https://www.scmp.com/rss/319260/feed The Go-China series provides a quick reference to some of fast-growing and emerging cities on the mainland, such as Chengdu, Hangzhou and Xiamen, etc. Topics covered include economic and social developments, investment opportunities, business environment, as well as introduction to some of the key infrastructure and property projects. The series is also packed with useful information for visitors, such as city life, arts and culture, transportation, hotels, foods and restaurants. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Xiamen is a city on the move. New transport infrastructure, high-quality development and rising home prices underscore Xiamen’s ascent as one of the fastest-growing cities in China. Over 16 years of data tracked by the World Bank, between 2000 and 2016, the pretty coastal city in the southeast of Fujian Province has tripled in size. Meanwhile, according to the latest Hurun Report, Xiamen ranked number five among the top 10 cities globally where house prices are growing the fastest, gaining 16.9... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2150695/home-prices-rocket-xiamen-one-fastest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2150695/home-prices-rocket-xiamen-one-fastest?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Jun 2018 04:32:46 +0000 Xiamen has plenty of attractions for residents and guests. Whether in search of a peaceful moment in nature or a rousing good time, the perfect answer awaits in this ancient port. Art lovers can head over to Huamei Kongjian, a loft-like space in a repurposed factory that is now home to tea-houses, cafes and designer studios on 132 Huasheng Road. Check out the rotating series of exhibitions at Baqiu Gallery, which opened last year and was founded in part by a Chinese artist who focuses on... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2150699/historic-xiamen-packed-attractions-peaceful?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2150699/historic-xiamen-packed-attractions-peaceful?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Jun 2018 03:30:42 +0000 Xiamen Airlines (XiamenAir) is one of the city’s most successful enterprises. The first airline in China to operate under the modern enterprise system, it has also been praised by President Xi Jinping as the “the epitome of China’s aviation industry”. Established in 1984, XiamenAir has become one of the largest airlines on the mainland and the largest all-Boeing fleet carrier. On May 22, it took delivery of its 200th aircraft: its first Boeing 737 MAX, which is equipped with some of the latest... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/china-business/topics/go-china/article/2150701/xiamen-airlines-epitome?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/china-business/topics/go-china/article/2150701/xiamen-airlines-epitome?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Jun 2018 03:17:04 +0000 [Sponsored Article] As well as becoming China’s 12th free-trade zone, Hainan, a 35,000 square kilometre (13,500 square mile) island, will go a step further by becoming the largest free trade port in the world and will rival the world’s most developed and elegant areas, like Hong Kong and Singapore in Asia and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. With no doubt, Haikou city, capital of the country’s biggest free trade port, will manfully take the pioneer post to fulfil Hainan’s goal to be the... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/china/topics/go-china-haikou/article/2148415/visa-free-destination-haikou-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/china/topics/go-china-haikou/article/2148415/visa-free-destination-haikou-city?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 May 2018 16:00:30 +0000 Chengdu has long been at the forefront of China’s quest for a balance between economic progress and environmental protection. Much of that has to do with the fact that Chengdu is far removed from the capital but enjoyed funding from the central government’s Go West campaign established in 2000. The combination of access to funds and relative freedom from central control have allowed the city to become a proving ground for projects and ideas. Some of those projects have panned out, others have... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2111591/chengdu-strikes-healthy-balance-between?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2111591/chengdu-strikes-healthy-balance-between?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Sep 2017 08:02:53 +0000 China’s back-to-the-land movement started in the late 1980s, following the country’s Green Revolution, which used heavily subsidised petrochemical fertilisers, improved irrigation techniques and other policies to dramatically expand agricultural output. Although a success in terms of productivity, the damage to the environment soon became apparent and local governments and enterprises, reacting to urban demand, started experimenting with less destructive methods. One of the most interesting... