Essentials
- City
- Xiamen, Fujian Province, China
- Population
- 5,300,000
- Internet Speed
- 150 Mbps (Fiber common); VPN required for international sites
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 7.20 CNY, 1 EUR ≈ 7.80 CNY
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use boiled or bottled water (e.g., Nongfu Spring, 2 CNY)
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type A, C, and I (flat three-prong common)
- SIM Card
- China Unicom or China Mobile; approx. 100 CNY for 30GB data
- Banking for Expats
- Bank of China, ICBC; Alipay and WeChat Pay are essential
- Accommodation
- Apartments via Lianjia or Ziroom; high-end hotels like Conrad Xiamen
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, extremely; WeChat Pay and Alipay are used for 99% of transactions
- Short Term Rentals
- Ctrip (Trip.com) and Meituan for serviced apartments
- Budget Accommodation
- Xiamen Locanda Hostel (Siming District), approx. 120 CNY/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Zhongshan Road (Siming) for food and proximity to Gulangyu Island
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Lianban or Software Park Phase II for modern infrastructure and cafes
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- August Coworking (Siming District), approx. 1,200 CNY/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Barista Honor (Shapuhe), excellent WiFi and ergonomic seating
- Networking Events
- Xiamen International Business Association (XIBA) monthly mixers
- Social Events for Expats
- Events at Fat Fat Beer Horse or the Xiamen Expats WeChat group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- DiDi (integrated into WeChat/Alipay)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- HelloBike or Meituan Bike (blue/yellow bikes found everywhere)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Huangcuo Beach for sunrise; Baicheng Beach for convenience
- Top Regional Airline
- Xiamen Air (Base hub: Xiamen Gaoqi)
- Top International Airline
- Cathay Pacific, China Eastern
- Highway Access
- G15 Shenhai Expressway connecting to Fuzhou and Shenzhen
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Xiamen North Railway Station (High-speed rail hub)
- Public Transport Passes
- E-通卡 (E-Tong Card) or mobile QR codes in Alipay
- Regional Travel
- High-speed train to Quanzhou (20 mins) or Fuzhou (1.5 hours)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University (International Clinic)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Fine Yoga (Lianban), approx. 150 CNY per drop-in
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Tera Wellness (various locations), approx. 3,500 CNY/year
- Laundry Services
- Fornet (Funaite) dry cleaning chain found in shopping malls
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Meituan Waimai or Ele.me
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Satay Noodles (Shacha Mian) at Yuehua Shacha Mian (25 CNY)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Nanputuo Temple Vegetarian Restaurant
- Best Dessert Spots
- Zhao Xiao Jie (Gulangyu Pie), approx. 35 CNY per box
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- RT-Mart or Walmart (SM City Plaza)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Taobao, JD.com, Pinduoduo
- Grocery Delivery
- Hema (Freshippo) for high-quality 30-minute delivery
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Shapuhe Art Zone and Haiwan Park (Sunset bars)
- Local Brewery
- Fat Fat Beer Horse (Craft brewery in an old factory)
- Wine Bars
- The F Wine Bar (Siming District)
- Street Food Stalls
- Zeng Cuo An Village or Taiwan Food Street near ferry terminal
- Popular International Cuisine
- Indiano Grill (Indian) or Greg's (French)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Gulangyu Island (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Powerlong Art Center, Xiamen City Museum
- Historical Sites
- Hulishan Cannon Fort (Late Qing Dynasty architecture)
- Religious Sites
- South Putuo Temple (Nanputuo)
- Annual Events
- Xiamen International Marathon (January); Mid-Autumn Mooncake Gambling
- Cultural Districts
- Shapuhe (Cat Street and old fishing port)
- Theater Venues
- Banlam Grand Theatre (Min'nan Grand Theatre)
- Local Markets
- Eighth Market (Bashi) for fresh seafood and local life
- Music Scene
- Real Live (Live music venue for indie bands)
- Street Art
- Xiamen University Furong Tunnel (Graffiti tunnel)
- Cooking Classes
- Local Minnan cooking classes arranged via Airbnb Experiences
- Art Galleries
- Three Shadows Xiamen Photography Art Centre
- Historic Buildings
- Tan Kah Kee buildings at Jimei School Village
- Local Heritage
- The 'Egret' (City bird) and Minnan (Southern Fujian) architecture and dialect
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Wanshiyan Botanical Garden
- National Parks Nearby
- Wuyi Mountains (3 hours via high-speed rail)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Xiamen Island Ring Road (Huandao Lu) - 43km path
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Sunlight Rock (Gulangyu) or the 'Health Trail' (Cloud path mountains)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Yundang Lake (for Egret spotting)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally restricted on public beaches; check Dadeng Island camps
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- SF Express (Shunfeng), Cainiao stations
- Tech Repair Services
- SM City Plaza Apple Authorized Repair or 百脑汇 (Buynow Mall)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Xiamen Sports Center (Tiyu Zhongxin)
- Language Classes
- Xiamen University Mandarin Programs
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Xiamen City Library (Huandao Road branch)
- Community Centers
- Siming District Community Service Centers
- Gaming Lounges
- Wangba (Internet cafes) found near university districts
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Illegal in Mainland China; must travel to Macau (1 hour flight)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 75,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 3,000,000 CNY)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 35,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 1,400,000 CNY)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 70,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 4,200,000 CNY)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 30,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 1,800,000 CNY)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 68,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 5,440,000 CNY)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 28,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 2,240,000 CNY)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (Standard); 15% for qualified High-Tech Enterprises
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% (can be reduced to 5% under certain tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Residence-based taxation on worldwide income (after 183 days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (on income over 80,000 CNY per month)
- VAT
- 13% standard; 9% or 6% for specific services
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, China has robust anti-avoidance and CFC legislation
- Property Tax
- Currently being piloted/debated; traditionally zero for residential
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx. 3-5% Deed Tax depending on property size/type
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; IIT exemptions available for certain expat allowances