Xiamen Disney Travel Agents Near Me

Overview

Introduction

Located on the southeast coast of China, opposite Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait, the island port city of Xiamen, China, is one of the first four original "special economic zones" of China. As such, it benefits from more market-oriented policies and less bureaucratic oversight than the rest of the country. The Chinese word Xiamen means "door to house," referring to the city's ages-old function as a gateway to the rest of the country.

Xiamen is connected to the rest of China by a number of bridges and an underwater tunnel. It is a pleasant city, well laid-out and, in many ways, it is reminiscent of Singapore. In fact, motorcycles are banned, so traffic, although heavy, moves swiftly, and there's less noise.

Xiamen enjoys a subtropical, maritime climate. With the wealth of trees, shrubbery and gardens, island coastline and a variety of attractions, it is a popular holiday destination for many visitors from around China and, increasingly, from overseas.

Because of the many egrets found on the island, Xiamen is often called Egret Island.

History

In the 16th century, Xiamen was the first Chinese port used by Portuguese, Dutch and English traders. In 1842, it became a treaty port where foreigners could live and trade. In those days, it was known as Amoy. Nowadays, Xiamen is one of the largest ports in China—and the world—in terms of cargo movements (its cargo facilities lie on its western side).

In the past decade or so, the island has undergone incredible development, and its population has swelled to more than 3.5 million—still a small city by Chinese standards.

Location

Located on the western side of thie island, Xiamen International Cruise Centre is one of the top ports in China, which is evident in the cruise terminal—a massive, modern structure with full amenities for passengers, including restaurants and tourist information stands. Designed to handle 1.5 million visitors, Xiamen-Jinmen Passenger Terminal is located 2 mi/3 km from downtown.

A great way for first-time visitors to see everything is the double-decker sightseeing bus that leaves from the dock and passes by most of the city's attractions. A special double-decker sightseeing bus leaves from the dock and passes by most of the city's attractions. For independent travelers, taxis also wait at the terminal; just be sure your destination has been translated into Mandarin beforehand.