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2111594/chengdus-flower-town-thrives-haven-artists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2111594/chengdus-flower-town-thrives-haven-artists?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Sep 2017 07:45:25 +0000 The crowning achievement of Chengdu’s decades-long transformation into a transport hub can be summed up in the slogan: “Chengdu-Europe Plus”. It refers to the Chengdu-Europe Express Rail, which was inaugurated in 2013, but only recently reached its potential as a modern Silk Road connection between East and West. The rail link stretches more than 10,000km and takes 10 days to reach Poland and 14 to reach Germany. Its trains carry goods and products such as food, appliances, electronics, even... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2111592/chengdu-europe-express-rail-accelerates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2111592/chengdu-europe-express-rail-accelerates?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Sep 2017 07:45:24 +0000 Chengdu sits at the centre of some of China’s most beautiful scenery, and amid a number of important cultural sites. In every direction, there are Unesco-protected World Heritage sites and culturally significant places of interest. To the south of the city lie Emei Mountain and the Leshan Giant Buddha. Now less than an hour’s travel from the capital via high-speed rail, these two sites represent important religious pilgrimage destinations for the Buddhist faithful, and incredibly busy tourist... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2111595/giant-buddha-tibetan-plateau-lush?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2111595/giant-buddha-tibetan-plateau-lush?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Sep 2017 07:15:46 +0000 Canadian Jordan Porter moved to Chengdu in 2010 as an alternative to doing his masters degree in Chinese history. That initial two-year jaunt became a journey that has now spanned seven years and given rise to his own company, Chengdu Food Tours, which uses Sichuan’s famous cuisine as a tool to teach visitors about the city. Since the company’s inception in 2015, Chengdu Food Tours has guided dozens of groups through the side streets of the city, exploring wet markets, visiting small street... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2111597/chengdu-food-tours-offer-intimate-way-heart?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2111597/chengdu-food-tours-offer-intimate-way-heart?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Sep 2017 07:02:57 +0000 You are never more than a stone’s throw away from great food in Chengdu. Two decades of headlong development has led to entire neighbourhoods being overhauled, especially in the south side of the city, and that has led to the loss of some traditional wet markets, street vendors, and venerable locales. However, there are still thousands of good restaurants in Chengdu offering classic Sichuan fare. At the moment, the north side of the city is doing the best job of maintaining the traditional feel... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2111596/chengdus-restaurants-sizzle-sichuanese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2111596/chengdus-restaurants-sizzle-sichuanese?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Sep 2017 06:45:20 +0000 Jiuzhaigou National Park is rightfully viewed as one of China’s natural treasures for its multihued lakes, tiered waterfalls and snowy peaks, so it’s no surprise that this Unesco World Heritage site attracted more than 5 million visitors in 2016. While Mother Nature has endowed the area with unrivalled beauty, the region suffered a setback in August when a major 7.0-magnitude earthquake rattled it in August. The tremor forced the park and neighbouring hotels to close for autumn and winter, but... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2111600/natural-treasures-enhance-jiuzhaigou?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2111600/natural-treasures-enhance-jiuzhaigou?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Sep 2017 06:18:57 +0000 Chengdu’s office property market has rebounded this year after significant oversupply in 2016. Much of this demand has been driven by preferential policies of district governments which have encouraged domestic firms, especially in the finance, trade, technology and professional services sectors, to sign new leases or to extend existing contracts. Some property developers have seized the opportunity to release premium large-scale mixed-use or commercial projects, which had been put on hold... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2111602/chengdu-property-developers-release-premium?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2111602/chengdu-property-developers-release-premium?