In the framework of strengthening the ties between Nice and Xiamen (China), their Tourist Office organized a discovery evening of this Chinese island at the Marriott Hotel in Nice on Monday, April 28, 2014.
A highly popular seaside resort among Chinese tourists, Xiamen is located on the southeast coast of the People’s Republic of China, in the Fujian province, opposite the island of Taiwan. An old island community, it is connected to the mainland by two bridges: Jimey and Xinging.
Just like Nice, this city is nestled between mountains and sea. It cultivates a maritime lifestyle while exuding the energy of a big city. This former colonial trading post has an atypical atmosphere, blending Minnan tradition and modern Western influences.
During the discovery evening at the Marriott hotel, a traditional dice game (Mid-Autumn Festival) allowed five lucky winners to fly to Xiamen for an all-inclusive VIP stay, along with many other prizes.
With its 1.5 million inhabitants, Xiamen is the second-largest city in Fujian. It is reputed to be the cleanest city in China and one of the most pleasant, both for living, working, or studying.
Rather than focusing on forced industrialization, Xiamen, although one of the first Chinese cities to be designated as a special economic zone, a status to which it owes its skyscrapers, has opted to focus on a clean industry, tourism, and quality of life.
Xiamen, nicknamed “the egret island,” presents a pleasant and green face, with its beaches, port, bustling streets, parks, hills, temples… Additionally, it enjoys a humid subtropical monsoon climate with pleasant weather all year round. Summers are long, hot, and humid, while winters are short, mild, and dry. April and November are the ideal months to visit.
Appearing as a fully modernized city, it boasts an international airport, “Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport,” with direct flights to nine Asian cities. Shuttles regularly connect the airport to the downtown train station. Moreover, in this city, people mainly use buses, though taxis are available. Bicycles are also widely used.
In Xiamen, one should also visit the Nanputuo Buddhist temple at the foot of the Wuyi Mountains. Bai Lu Zhou, Nan Hu, or Jia Geng parks, along with Yuandang Lake, provide a pleasant setting for strolls.
Xiamen, the Nice of elsewhere, has a very lively nightlife, particularly on Zhongshan and Siming streets in the city center, where one can find a wide choice of restaurants, nightclubs, and shops.
