Xiamen mroochydore's beautiful big sister
By Terry Edge
Photos by Yao Fan



澳大利亚昆士兰州马卢奇郡是厦门市的姐妹城市之一.去年该市的一对退休夫妇花了两周的时间来厦门旅游.此前他们对厦门一无所知,而今他们已深深地爱上厦门这个"美妙的城市".

"这个地方是我在这个星球上最喜欢的地方之一".厦门,古老与现代的完美结合,人民的友善与热情,饮食物美价廉等等,特里·依德兹先生可以滔滔不绝地讲上几个小时."厦门赢得了我们的心,我们一定要再来."正如他们在文中所表达的那样,今年十月他们将再度拜访厦门.


Xiamen has become one of their favorite places on the planet. The beautiful city and its attractions impress them so much, such as the Island Ring Road and Gulangyu Island.

Three months ago I was not aware that Maroochydore had a "sister city" relationship with a city in China and even had to research a map to discover where Xiamen was located. Now having spent the past two weeks visiting this absolutely wonderful city I am excitedly proclaiming it one of my favorite places on our planet.

History of the city, formally known as Amoy, is fascinating but most Western interest in China has, in the past, been focused on Shanghai, Beijing and Canton. Now we will be hearing much more of Xiamen, which is one of five Special Economic Zones in China and is attracting huge overseas investment with major international companies establishing bases there. It is a modern, thriving, vibrant place with ancient cultures and customs sitting comfortably alongside infrastructure and technology, which is the 21st century at its best. But of course you can read the history and progress somewhere else, however, I would like to tell you why my wife Barbara and I enjoyed Xiamen so immensely.



A city, any city, is only a group of large buildings; the one thing, which creates a significant difference, is its people. The people of Xiamen are among the most friendly, happy, proud and hospitable that one could ever hope to meet.

Although spoken English among the people here is increasing, many locals have experienced little direct contact with Westerners. However, they would greet us with Hello and Welcome in the streets. Some of them even walked close to us and with their limited English wished us a pleasant holiday here.



Definitely the most interesting sensation one gets in Xiamen is the sense of personal security and safety one feels walking streets and back alleys even late at night. There is crime of course but successive in accordance with the survey done by Fujian officials, over 98 percent of citizens feel quite satisfied with the efforts the police make to reduce the possibilities of crime.

Dining anywhere from a street stall to a 5-star restaurant, the incredible range of, or wonderfully tasty, enormously healthy taste treats are amazingly inexpensive and I can honestly say that to experience the superb local cuisine would be one of the highlights of the vacation. However, for the individual who really must eat Western there are ample fast food outlets, McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut, etc. Wash the meal down with a local larger for about $0.55 Aust a 750 ml bottle or try a mellow Chinese dry red wine. Shopping in the city is much like elsewhere in Asia only less expensive and with far less hassle. Major brands are available as are the inevitable copies.



Transportation services are excellent and frequent. A bus to anywhere on the island costs RMB 1 (25 cents Aust).

Xiamen is rich in tourist resources. A five-minute ferry ride takes you to Gulangyu Island. Also known as "Cradle of Musicians" and "Isle of Piano". There are over 600 pianos on this city island. They say there are more pianos per capita than anywhere in China. On weekends and holidays a variety of concerts are held in this beautiful venue. A guide will whisk you around on a golf cart to see the incredible world class piano museum and many other historical and cultural sites including the traditional Chinese courtyard mansions plus, of course, superb seafood cafes.



I could rave on about this wonderful place for hours. Barbara tells me I do. All I can say is "Xiamen, you have captured our hearts and we will definitely be back."

Please go and see for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

By the way a nice option for your travel is to fly Australia/Singapore/Xiamen and then return Xiamen/Hong Kong by an overnight cruise on Star Cruises "Wasa Queen" where a double stateroom will only cost Aust$259 (a fun night) and to sail into Hong Kong harbour is spectacular to say the least and then fly Hong Kong/Australia. Enjoy China's beautiful Xiamen.