6-day tour that offers an authentic look at Xiamen

Day 3: Hustle and bustle of a coastal city

Zhongshan Pedestrian Street lights up the city with a tantalizing glimpse of busy nightlife [Photo/IC]

Once they get off the satellite island Gulangyu, it's time for travelers to head for the downtown area. The closest must-see destination is Zhongshan Pedestrian Street (中山路步行街), which is a landmark of Xiamen and one of the busiest blocks in China.

Similar to Shanghai's Nanjing Road, the street is a delightful mix of traditional Chinese market and international melting pot but with much more historic charm. 

Paved in 1925, the 1200-meter-long street retains most of its original appearance and offers a journey into Xiamen's history, with centuries-old architectures and well-reserved cultures.

Along the street, most buildings have history dating back to the 1920s. These buildings, called Qilou, or arcade-houses, were designed by many returning overseas Chinese from Europe and Southeast Asia, which explains their combination of exotic and local architecture styles.

China City, a shopping mall at Zhongshan Pedestrian Street, is a historical building that combines tradition with fashion [Photo/IC]

The arcade-houses have witnessed the prosperity and extension of the bustling business street. When entering the vicinity of China City, a comprehensive shopping mall that has become a landmark on the street, one can feel the atmosphere of a fast-developing commercial district imbued with decent folk culture.

With a total area of 170,000 square meters, the shopping mall is a commercial and cultural hub for the street, supplementing the street's appeal in terms of tourism, consumption, entertainment and local culture.

China City also hosts themed exhibitions showcasing elements of Minnan, coastal and overseas Chinese cultures, which enables it to stand as a representative of Xiamen's spirit of hospitality and friendship. 

Zhongshan Pedestrian Street is a great place to pick up souvenirs, snacks, and more among its countless stalls. 

Zehe Huang Peanut Soup is a century-old must-try restaurant for travelers in Xiamen. It is located at 22-24 Zhongshan Road and features a bowl of authentic Xiamen flavor. The sweet peanut soup tastes even better with fried dough sticks, deep-fried jujube, meat buns, and glutinous rice, which are all served in the restaurant. [Photo/IC]

Located at 12 Zhenbang Road, Yuanxiangkou (原港口) fish balls enjoy a long history, which dates back to 1821. The hand-made fish balls are shark meat and mixed with trepan, dried scallops and streaky pork. Its soup also gives you a strong aftertaste. [Photo/IC]

Play: Live House (好久不见), at 37 Zhenbang Road, is the most popular night club in Xiamen. It's a social media phenomena on China's video-sharing platform Douyin (known as TikTok overseas).

Stay: Xiamen Teegoo Hotel is a good choice in terms of first-class service and convenient transportation.