 |
| Xiamen |
 |
Located on the southeastern coast of Fujian Province, Xiamen City
consists of Xiamen Island, Gulangyu Islet and the coastal part of
the northern banks of inland Jiulongjiang River, covering an area
of 1,565 square kilometers. Built in 1955, the Gaoji (Gaoqi-Jimei)
Causeway has turned Xiamen Island into a peninsula by linking it to
the mainland.
Xiamen Municipality consists of six districts and one county. They
include Kaiyuan, Siming, Gulangyu, Huli, Jimei and Xinglin Districts,
and Tongan County. The city¡¯s population is 1.2467 million,
of which 40 percent are urban residents.
Xiamen enjoys a southern, subtropical monsoon climate: mild temperatures
and rich rainfalls. The annual average temperature of Xiamen is
21 C with a high of 38.4 C and a low of 2 C. Annual rainfall ranges
between 1,100 mm, with most of the rainfall in May, June and July.
The winds in Xiamen average at 3 to 5 on the Beaufort scale, with
the northeasterly wind prevailing.
Xiamen and its surrounding countryside offer spectacular scenery
and pleasant tree-lined beaches. Gulangyu, also known as Piano Island,
is a popular, peaceful weekend getaway. While Xiamen's Botanical
Garden is a nature lover's paradise, the Buddhist Nanputao Temple,
dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618- 907), is a national treasure. |
 |