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Sep 2017 06:01:39 +0000 As a fast-growing western city with a host of major businesses and cultural attractions, it’s no surprise that Chengdu greets an estimated 100 million tourists each year. These staggering numbers explain why the city has almost 8,000 hotels, including many of the top international brands, according to Fredrik Genberg, general manager of the Waldorf Astoria Chengdu. For travellers, the great news is that the city’s unending parade of new hotel openings means that “average daily rates will drop... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2111599/chengdus-popularity-sparks-increase-new?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2111599/chengdus-popularity-sparks-increase-new?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Sep 2017 06:01:38 +0000 Sanya is among the top global resort destinations with more than 16 million guests last year. Twenty million are expected next year. No wonder the area is set to become “the biggest international tourism city in South China” with destinations such as Haitang Bay bristling with world-class resorts, says Serge Zaalof, chief operating officer of Atlantis Resorts and Residences, which will open this year. Haitang Bay is poised to capture a significant portion of this because its location makes it... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2102138/bay-watch-haitang-bays-resorts-rush-claim?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2102138/bay-watch-haitang-bays-resorts-rush-claim?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Jul 2017 05:00:00 +0000 Sanya’s intangible cultural heritage goes back centuries and can be found in the customs and ceremonies of the local minorities. Sanya city has listed 10 customs that qualify as intangible cultural heritage and must be protected. Local Yazhou FolkSongs and the Li minority Firewood-gathering Dance are approved examples of national level intangible cultural heritage. The Li minority Oral Traditions, the Legends of the Conch Shell Maiden, the traditional Hui Minority wedding ceremony, Li minority... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2102135/sanya-fights-preserve-its-cultural-heritage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2102135/sanya-fights-preserve-its-cultural-heritage?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Jul 2017 04:56:47 +0000 Sanya is taking a holistic approach to enrich its travel product offerings and achieve a balanced growth between urban and rural areas. This is in response to the central government’s “all-for-one tourism” initiative to encourage local governments to integrate economic and natural resources to improve the competitiveness and service quality of tourism products and services. According to the “Sanya All-for-One Travel Development Plan 2016 to 2020” published in December 2016, Sanya will take... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2102133/tourism-development-sanya-takes-holistic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2102133/tourism-development-sanya-takes-holistic?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Jul 2017 04:48:23 +0000 Sanya’s rich food culture has benefited from the decade-long tourist boom that the city has experienced, featuring an innovative worldly dining experience as well as the traditionalmeals that have satisfied islanders for centuries. Excellent dishes are available at any time of the day, and night. A good place to start looking for some great options is along the Hongsha Port, or the dock leading to Wuzhizhou Island. Restaurants cluster around the ports, getting the freshest seafood possible and... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2102132/culinary-odyssey-sanyas-rich-food-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2102132/culinary-odyssey-sanyas-rich-food-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Jul 2017 04:45:09 +0000 People from north China looking to escape the winter chill and/or urban smog have long sought out the Hainan Island resort city of Sanya as a holiday destination, says Robert Ritacca of Savills Research. With its consistently clean air and virtual year-round sunshine, beaches, golf courses and natural scenery, it was an easy choice for those affluent enough to be able to buy a second home in Sanya. Demand for property soared even higher in October 2016 when, amid fears of a bubble forming in... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2102131/new-sanya-property-projects-will-satisfy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2102131/new-sanya-property-projects-will-satisfy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Jul 2017 04:41:21 +0000 Business is booming for Yalong Bay’s luxury resorts. With a beachfront longer than 7km tucked up against rainforests and rolling mountains, the idyllic location has seen a surge in annual visitor numbers while “hotel occupancy continues to grow despite a number of new hotels”, says Stephan Stoss, Hilton area general manager of Hainan South Hotels. Stoss says hoteliers and guests both benefit. “Prices are stable or dropping, but the volume is offsetting the drop in rates to help hotels remain... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2102130/boom-times-yalong-bays-luxury-resorts-cash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2102130/boom-times-yalong-bays-luxury-resorts-cash?