ISLAND OF INDUSTRY
From green spaces to new business districts, one of China’s most liveable cities is blossoming on many fronts, finds Jeremy Tredinnick
Alongside its parkland and verdant hills, Xiamen has a flourishing business landscape
Located in south-east China, only 300km from Taiwan, Xiamen has been a thriving trading centre for many centuries. This old island city has in modern times expanded across to the mainland, from which it is separated by the deepwater port of Xiamen Bay. The city now comprises six districts – Siming and Huli on the island, and Haicang, Jimei, Tong’an and Xiang’an on the mainland. That said, most international visitors will still arrive and stay on Xiamen island, which stretches about 15km from north to south and 10km from east to west.
One of China’s five special economic zones, Xiamen is highly competitive in many fields owing to its port status and proximity to Taiwan (and consequent close business relationships). It benefits from well-developed domestic and international air links and a high-speed rail network connecting it to Hong Kong and Guangzhou in the south, and Shanghai to the north.
The old town and main central business district can be found in the south-west of the island, although development in recent decades has seen the business district spread inland around the long expanse of Yundang Lake to reach the island’s centre. The airport is situated in the north, while the area around Wuyuan Bay in the north-east is the focus of much construction as it grows into a new secondary commercial district.
Arriving at Xiamen Gaoqi International airport is a painless affair by Chinese standards. Medium sized and modern – a new terminal opened in 2014 – it is served by more than a dozen international carriers. (There are no direct flights from the UK at present.) It is home to Xiamen Airlines, one of the country’s aggressively expanding carriers, and aircraft maintenance provider TAECO. As a result, it operates fairly smoothly.
Xiamen has plenty of experience in dealing with foreigners, dating back to its inclusion as a Treaty Port in the 1842 Treaty of Nanking after the First Opium War. Then, expats lived on the small islet of Gulangyu, the only official international settlement outside Shanghai. However, the Xiamen of those times has all but disappeared, as is apparent when you drive down one of many elevated expressways that crisscross the island, helping traffic flow and allowing the street-level road network to be quite navigable and almost pleasant thanks to abundant trees lining the roads.
There’s also a noticeable lack of rubbish, plenty of parks and greenswathed hills scattered across the island – making it easy to believe Xiamen’s accolade as one of China’s most liveable cities. There’s a more relaxed atmosphere, like a seaside resort town rather than a busy centre of commerce – and yet Xiamen is both of these things.
GROWTH MARKET
The pillar industries are electronics, commercial shipping, machinery, finance and IT services. Dell was an early entrant, although its China headquarters has now moved to Chengdu. Lenovo, Prima Electronics,
Amoi Electronics and NEC are other major investors.
In 2014, GDP reached 327.3 billion yuan (£37 billion), a per-capita equivalent of £10,574, ranking Xiamen top among China’s medium-sized cities. The population in 2014 was 4.3 million, although unconfirmed reports place the current figure at closer to five million – a consequence of the burgeoning job market and Xiamen’s reputation as a great place to live.
By early 2014, 55 Fortune 500 companies had set up shop here, investing in 100 projects to the value of US$5.7 billion. This economic growth is reflected in the rampant construction going on, with the north-east of the island developing as a new business district, and a second international airport planned to open in 2020 on Dadeng Island, part of Xiang’an to the north.
COASTING AROUND
Another big revenue generator is tourism. Blessed with a mild climate, a seaside location, interesting history and renowned seafood-inspired cuisine, Xiamen is one of China’s ten most popular leisure destinations. In 2014, a total of 53.4 million tourists visited, generating revenues of 72.2 billion yuan (£8.2 billion) – up 16 per cent on 2013. Recent figures suggest this upward trend continued during the first months of 2015.
The small island of Gulangyu is Xiamen’s most famous tourist hotspot, its winding alleyways revealing a variety of old colonial houses and leading to great views of the city from Sunlight Rock, sandy beaches and a large statue of ancient Chinese military leader Koxinga. Locals can reach Gulangyu in five minutes from the ferry pier on Xiamen’s facing coast, but foreigners must now catch a ferry from the International Cruise Terminal on the west coast (45 minutes, 35 yuan/£4 each way).
Near the local Gulangyu ferry is Zhongshan Lu, a pedestrian street lined with old shophouses that have been turned into souvenir stores and eateries. A short drive east brings you to Nanputuo Temple, the peaceful Wanshi Botanical Garden and the Qing-era Hulishan Fortress.
Visitors staying close to Yundang Lake should join the locals for a stroll around the lake or over the pedestrian bridges into Bailuzhou Park. Xianyue Park is also worth visiting, its many paths leading to pagodas, temples, gardens and viewing points. On the mainland, the Xiamen Lingling International Circus in Jimei district makes for a memorable evening, its 50-metre-tall grand theatre holding 10,000 people.
If you’re not ready to go home after that, the “Coffee Street” and “Bar Street” areas near the Marco Polo Xiamen hotel are popular haunts
for locals and expats alike, while on the west coast, Haiwan Park has colourful nightlife with live music, bars and restaurants.
STAYING POWER
A large number of well-known hotel brands have a presence here. Although a taxi ride from one side of the island to the other rarely takes more than 30 minutes, location is important. The hotel in the best position is probably Marco Polo Xiamen. With Yundang Lake across the road, this 300-room luxury property is popular with business travellers for its combination of traditional style, modern rooms and great dining.
Also in this lower downtown area is the 29-storey Pan Pacific Xiamen, while farther inland but still beside the lake is the Pullman Xiamen Powerlong, which provides three floors of dedicated executive rooms.
On the south side of Yundang Lake is an imposing building housing the 460-room Kempinski Xiamen. From its high-ceilinged lobby to its 22nd-floor executive lounge with expansive views, this is a stately property, and Kempinski’s signature beer hall, Paulaner Brauhaus, is a popular meeting spot. The Westin Xiamen, located just south of Xianyue Park, offers Fujian’s highest executive lounge, on the 40th floor, plus a spa, a 25-metre pool and good restaurants. Also in the inland district are the Crowne Plaza Paragon Xiamen and the Sheraton Xiamen.
Doubletree by Hilton Xiamen Wuyuan Bay opened in August last year in the north-eastern corner of the island, and the sleek 22-storey hotel’s 270 rooms feature light, airy interiors. Another Doubletree is set to open in Haicang district on the mainland next year, while the 214-room Conrad Xiamen opened in the 300-metre tall Shimao Straits Tower in Siming in August.
Also in the north-east is the 319-room Langham Place Xiamen, which opened in 2014. Down on the south coast, opposite Gulangyu, is Hotel Indigo Xiamen Harbour. Shangri-La, W, Wyndham, JW Marriott and Hyatt Regency are all scheduled to open in the city in the next few years.