Private one day Xiamen culture and history tour

After breakfasts, your private guide will pick you up at your hotel lobby and first transfer you to the 8th Seafood Market to start your one day Xiamen Culture and History journey.

As one of the 9 major food markets in Xiamen that was built a century ago, the 8th Seafood Market is the only one that survived from the war and countless disturbances in modern history of China. Now you will explorer this century-old food market with your own eyes, touch and feel the vivid scenes of local people's life that has taken place every day since the 1920's.

Step out of the seafood market, at the end of the alley, you will find out that there are more crisscrossed alleys extending in all directions. This is the traditional Xiamen old city quarter. You will find the earliest Catholic church in Xiamen-the Bamboo Tree Chapel, the oldest post office, the old iron street... Here, every street, every old building is telling its own story. At the other side of the quaint dark and noisy alleys, there are skyscrapers, traffic, bright dazzling and prosperous modern city roads. Such a mixed feeling, one century in a minute!

Finish the one hour strolling in the old city quarter, you will have a good rest in a well maintained, air conditioned nonsmoking private vehicle for about 20 minutes. Then you will be transferred to South Putuo Temple-the over 1000 years old Buddhism temple that was firstly built in the Tang Dynasty! Now as one of the most important temples in China, South Putuo Temple is famous for its architecture, art and cultural relics and the vegetarian meals which you will have for lunch. You will have 1 hour to explore the temple before lunch time. If you don't like vegetarian for lunch, you will have lunch in a popular local restaurant nearby.

After lunch, you can have another rest in the vehicle for about 20 minutes and will be transferred to Huli Mountain Fort-a late 19th-century stronghold blending Ming and Qing architectural styles with European influences. You will see how China protected itself 120 years ago and learn about what kind of weaponry the army used during that time.

After the one hour visiting of Huli Mountain Fort, you will then have a leisure walk on the famous Xiamen Island Ring Road-a gorgeous coastal road with pedestrianized wooden walkways and cycle paths, the ring road offers extensive views of the coast, a scattering of popular beaches, and some seaside highlights.

A 30 minutes’ walk along the coastline should make you a little tired, now all you need to do is sit back and have a good rest in the vehicle while it takes to the last highlight of the tour-Jimei School Village. It will be a 30 minutes’ drive and along the way, you will enjoy the beautiful skyline of east coast of Xiamen Island as well as the magnificent Jimei Bridge which is one of the 5 traffic arteries between Xiamen Island and the main land.

Get off the vehicle, you are now at one of China’s more distinctive architectural and educational institutions. Jimei School Village was founded by the business magnate Tan Kah Kee. After making his fortune abroad, he returned and endowed his fortune in educational institutions. As a result, the Jimei High School, a massive Chinese-Gothic structure situated along a lake, ranks as one of the world's most beautiful high schools. Now take your time and enjoy the stunning view. This is where your wonderful tour ends. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel, airport, train station or any other places in downtown Xiamen like a restaurant or a bar if you like.

Thank you for travelling with us!