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Jul 2017 04:37:27 +0000 Nestled in Haitang Bay, Wuzhizhou Island is one of Hainan’s crown jewels. Reached by ferry, the 148-hectare island boasts more than 5km of secluded oceanfront as well as some of China’s best-protected coral reefs. The island is perfect for scuba diving, thanks to a placid ocean and clear waters that provide visibility of up to 27 metres, according to Yang Xiaohai, the vice-president of the Hainan Wuzhizhou Island Scenic Spot in Sanya. A wide variety of ocean sports such as water skiing,... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2102128/island-charms-wuzhizhou-offers-sea-sports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2102128/island-charms-wuzhizhou-offers-sea-sports?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Jul 2017 04:32:54 +0000 Hotels in Dadonghai Bay generally recorded an increase in visitors last year, helped by an increased interest in wellness travel and because of its convenient location – only about 4km from Sanya city centre. “As for this year so far, it feels like arrivals are up again, and up from Hong Kong as well,” says Julian Wong, multiproperty general manager of the Shanhaitian Resort Autograph Collection. Eric Kee, general manager of Mandarin Oriental, Sanya, says that part of the reason for the rise in... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2102126/dadonghai-bay-hotels-sanya-welcome-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2102126/dadonghai-bay-hotels-sanya-welcome-more?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Jul 2017 04:30:16 +0000 Xiamen aims to become a major production base of integrated circuits (ICs) in China, driven by the growth of electronics industries at the Torch High-Tech Industry Development Zone. Electronics and machinery are the two pillar industries of Xiamen, accounting for nearly half of the city’s 1,700 enterprises and 70 per cent of total industrial output value of 525.47 billion yuan (HK$ 601.13 billion) in 2016. The electronics industry contributed 198.48 billion yuan to that figure. With production... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2097068/integrated-circuits-industry-drives-xiamens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2097068/integrated-circuits-industry-drives-xiamens?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jun 2017 03:55:38 +0000 When the Xiamen Metro officially debuts this September, the subway system will mark another step forward in the city’s relentless march to top-tier status. Initially approved in 2012, work by the Xiamen Urban Rail Transit Group is under way on three subway routes, with Line One slated to begin carrying passengers in September. The first phase of the 50 billion yuan (HK$57 billion) subway system encompasses three lines and more than 60 stops spread along 79km of track. The 24-stop Line One runs... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2097067/xiamen-makes-tracks-top-tier-city-status?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2097067/xiamen-makes-tracks-top-tier-city-status?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jun 2017 03:54:04 +0000 Xiamen is the jewel of China’s southeast coast. Long the door to the outside world from imperial China, the modern era has transformed this island city and its surroundings into one of the nation’s most popular tourist destinations and a dynamic economic engine in southern China. The city earned its name from an ancient castle, the “Lower Gate Fortress” but, as the city flourished and grew rich from ocean trade, the city’s leaders decided to replace lower with its Putonghua homonym “mansion,”... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2097065/xiamens-mansion-gate-serves-model-chinas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2097065/xiamens-mansion-gate-serves-model-chinas?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jun 2017 03:51:51 +0000 When bikes moved from being a luxury item to a commuter staple, thousands of bicycles plied Xiamen’s streets every day. While the advent of the car dimmed China’s two-wheeled love affair, the relationship has bloomed anew with the rise of the shared-bike industry. “Back in the 1990s, people used bikes every day and now there are more bikes on the street again,” says Zoe Lai, a local resident of more than 20 years. She is referring to 300,000 public bikes from five companies that have flooded the... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2097062/bike-share-companies-flood-xiamen-app?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2097062/bike-share-companies-flood-xiamen-app?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jun 2017 03:47:39 +0000 Long known for its tourism, Xiamen is becoming a serious player in China’s blossoming arts and culture field. The city recognises that a lively arts scene can play an important role in urban development and subsidises efforts to help it evolve into an international centre for creativity. A number of galleries and museums have opened in the past decade, including the 798 Times Space Xiamen, the Kulangsu Gallery of Foreign Artefacts from the Palace Museum, the Xinhe Gallery, the Qianji Gallery,... