Overview

Xiamen, China's cleanest, most beautiful, seaport city, is located on the southeastern coast of Fujian Province. Xiamen City, as an administrative unit, can be dated back as far as the Song Dynasty. It has always been an important trading port, but since its establishment as one of China's first four Special Economic Zones in 1981, Xiamen has become a "window city" for China's opening to the outside world. It's one of the municipalities approved by the State Council of the People's Republic of China, being specially designated under separate state plan and enjoying provincial level of power in economic management. Today, Xiamen is a rapidly growing city, with a vigourous economy and a fully-modern infrastructure. Over the past 10 years, Xiamen has increasingly focused on the cultivation of international trade, education, and tourism.

Geography and Climate

Situated at longitude 118 04'04"E, by latitude 24 26'46" N., Xiamen consists of Xiamen Island, Gulangyu Islet, and the coastal part of the north bank of inland Jiulongjiang River, covering an area of 1,516 sqkm. Built in 1955, the Gaoji (Gaoqi-Jimei) Causeway has turned Xiamen Island into a peninsula by linking it with the mainland.
Xiamen Municipality consists of six districts and one county. They are Kaiyuan, Siming, Gulangyu, Huli, Jimei, Xinglin Districts and Tongan County. The population of the city is 1. 1749 million, of which 40% are urban residents.
Xiamen enjoys south subtropical monsoon climate. It is mild in temperature and rich in rainfall. The annual average temperature in Xiamen is 21 degrees C with the absolute highest of 38.4 C and the lowest of 2 degrees C . The annual rainfall averages at about 1, 100 mm, with most of the rainfall concentrated in May, June, and July. The wind forces in Xiamen average at 3 to 5 on Beaufort scale with the northeasterly wind prevailing.

Economy

Xiamen's economy is growing rapidly, and has become an increasingly popular site for foreign investors. An industrial structure composed of electronics, machinery, textile, foodstuff, chemical, pharmaceuticals and building materials industries has taken shape in the city, and is producing abundant world-advanced and domestic advanced products that are competitively priced and sell well all over the world. Compared with 1981, the total industrial output value in 1994 increased by 17.78 times.

Tourism

Xiamen was recently voted China's cleanest city, and has many attractions for the foreign visitor. Xiamen and its surrounding countryside offers spectacular scenery and pleasant tree-lined beaches. Gulangyu, also known as Piano Island, is a popular, peaceful weekend getaway. Xiamen's Botanical Garden is a nature lover's paradise. And the Buddhist Nanputao Temple, dating back to the Tang Dynasty, is a national treasure.

Education

Xiamen has a number of excellent Universities and has become a popular place for international students interested in Chinese culture, history and language. Jimei University in Jimei distict, supports over thirty scientific and professional organizations and is well known throughout China for its fine architecture and beauty. Xiamen University in Xiamen City is nationally recognized for its high quality and breadth of study. 9. 6% of the population in Xiamen are graduates of higher education.