Xiamen Parks and Gardens

(Xiamen, Fujian, China)

Xiamen is home to plenty of traditional Chinese gardens and landscaped parklands, where you can both relax and enjoy the scenery. Popular with families is Xiamen's Zhongshan Park, which is complete with traditional gardens and a small zoo.

Other horticultural highlights in Xiamen include the Turtle Garden, the Shuzhuang Garden and also the Wanshi Botanical Garden, where many impressive specimen plants thrive. The main parks and other notable green spaces within the city are displayed below.

Shuzhuang Garden

Address: Tian Wei Road, Gulangyu Island, Xiamen, 361001, China, CN
Located on the nearby Gulangyu Island, close to Xiamen's coastline, Shuzhuang Garden is a particularly picturesque spot and dates back to the early part of the 1900s. With small bridges, rock gardens, large ponds, specimen plants and plenty of seasonal colour, why not combine a visit to the gardens with some of Gulangyu Island's nearby attractions and make a day of it?
Open hours: daily - 07:00 to 20:00
Admission: charge

Zhongshan Park and Zoo

Address: Gongyuan Dong Road, Xiamen, 361002, China, CN
Tel: +86 0592 205 4022
Situated centrally, Zhongshan Park is dedicated to the revered Dr. Sun Yat-sen, whose statue greets visitors as they enter the park. Don't be fooled into thinking this is just another of Xiamen's quiet green spots however, with the park offering children's entertainment in the form of bumper cars and relaxed rowing in the shape of hire boats. Like all of Xiamen's gardens, the plants and flowers here are beautiful, as are the pavilions and small bridges. If you are an early riser, get here at first light when dozens of locals come to practice martial arts. The real highlight for many is the on-site zoo, which has a good selection of favourites, from big cats to monkeys and hippos.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: no charge

Turtle Garden

Address: Gaoji Causeway, Xiamen, China, CN
Like the nearby Jimei School Village, Turtle Garden was initiated by Tan Kah Kee, who made his home here. Also his final resting place, thousands of visitors come to the garden to pay their respect to this highly revered patron of education. The garden has three distinctive areas - one devoted to Tan's grave, another commemorating Jimei's liberation with a monument and the final part, a covered corridor. Highlights include detailed friezes depicting scenes from history, carved in the Hui'an style.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: no charge

Wanshi Botanical Garden

Address: North Lion Hill, Xiamen, 361003, China, CN
Tel: +86 0592 202 4785
Xiamen's Wanshi Botanical Garden offers a peaceful place to enjoy horticulture at its very best. Many important plant collections reside within the gardens and include orchids, bamboo, cacti and numerous traditional Chinese plants. Also, rather unexpectedly, the gardens are home to around 100 rocks with inscriptions, together with a number of outstanding vantage points affording great city views, and an eye-catching temple building.
Open hours: daily - 05:30 to 18:30
Admission: no charge