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2097060/arts-sake-xiamen-serious-player-chinas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2097060/arts-sake-xiamen-serious-player-chinas?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jun 2017 03:45:17 +0000 Xiamen’s art scene gained historical depth last month with the opening of the Kulangsu Gallery of Foreign Artefacts from the Palace Museum Collection. The gallery brings together a historical site on Gulangyu Island, a former colonial outpost, with the parent museum’s 1.8 million artefact collection, of which a mere 1 per cent are on display at any one time, according to Shan Jixiang, director of the Palace Museum in Beijing. The Gulangyu gallery repurposes the former Hope Hospital and Nurses’... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2097059/kulangsu-gallery-gulangyu-island-exhibits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2097059/kulangsu-gallery-gulangyu-island-exhibits?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jun 2017 03:42:21 +0000 Several gleaming skyscrapers on Xiamen’s vibrant waterfront have altered the city’s skyline. These new towering structures include the 218-metre Xiamen Eton Centre, and the 300-metre twin towers of the Xiamen Shimao Straits Mansion, formerly known as Shimao Mo Sky Mansion. Slated for completion within 2017, Xiamen Eton Centre is Eton Properties’ latest development in the coastal city. The mega project comprises two commercial towers – an 18-storey hotel tower and a 40-storey small office/home... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2097058/tall-order-towers-light-xiamens-skyline?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2097058/tall-order-towers-light-xiamens-skyline?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jun 2017 03:39:16 +0000 The seemingly unstoppable growth in Xiamen’s upscale hotel market continues apace, with the city now counting 21 five-star hotels and more on the way in the second half of the year, according to local tourism bureau figures. “I remember when I was here from 2004 to 2008, Xiamen did not have that many international chain hotels,” recalls Richard Hng, general manager of the Shangri-La Hotel Xiamen. Times have changed and hotel guests in Xiamen have never had a wider selection of premium... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2097056/xiamens-luxury-hotels-expand-services?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/go-china/article/2097056/xiamens-luxury-hotels-expand-services?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jun 2017 03:37:20 +0000 Xian was the entry point to the Ancient Silk Road more than 2,000 years ago, and a major trading hub. Today, the city is assuming the same important role under China’s belt-and-road initiative. This initiative is aimed at broadening China’s connections with more than 60 countries in Europe, the Middle East and the rest of Asia along land routes forming the Silk Road Economic Belt, and sea routes forming the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road. At the Belt and Road – New Opportunities for Xian... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/news/china/topics/go-china-xian/article/2048989/xian-sees-opportunities-investors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/news/china/topics/go-china-xian/article/2048989/xian-sees-opportunities-investors?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Nov 2016 03:46:17 +0000 The most industrialised city in northwest China, Xian is the focal point for the development of the nation’s central and northwestern regions, and the revitalisation of land trade routes to Central Asia and Europe. Xian benefited early from the national government’s decision to make the city a centre of the aviation industry. That decision resulted in heavy investment in infrastructure, higher education and hi-tech industries, providing a solid foundation for the modern, industrialised, hi-tech... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/news/china/topics/go-china-xian/article/2048987/hi-tech-xian-flourishes-local?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/news/china/topics/go-china-xian/article/2048987/hi-tech-xian-flourishes-local?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Nov 2016 03:46:16 +0000 The imperial city of Changan is the site of many legends and stories, perhaps none as compelling as the love between the Tang emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei, his imperial consort. Yang Guifei was born Yang Yuhuan and began her relationship with the imperial family as the wife of Xuanzong’s son, Li Mao, the prince of Shou. But her allure was such that the emperor himself wanted her for his own, so he had her put on Taoist robes – to nullify her marriage – and then made Yang Yuhuan into his... