Xiamen 厦门

The map of Fujian province.
see all photos »

Xiamen

Xiamen is located in Fuijian province of China, it is between Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces.

Xiamen - A bit disappointed in Xiamen

As it was my plan to arrived in Xiamen first then cross over to Jinmen (Kinmen) to visit but unfortunately I discover it on the next day (27 Dec'2006), only Taiwaness and local Fujian people are allow to enter to Jinmen, it is not open for foreigner yet, I was so disappointed. So if you are planning to go Jinmen, you might try to go via Taiwan instead of Xiamen.

One of the colonial architecture at Gulang Yu island.
see all photos »

The day I arrived in Xiamen (26 Dec'2006) airport, I took a taxi to look for place to stay, I ask for youth hostel, the taxi driver have no idea what was that and where was the place. I've no choice, I ask for a cheap hotel stated on the lonely planet book, he told me the hotel already closed for 2 years ago, with no other choice, I knew the hotel in Xiamen is really expensive (above RMB100), I asked the taxi driver to drove me to a cheapest hotel that he know off.

When I reach the hotel, the price for the hotel was about RMB80 per night, it was already in the evening 8pm, the sky was dark, I decided to check in first and look for cheapest place to stay on the next day.

Gulang Yu fish ball noodle soup, they call it famous but it is just normal.
see all photos »

At the moment of arranging to check in, the hotel staff and some visitors run out to the ground floor, I thought what happen, it was earth quake in Taiwan and affecting Xiamen and few others provinces, it shake very badly that people were afraid the building may collapse, in my mind was thinking, oh no, should I check in then???

The hotel staff at the receptionist told me this is common ask me not to worry.

When I check in to the room, I went out to look for dinner, I can see a lot of people were staying outside of the building just in case the major earth quake come. The local people on the street were discussing amount themselves. After I had my dinner, I was trying to look for internet café so that I can email to my family members where I was and keep in touch with them but I went for a few internet cafes, their network very slow and cannot connect to yahoo or hotmail email, I was not able to sent any email.

Xiamen shopping area, taken in the late night, most of the shop closed.
see all photos »

With no choice, I went back to hotel to rest and watch the news, later I discover from the news the earthquake affecting a few provinces and Hong Kong, a few places having network problem, Xiamen was one of the location that having network problem. I was not able to sent email, I was afraid that my family members were worry for me as they were aware that I'm heading to Xiamen.

Next day morning, I quickly made phone call home to inform family that I'm doing fine in Xiamen.

Xiamen is a city area; the place to stay is expensive, just like staying in Shanghai or Beijing. You can still find cheap hotel below RMB80 but it is not located at main road.

Xiamen famous university, one of the hostel.
see all photos »

I was trying to stay in the youth hostel but my lonely planet don't have any information on it, the website also doesn't have at that moment.

After I've found out that I can't cross over to Jinmen, I can only take boat tour around the Jinmen Island but cannot on board, I didn't waste time to do so, I use the rest of the time to look for cheaper hotel to move in. I had managed to found one that cost RMB60 and decided to move in on the next day.

On 27 Dec'2006 feeling very disappointed not able to visit Jinmen and knowing that place to stay here is expensive, in my mind started to think which province should I go next?

While I was in Xiamen, I remember my Hunan friend ever told me that Xiamen is one of the province she would like to visit, so I made a call to let her know I was in Xiamen. While talking to her, I told her the place to stay here is very expensive, she ask me why I didn't stay in the youth hostel, I told her don't have, she was very sure answering me, yes, there is and she said; she will find from the website and sms to me. She sms to me the youth hostel address in the evening.

Next day (28 Dec'2006), I check out of the hotel, thinking whether to check in to the cheap hotel or move to the youth hostel, as I was not sure how much they charge for the dorm room. Well, since my friend message me the address, I took a taxi, asked the driver to drove me to the address my friend message me. The taxi driver has no idea where the youth hostel was, I told him to drove me to the road name, when I spot it, I'll asked him to stop. From town area, take about 3 km away it reaches the place and I check in to the youth hostel.

It was a new youth hostel, still renovating it, cost me non-member RMB50 for 6 people to a room. The youth hostel was very quiet, clean and neat not many people stay there and it was also low season at the time I was there. For high season, non-member has to pay at the price of RMB60 per night. It is the same price for the youth hostel in Gulang Yu Island.

Staying there, there was not fun at all, I hardly found someone to talk to, very boring, a lot of people I meet, they come and they left the next day, which I don't understand why. Some stay there for a night then check out the next day to check in to Gulang Yu Island youth hostel to stay and explore around. Some check in one night as stop over and rush to catch a flight next day.

My few days staying in Xiamen getting boring, place like Gulang Yu Island was the main extraction, on the island itself, there is beach and colonial architecture buildings, is a good place for relax and get away from many people.

Their one of the extract is their Xiamen University, I found it nothing much to offer, accept all the hostel buildings which I've no idea why it is so famous.

Next to it is their famous "Nanputuo Si" temple, not very big inside, so I didn't pay to go in.

The shopping area very limited, some shops sell the same things, it was exciting when it was my first two days but later I felt boring.

On 29 Dec'2006, I decided to buy the bus ticket to go outskirt of Xiamen, I packed my bag and was excited to leave Xiamen to another town.

To read my next town, click next.

To read other story of mine, click on the link:- http://realtravel.com/member-m652835-afa.html