Xiamen

Xiamen International Cruise Terminal, also known as Xiamen International Cruise center and Xiamen-Jinmen Passenger Terminal, has become the pillar of the city's cruise industry. Located on the western side of Xiamen Island, the Xiamen International Cruise Terminal in the Dongdu area of Huli District, is designed to handle an annual capacity of 1.5 million visitors. 3 km from downtown.

By the end of 2018, it was able to berth one 225,000-ton ship and two, 80,000-ton ships concurrently. By 2019, a new terminal put in place, capable of turning around a 6,000-guest ship.

Use taxis to downtown Xiamen. The Railway Station <-- --> Ferry Dock; about CNY 15

Being of a subtropical monsoon climate with mild weather all year round expect the typhoon months, Xiamen is an ideal tourist destination. It is a typical littoral city with abundant tourist attractions such as islands, mountains, temples and parks, etc., providing you with a full sightseeing schedule. The well-known Gulangyu Island, Nanputuo Temple and other tourist areas like Jimei, Wanshiyan, etc. are highly recommended. A sea tourist line is also available for you to enjoy the amazing scenery of many beautiful small islands around.

The name Xiamen means "door to the house", referring to the city's centuries-old role as a gateway to China.

Xiamen Sightseeing Tour Bus. The upper deck is open (great on sunny days, not so great in typhoons). Route 1: "Day Tour": 50km, about one hour. Busses leave about every half hour from the People's Conference Hall, 8:30 - 18:00. The bus goes only one direction. Save your ticket so you can get on and off different busses.

To get around in the cities, one best uses a taxi: They are cheap and plentiful.

There are roughly three groups of taxi drivers:

Touts: Stay away from them, you are about to pay a multiple of what you should pay, walk a half a block and you will find a honest cabbies. The mechanics: They have build their own taximeter, with all consequences. The honest cabbie: As the Chinese government is clamping down on mistreatment of tourists, this group is in the far majority( >90%), in fact the more south you go in China, the more honest people get. Make sure they put the meter on, otherwise get out!

Important: If you buy a guide book for the town you are about to visit, make sure it is of the latest edition available. This as the pace of construction is enormous: what is here today, might not be there tomorrow! Make sure the maps in your guide book have "english" as well as "chinese" characters, so you and the cabdriver can communicate by pointing at the map. Cabdrivers only speak chinese.

Gulang Island. The main attractions of this resort island consist of the Guanfu Classic Art Museum, the Shuzhuang Garden, the Twelve Rock Caves and the Gulangyu Piano Museum. Just a 10 minute ferry ride away.

Every large tourist town has at least one or more shopping malls for westerners. Often the only place one can buy larger clothing sizes. Although these malls are fun, please be aware that almost everything is fake and that the bargaining is hard. The quickest way often is to show with bills in your hand, how much you are willing to pay and than walk on. If they than gesture you back finalize the deal. Always stay courteous.

Restaurants are often found in clusters in certain parts of the city, recognizable by very colorful decorations to attract customers. Stroll by and look for restaurants that are patronized by chinese families themselves. Most menu's have pictures of the items served. Seafood in general is kept alive in large tanks. Eating out in China is a feast, with very little etiquette, and in general rather noisy. Enjoy the fun! Only drink bottled water even use that if you have to brush your teeth. Use common precautions when eating out.

The Yuan (or Renminbi RMB).

Occasionally you will be given a counterfeit bill, mostly in a small denomination. Nothing you can do about it, just keep it as a souvenir.

Internet is very well adapted in China, in fact even the more modest hotels have almost all WiFi in their rooms and in the public areas you will find Internet stations. Often for free or at a very modest charge.

Emergency number China: 110 Hong Kong and Macao: 999

There seem not set opening hours for stores, it seems as long as there are customers they stay open.

Chinese New Year (about two weeks long) is the time when all the Chinese are traveling and transportation can be very hectic.