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/news/china/topics/go-china-xian/article/2048984/journey-past-changans-compelling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/news/china/topics/go-china-xian/article/2048984/journey-past-changans-compelling?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Nov 2016 03:01:11 +0000 Xian has been the heart of Chinese civilisation for millennia. Even when the capitals of later Chinese dynasties moved east, the core of Chinese culture remained intact in the central province of Shanxi where the imperial capital once known as “City of Eternal Peace” presided over the beginning and end of the famed Silk Road and the rise and fall of more than a dozen of China’s most fabled imperial dynasties. Xian’s historical legacy remains ever-present in the looming majesty of the city walls... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/news/china/topics/go-china-xian/article/2048986/city-eternal-peace-xian-heart?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/news/china/topics/go-china-xian/article/2048986/city-eternal-peace-xian-heart?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Nov 2016 03:01:11 +0000 Like many cities in China, Xian sits at the crossroads of modernity and tradition. This dichotomy forms the character of this ancient capital, and influences the old customs of the locals as well as the new fads. Xian’s history and how it influences the people is most evident in the mornings, when the elderly move slowly out into the spreading light and do the things they’ve done for so many years: remove the coverings from a bird cage; head to the park for exercise and a song; light up a... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/news/china/topics/go-china-xian/article/2048983/xians-ancient-roots-tradition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/news/china/topics/go-china-xian/article/2048983/xians-ancient-roots-tradition?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Nov 2016 02:46:59 +0000 Xian earns its place on the global stage on the merits of its historical riches and its wealth of amenities for the modern traveller. Times are good, with the city notching 8.85 million tourists during the most recent National Day holiday, up 12 per cent year-on-year, according to Shirley Li director of sales and marketing, Wyndham Grand Xian South and the Wyndham Grand Xian Residence. That’s just a drop in the bucket of the 3.86 billion people who visited last year, says Markus Christ, general... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/news/china/topics/go-china-xian/article/2048981/xian-hotels-tailor-their-offerings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/news/china/topics/go-china-xian/article/2048981/xian-hotels-tailor-their-offerings?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Nov 2016 02:46:58 +0000 Xian aims to diversify and increase tourists’ spending by developing large-scale leisure and shopping facilities. Located in the upmarket Qujiang New District, the Great Tang All Day Mall features architectural designs modelled on buildings in the prosperous Tang dynasty (618-970 AD). Designed as the centrepiece of the cultural and commercial hub of Xian, the mall is intended to be the “largest and longest pedestrian street of tourist-landscaped and cultural shopping experiences in Asia”. The... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/news/china/topics/go-china-xian/article/2048980/xian-shopping-mall-developers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/news/china/topics/go-china-xian/article/2048980/xian-shopping-mall-developers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Nov 2016 02:46:58 +0000 [Sponsored Article] Unique among urban hotels, Le Meridien Xiamen is a journey of discovery and new experiences offered in outdoor activity. Le Meridien Xiamen Hotel is the only international hotel located on the city central mountain park of Xiamen. The city is one of China’s cleanest and most beautiful seaport cities on south-eastern coast of Fujian Province. Surrounded by open spaces and lush vegetation, Le Méridien Xiamen exists in a fine balance between an urban and natural setting. Nestled... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/china/topics/go-china-xiamen/article/1995051/different-stay-xiamen-le-meridien-urban?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/china/topics/go-china-xiamen/article/1995051/different-stay-xiamen-le-meridien-urban?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Jul 2016 08:30:00 +0000 [Sponsored Article] Located adjacent to the Xiamen Municipal Government Office and surrounded by major banks and many restaurants, the hotel is ideally situated for the busy business traveller. It benefits from convenient access to Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and the Xiamen International Conference & Exhibition Centre – both are located just 20 minutes’ drive away. Also within easy reach of the Xiamen International Cruise Terminal and Xiamen-Gulangyu Island Ferry Terminal, Pan Pacific... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/china/topics/go-china-xiamen/article/1995001/pan-pacific-xiamen-luxurious-modern?