Xiamen

Kite Surfing

With its clear waters, long and wide sandy beaches as well as its stable winds, Xiamen is one of the major hot spots for Kite Surfing in China, and often hosts various domestic and international competitions. Regularly there is a huge crowd who hails from all over China, and sometimes even from abroad to kite in Xiamen. Kite Surfing can be done at best at Haiyuntai, close to the Asia Golden Bay Hotel Huandao Road.

From April till December you will find perfect cross-shore winds and warm to mild water temperatures. The water is quite flat, choppy waves are seldom. Watch out for some rocks in the water when the tide is low. Swimmers in that area are also seldom which makes it safe to Kite here, even if your skills are not perfect yet. Since there are lots of other Kiters here who always have an eye for each other and will help each other, it will enhance the safety. 16 meters Kite are fine most of the year, however you sometimes might consider a 9 or 17 meter Kite, depending on the wind. From October till April a 5mm wetsuit will keep you comfortable warm.

A Kitesurfing School with Chinese and English speaking IKO-certified Instructors, including equipment for sale and storage, compressor and shower facilities is located on the beach, at the Rasa Sayang Restaurant.

Different nearby facilities like restaurants, hotel or guest houses offers all you need. The seaside patio of the Rasa Sayang, with daily BBQ in the evening, is an amazing chill-out area for Kiters and their friends.

Learning Chinese

Why not learn some Chinese while you are in China? Xiamen Mandarin Fun School is the only registered private Chinese school specializing in teaching Chinese to foreigners, they provide Chinese lessons for students in different levels.Please visit their website for more details: www.mandarinfun.cn. Or call Ms Anne at 86-13606012790.

Nightlife

Xiamen has a rich and vibrant nightlife, which is still affordable, compared to Shanghai or Beijing. In all major luxurious hotels you will Filipino-Bands in the Lobby in the evening, creating a perfect atmosphere for a drink after the work is done.

The Discoteques "1801" and "Dushang", a distance of only 200 m, draw a big crowd all night. Although crowded, these places are safe in generally. Genereally means not always, so be careful since fights are picked-up here from time to time, and the safety guards will mainly not try to settle the disputes. If you come after 11 p.m. on a saturday night your entry may be denied, since then the place is overcrowded already.

The main hot spot for nightlife the Haiwan Park, next to the Yuandang Lake. Here you find different Clubs, Pubs and Discoteques. "The Key" is a favourite hot spot, with a Fillipino and a Taiwan Band who bringing the spirit to the top every night. The Discotheque "KK" is worth visiting, but you should be cautious, since fights between drunken people happen here sometimes.

Alternative and cheaper nightlife, with lots of students and younger people, can be found at Zhengcuoan, near to Xiamen University. Here you find a lot of cheap pubs, open-air BBQ´s and casual gatherings of young people who enjoy the sunset and mild Xiamen nights over a drink.