China's "most romantic leisure city" beckons with its slow pace of life and high quality of living
Compared to the rest of China, especially Beijing and Shanghai, Xiamen is a slow-paced city. Nobody seems to be in a rush to get anywhere, and as a result, people are friendly and very patient. Whether your interests lie in the arts, nature, or good food, Xiamen has got something to cater.
Zhongshan Road, a haven for non-stop shopping and eating
Just like how there’s Nanjing Road in Shanghai, Orchard Road in Singapore, and Central in Hong Kong, Zhongshan Road is the oldest commercial street in Xiamen, brimming with countless large and small shopping malls and specialty shops. If you ever do get tired from all the shopping, grab some of the small bites hailing from Fujian and Taiwan, like shacha noodles, fried oysters, frozen bamboo shoots, and peanut soup, to name but just a few. Basically, if you’re a foodie seeking to explore Xiamen through the stomach, this is the place to be.
Frozen bamboo shoots (竹笋冻)
One unique characteristic of the buildings here in Zhongshan Road is that they are all painted in shades of pink and white, as a result of the Old City Street being very well-preserved. Here you can find plenty of provincial-level cultural protection relics, municipal heritage conservation sites, historical sites, and monuments, as well as other intangible cultural heritage. Cultural buffs, take note!
In June 2012, Xiamen’s Zhongshan Road was named one of China’s “National Historic and Cultural Street”. Compared to the bustling streets synonymous with ubiquitous modernity, the historic architecture in Zhongshan Street holds its own and presents a very unique side of China that we rarely see nowadays in its big cities.
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