Why Xiamen
Located in southeastern Fujian province along the Taiwan Strait, Xiamen is a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. Its administrative boundaries encompass six districts: Huli and Siming on Xiamen Island, alongside Haicang, Jimei, Tong'an, and Xiang'an on the adjacent mainland. The municipal territory covers Xiamen Island, nearby Gulangyu Island, and a coastal stretch extending toward the Jiulong River. Just across Xiamen Bay, less than six kilometers away, lie the Kinmen Islands.
Originally recorded as Tong'an County, the settlement on Xiamen Island expanded as a port during the Song dynasty. In 1387, a Ming dynasty fortress was constructed to defend the coast, bestowing the location with the name Xiamen, which translates to Mansion Gate. Later used as a military base by the general Koxinga, Xiamen eventually emerged as a prominent international maritime hub. Following the First Opium War, it became one of China's primary treaty ports open to foreign commerce, known for its extensive tea trade.
In the early 1980s, Xiamen was established as one of China's initial four Special Economic Zones under national opening-up policies, encouraging international trade and development. Historically, the area served as a primary point of departure for emigrants moving to Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines. This overseas diaspora played a key role in supporting local cultural and educational institutions. Today, the city remains an important center for scientific research, anchored by prestigious institutions including Xiamen University.
Geographically, Xiamen features a naturally protected harbor sheltered by surrounding landmasses. Land reclamation projects transformed its former harbor at Yundang Bay into Yundang Lake, beside which local municipal administrative bodies are located. The Port of Xiamen is a major global container gateway capable of handling large container vessels. Nearby Gulangyu Island, historically chosen for foreign settlement, is well known for its preserved colonial architecture.
Xiamen experiences a monsoonal humid subtropical climate with warm, dry autumns, mild winters, and long, hot, humid summers. January is the coolest month, while July brings the highest average temperatures. Annual precipitation totals approximately 1,301 millimeters, with damp conditions in spring and potential typhoon activity in late summer and early autumn. Within China, the city is widely recognized for maintaining relatively low pollution levels.
01 Weather
88°
79°
88°
78°
83°
79°
☔ 25% 
83°
78°
☔ 97% 
83°
76°
☔ 90%
83°
75°