Xiamen and Gulangyu: Slow Island Time in the Sea Breeze

Xiamen is a city perfect for daydreaming. Four days and three nights, from the sea breeze along the island ring road to the music of Gulangyu, the rhythm is set to the lowest between red-brick old houses and bougainvillea.

Cycling along the island ring road, one side is the blue sea, the other side palms and villas. The sea breeze is salty and damp, and the sunlight is gentle. Stopping at Zengcuoan, this former fishing village is now filled with artsy shops and seafood stalls, liveliest in the evening.

Take a boat to Gulangyu—this 'piano island' has no motor vehicles, only stone-paved roads, old villas, and the ever-present sound of the piano. Shuzhuang Garden is built by the sea, and the Piano Museum displays century-old antique pianos, with the sound of waves as the perfect accompaniment.

Wandering through the island's alleys, the Universal Architecture is the main highlight. Drum Wave Rock, Bagua Tower, Catholic Church—the Eastern-Chinese facade tells the story of the prosperity of a hometown of overseas Chinese a century ago. Find a corner café and listen to the owner share stories about the island's past.

Back on Xiamen Island, head to Shapowei Art West District. The old fishing port has been transformed into a cultural and creative district, with graffiti walls, independent bookstores, and craft beer bars gathered. In the evening, sitting by the shelter, watching fishing boats return to port, and enjoying a bowl of peanut soup with roasted meat zongzi.

Xiamen's slowness means not rushing anyone's pace. When you sit by the sea and read half a book, watching the tides rise and fall, you suddenly understand what Minnan people mean by "sipping tea and walking slowly"—drinking tea, walking slowly, and that's enough.