Xiamen: the city I didn't plan to visit but now recommend to everyone
I went to Xiamen because my flight to Taiwan got cancelled and I needed somewhere to kill 3 days. Best cancellation ever.Gulangyu Island:
No cars allowed. Just walking, old villas, pianos (seriously, it's known as "Piano Island"), and the most relaxed vibe I've found in a Chinese city. Spent a full day just wandering.
The coast:
Xiamen has actual clean beaches. Like, swimmable. With waves. I didn't know that existed in mainland China outside Hainan.
The food:
Seafood noodles (沙茶面) with this nutty, slightly spicy broth. I've thought about it weekly since I left. Also: oyster omelettes, peanut soup, and these weird but amazing "spring rolls" that are sweet not savory.
The pace:
People are... chill? In a Chinese city? I know. It's weird. People actually smile at strangers. The traffic isn't insane. The air is decent.
The Taiwan connection:
You can see Taiwan from the coast (on clear days). The culture is subtly different — more Hokkien influence, more relaxed, more ocean-oriented.
Downside:
Gulangyu gets crowded on weekends. Like, shoulder-to-shoulder crowded. Go on a weekday.
How to get there:
Fly from most major cities. Or take the train from Shenzhen (3 hours).
Xiamen wasn't on my radar at all. Now I tell everyone to go. It's the most underrated city on the east coast.
What's your unexpected favorite city in China?
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