Famed for scenery, business, and cross-Straits culture

The coastal city of Xiamen in East China's Fujian province attracts both tourists and business people from around the world with its leisure charm and investment environment.

William Brown, a US native who became the first foreigner in Fujian province to be granted permanent residency in the 1990s, has lived in the city for almost three decades. As a witness to the rise of a modern Xiamen, the professor of management at Xiamen University's MBA Center has many stories to tell.

President's prediction

Brown recalls US President Richard Nixon's visit to Xiamen in 1985. Nixon was impressed by the beauty of the city, the name of which translates as "gateway to the great mansion (of China)", saying it would one day become a major tourist spot.

Brown said that the city's endeavors in the past 30 years proved Nixon right. Last year 46 million overseas tourists visited the city. It has also won a series of honors including International Garden City, the Best Tourist Destination in China and the Most Beautiful Chinese City.

The city's open-minded and warmhearted people, and its well-developed management system, help create the appeal, said Brown.

Xiamen was among the first batch of cities and regions with approval from the central government to open up their local economies.

When Nixon visited the famed Turtle Garden in Jimei district, a local woman in the garden greeted him in clear English.

"Welcome to Jimei," she said, a genuine greeting that continues today.

Sentimental value

Brown's bond with China started in 1977 when he was serving with the US Air Force in Taiwan.

"It was a time of mainland-Taiwan hostility and one day mainland propaganda leaflets were dropped onto the air force base. Police warned us not to touch them, which made me only more curious," he remembers.

The curiosity later became a longing to step into the mysterious land. He heard about Xiamen from an acquaintance and decided to give it a try.

Later Brown found out that Xiamen is the closest city to Taiwan and the two share traditions and cultures.

Looking back, like most people living in Taiwan, the veteran expatriate realizes the city is a place of huge sentimental value.

People living in Kinmen county in Taiwan usually take a half-hour ferry to Xiamen for routine shopping. It is also only 45 minutes by airplane from Taipei. "If people set off in the morning, they can still make it for an afternoon tea meeting," said Brown.

The cross-Straits trip is also a highlight of tourism, with the port in Xiamen one of the earliest to start direct routes to Taiwan. In 2011, the city became one of the first to offer self-guided tours to Taiwan.

Xiamen retains a range of traditional events and food in daily life, which has unique appeal to tourists.

Among all the traditional culture of ancient Xiamen, bobing impresses Brown the most. It is an activity originally for the mid-autumn festival.

Short for bo Zhuangyuan - or gambling for topmost student in the national exam - it is not a game of chance over money, rather a game in which to pray for good luck. People toss six dice to earn points to get traditional mooncakes.

"It is widely believed that people who get the most cakes will have the best luck in the rest of the year," Brown said.

Key to success

Besides cultural Xiamen, Brown also has a lot to say about the city's economy.

Every September, business groups and officials gather in Xiamen for the China International Fair for Investment & Trade, known as CIFIT. The logo of the event is a golden key.

"The 'golden key' helps open the door to success. Every year, participants in CIFIT will have unexpected achievements," he said.

This year's CIFIT saw 1,455 deals with a total investment value of 463.9 billion yuan ($75.8 billion).

The city's business environment, extensive public transport network and abundant tourism resources make it one of the best destinations for expos and conferences.

Brighter prospects

With achievements in the past and opportunities ahead, Xiamen has stepped up efforts to build itself a more beautiful city, Brown said

He said that the ongoing "Beautiful Xiamen" project will further improve people's living standards, the natural environment and infrastructure.

The city is also developing its surrounding areas. Before the focus was on Xiamen Island. Brown said regions like Haicang and Jimei districts are now also developed.

"There will be more business opportunities and also more beautiful scenery presented to the world."

He also noted that, in the future, the city will launch more high-tech services like tourist apps.

fuchao@chinadaily.com.cn

A view of Xiamen, a dynamic coastal city that will host the eighth China-US Tourism Leadership Summit on Monday, with an estimated 200 delegates attending the event. Lin Yuzhou / For China Daily

Xiamen emphasizes both modernization and traditional preservation. Provided to China Daily

The city has an advanced transportation network. Lan Tianyi / For China Daily

The city's well-preserved ecology draws wild birds to its wetlands. Zheng Baozhi / China Daily

A dazzling gala night to celebrate CIFIT, an annual trade event in Xiamen. Provided to China Daily

(China Daily USA 10/29/2014 page8)