Xiamen, a coastal city in East China's Fujian province, ranked ninth on China's Urban Leisure and Tourism Competitiveness Report, which was released on April 7.
Beijing topped the list, followed by Shanghai and Hangzhou. The report was based on a comprehensive assessment of cities, including their natural environment, living environment, landscapes and cultural resources, infrastructure, economy, and services.
According to the report, the listed cities have made strong efforts to promote the development of their local tourism industries.
Located in the subtropical zone, Xiamen enjoys a pleasant climate and a beautiful natural environment with flowers blooming year-round. It is nicknamed "the Egret Island" because it has been a home to white egrets since ancient times. It also has long enjoyed a reputation as a "Garden on the Sea".
The city is home to many cultural and natural tourist attractions and is full ancient buildings, and Minnan (southern Fujian) culture, making it one of the most popular tourist cities in China.