Xiamen, China Reviews and Ratings

Some years ago while employed by a high-tech company in Silicon Valley, CA I got the opportunity to visit China. We had a small "testing" office there. As the mgr of the test group, I was selected to visit our site. I had a Chinese (English speaking )guide. I had no idea what to expect but I shall never forget this trip. I was more than impressed. My knowledge of China was nil up to that point. I was even a bit "scared" to go there, but that changed as soon as my feet hit the ground. I visited all the tourist places, the square, the Forbidden City etc, etc, but I wanted more of the "real" China, so I rented a bicycle from the hotel and peddled around the city. The people were amazing, smiling, waving and to my astonishment many spoke English. They had flowers on their freeway, beautiful parks, sidewalk cafe's, shops etc. I expected a backward, poor place. I biked down not so well-travelled streets and even thru alleys to look at "backyards". The poorer sections had handlers, peddlers selling their wares, but seldom did I ever see a beggar nor was I ever hassled. Of course Beijing is the "model" city and outside on our ride to the Great Wall, poverty was obvious, but it seemed everybody was farming something or eating their bowl of rice. The city was clean (not like Taipei with it's scooter pollution) since few cars were around. Everybody rode bikes, modified to carry enormous loads of goods. The food was fabulous, but then I like Chinese food. The Peking duck was the best I ever tasted. I have heard about human rights issues there and it may be true, but it is well hidden. In all my bumming around the city, I saw no police, no confrontations, only people everywhere on the move. When I asked my quide why doesn't a place like this turn to democracy he replied that with a billion people, it just wouldn't work, it would be total chaos. He may be right, but then the people I talked to and their smiles seemed genuine to me and I concluded they don't have it so bad.

I won't visit China until they mandate by law that living creatures will never be tortured and abused in their country. Millions of dogs and cats are tortured and skinned alive while they suffer in agony for fur to trim our clothing. I'll never buy their merchandise anymore and I'll never visit such a cruel country.

Xiamen is one of the most scenic, cleanest and quietest cities in China. Situated on an island in Xiamen Bay off the Taiwan Strait, this city of 2.5 million is surrounded by and built around a low range of mountains. Xiamen's fast growth is fueled by investors from Taiwan who are building high-rise condos, office buildings, hotels and restaurants. (Taiwan-based Chinese are cultural cousins of the Xiamenese.) In the harbor, about 6 minutes by ferry, is Gulangyu, an historic island with 19th Century mansions, no vehicles, lush foliage, quiet shaded residential alleys, and the best knick-knack shopping in all of Xiamen. You can buy pearls, silk, snuff bottles, Chinese clothing, artwork and crafts of every type at bargain prices. Gulangyu is a major draw for Chinese tourists. Be sure to climb to the top of Sunlight Rock for a spectacular panorama of Xiamen across the bay and the red-tiled roofs of Gulangyu. Xiamen is also a major college town, with all the energy that tens of thousands of students can bring to any city. Xiamen University is enormous, with campuses all over the island. Xiamen is very "Western-friendly," meaning that everyone wants to meet Americans and practice American English. Historians will remember Xiamen as Amoy, and it's in sight of Quemoy Island, the scene of aerial bombardments betrween the Communists and the Nationalists in the mid-Fifties. Deserted gun installations and pillboxes still dot the beachfront as concrete reminders of the Cold War. Great for exploring! About an hour from Xiamen, on its own island, is Da Dao Deng, the site of Communist fortifications during attacks by and on Quemoy. Fifties-era anti-aircraft guns, long-range artillary, tunnels, bunkers and even a MiG-15 fighter jet are all on display in a family-friendly parklike setting, with a playground for the kids who never heard of the Cold War. Nearby is a duty-free mall, more than 300 shops selling exclusively goods manufactured in Taiwan!