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/china/topics/go-china-xiamen/article/1995001/pan-pacific-xiamen-luxurious-modern?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Jul 2016 08:15:15 +0000 [Sponsored Article] “We are celebrating the 20th anniversary with our guests, staff and the community,” says Millie Tsui, general manager of Marco Polo Xiamen. “As a token of appreciation, we are pleased to offer guests, travellers and locals born on 11 November 1996—exactly the day the hotel was established—a free buffet lunch. And during the celebration period, hotel restaurant customers will also be served our signature Napoleon Cake as a compliment.” A look back at the past 20 years, Marco... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/china/topics/go-china-xiamen/article/1994991/marco-polo-hotels-celebrates-20-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/china/topics/go-china-xiamen/article/1994991/marco-polo-hotels-celebrates-20-years?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Jul 2016 07:51:48 +0000 Xiamen is set to become a major stop on the “one belt, one road” network, a central government- driven initiative seeking to further intertwine the trade policies, economies and transport routes of countries from China to Europe. In August last year, a set of transnational trains departed from Xiamen’s Haicang Railway Station for the first time. The first traversed the 9,826km expanse to Lodz, Poland in 15 days, stopping in Chengdu en route. The second delved into Central Asia in five days,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1994947/road-economic-prosperity-xiamens-rail-air-and-sea-links-strengthen-chinas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1994947/road-economic-prosperity-xiamens-rail-air-and-sea-links-strengthen-chinas?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Jul 2016 06:23:38 +0000 A new type of urbanisation is being carried out in the Tongan district of Xiamen. Called Bingzhou New Town, the new development seeks to incorporate the existing natural and cultural features with newly built infrastructure and amenities, providing a more authentic, unique experience for residents and visitors alike. Bingzhou Island is a four-kilometre-long verdant wedge that sits in the northeast of Xiamen, where Tongan Bay and three rivers come together. For centuries, this island was the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1994944/history-lessons-bingzhou-new-town-xiamen-preserves-past-build-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1994944/history-lessons-bingzhou-new-town-xiamen-preserves-past-build-future?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Jul 2016 06:07:23 +0000 Xiamen is one of China’s best-kept secrets. Long a successful port on the country’s southeast coast, Xiamen was also the departure point for thousands of migrants out of China and the first stop for many a foreign trader. The city stands out from others in China due to its climate and pristine beaches and its ability to maintain a clean streetscape. The lights and clubs of the city itself and the nearby beaches are attractions enough, but there are also several popular sights and sounds that... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1994922/tradition-and-warm-beaches-modern-coastal-gem-makes-ideal-business-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1994922/tradition-and-warm-beaches-modern-coastal-gem-makes-ideal-business-and?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Jul 2016 04:45:45 +0000 Xiamen expresses China’s modern-day split between hyper-modern and staunchly traditional like few other Chinese cities can. The city’s location and traditional role as the “doorway to China” led to Xiamen being always at the forefront of change and adaptation. Overseas Chinese ensured that the best of what they encountered abroad would eventually make it back to the hometown. The clearest example of that today is the cityscape, especially at night. Xiamen’s clean, slick streets and buildings rub... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1994893/pulling-strings-chinese-marionette-tradition-lives-xiamen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1994893/pulling-strings-chinese-marionette-tradition-lives-xiamen?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Jul 2016 04:30:00 +0000 With 19 five-star hotels sprinkled across Xiamen and at least a score more on the way, this compact subtropical destination offers a broad range of upscale hotels catering to business and leisure travellers. While the number of annual guests edged up in the past year and luxury hotels did better than most, tourism revenue has been flat recently, according to local tourism officials. The majority of Xiamen’s international tourists come from Asia, but Europe and the Americas are both well... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1994885/five-star-living-business-and-leisure-travellers-can-choose-wide-range?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1994885/five-star-living-business-and-leisure-travellers-can-choose-wide-range?