitation reaches around 1200 mm and the largest amount arrives during each May to August. The wind power here is generally scale 3 to 4 and the normal dominating wind direction is northeast. Owing to the airflow resulted from the temperature differences at the Pacific Ocean, typhoon may occur four or five times annually at this place, mainly from July to September.