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Jul 2016 03:45:31 +0000 Times have never been better in Xiamen for anyone who loves great food, premium drinks and live music. The city’s once-sleepy culinary and nightlife scene is now far more varied and cosmopolitan. Xiamen offers music lovers a surprising array of live music. JJ Bar and Grill in Haiwan Park features a six-person band coupled with Texan barbecue and a VIP lounge. The city’s most talented musician, Peng Fei, performs an eclectic and captivating mix of Chinese and Western songs at Latitude 24 in Le... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1994874/wine-and-dine-xiamen-city-offers-varied-cuisine-and-many-nightspots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1994874/wine-and-dine-xiamen-city-offers-varied-cuisine-and-many-nightspots?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Jul 2016 02:45:30 +0000 Developers have unveiled several large mixed-use and residential projects in Xiamen’s prime business areas. In Xiamen’s Xiagang district, where heritage buildings have been renovated, Shimao Property Holdings has developed the 5 billion yuan (HK$5.8 billion) Xiamen Shimao Mo Sky Mansion, which consists of two 300-metre skyscrapers on an approximately 30,000-square-metre plot. One tower features a five-star hotel and grade-A offices, while the other is dedicated to upscale “small office, home... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1994842/towering-ahead-xiamen-developers-invest-heavily-build-prime-residential?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1994842/towering-ahead-xiamen-developers-invest-heavily-build-prime-residential?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Jul 2016 02:15:45 +0000 [Sponsored Article] With golf set to return to the upcoming Summer Olympics in Rio, Brazil for the first time in over a century, the sport, often described as “a rich man’s game”, started to attract more and more interests from people in all walks of life. But sky-high prices and limited options have always stopped many people from trying to take a swing themselves. Now they have a choice: in China’s Sanya. Sanya, a seaside resort in China’s only tropical island Hainan, is an attractive golfing... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/china/topics/go-china-sanya/article/1989716/sanya-paradise-golfers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/china/topics/go-china-sanya/article/1989716/sanya-paradise-golfers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Jul 2016 02:48:24 +0000 [Sponsored Article] Sanya hosted 2,000 weddings parties, received 300,000 couples to shoot their wedding photos, and 200,000 honeymoon holidaymakers in 2015, according to Sanya Wedding Tourism Association, turning the city into an increasingly popular destination for young couples who want to tie the knot on a gorgeous beach, the same way many of their favorite celebrities did. “Sanya has great potential to be the number one wedding destination in China,” Mr. Hoss Vetry, Multi Property Vice... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/china/topics/go-china-sanya/article/1989710/sanya-aims-become-top-tourism-destination?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/china/topics/go-china-sanya/article/1989710/sanya-aims-become-top-tourism-destination?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Jul 2016 02:46:12 +0000 Sanya is expecting an increase in overseas visitors this year as a result of its efforts to improve its tourism infrastructure and increase international flights, according to the city’s tourism officials. Last year, Sanya received 15 million visitors, including 358,000 from outside mainland China. Those numbers are expected to increase to 20 million by 2018, with overseas visitors reaching 1 million, making Sanya the largest international tourism hub in South China. Hong Kong has been the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1988902/grand-ambitions-sanya-upgrades-tourism-infrastructure-its-bid-host-20?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1988902/grand-ambitions-sanya-upgrades-tourism-infrastructure-its-bid-host-20?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Jul 2016 07:15:00 +0000 Sanya has launched its “Cool Summer” promotion until the end of September, emphasising golf, weddings and family travel offerings. According to Fan Mu, director of the Sanya Tourism Development Commission, the campaign showcases some of the best [facilities] that Sanya has to offer. “Sanya has eight golf courses, set against stunning backdrops, such as lakes, an ocean, mountains and rain forests, to suit the different tastes of customers,” he says. “Sanya has hosted several celebrity weddings... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1988894/cool-summer-deals-city-woos-asias-young-couples-and-hong-kongs-golfers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1988894/cool-summer-deals-city-woos-asias-young-couples-and-hong-kongs-golfers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Jul 2016 07:02:56 +0000