Gulangyu Islet is Xiamen's highlight. This car free-zone is also known as the "Island of Pianos" because of its high piano ownership rate. Ji Jieying / For China Daily

One seaside town provides a relaxing and sunny alternative to Europe's big chill

If the biting winds and blanketing blizzards in the Northern Hemisphere are hampering your travel plans, why not sample the sunshine and natural beauty of Xiamen, one of the most alluring seaside cities in China. Sitting on the country's southeast coast and looking out to the Taiwan Straits, the city experiences a subtropical monsoon season and boasts a mild winter, making it a terrific December-February getaway.

Xiamen, which means "a gate of China", has been one of China's major seaports since ancient times. With almost 200 kilometers of coastline, it prides itself on its tree-lined beaches, attractive offshore islands, affordable fresh seafood and its wonderful climate.

As one of the forerunners of China's special economic zones, Xiamen is rapidly developing while still preserving remnants of its colonial past.

Visitors have access to up-scale shopping centers, five-star hotels and top-end restaurants, but also have the option of getting lost down quaint little alleys and discovering the many eateries located in these havens.

The city's efficient transportation network is also a bonus and renting a bicycle is very easy.

This charming, evergreen coastal city is also nicknamed as "Egret Island" since it is home to almost 50 percent of the country's egrets because of its eco-friendly environment. Here are five places to check out if you go.

1. Gulangyu Island

Located southwest of the city, the 1.78-sq-m islet is a car-free zone, with only bicycles and electric carts allowed. This pedestrian-friendly place is the highlight of a Xiamen trip. It is about a 5-minute ferry ride from downtown and the islet is a top choice for a weekend excursion because of its natural scenery and collection of ex-colonial buildings.

Sunlight Rock, which is a sun-shaped granite formation and also the island's highest point, is the place to go to see a fantastic panorama of the city (see picture above).

There are also several well-crafted gardens on the small island, with the oldest one dating back a century.

The Piano Museum and the high piano ownership rate on the island have earned it the reputation as an island of piano and music.

2. Nanputuo Temple

The ancient temple was built during the Tang Dynasty (AD618-907) and is one of the sacred places of Buddhism in Fujian province, attracting a large number of pilgrims from home and abroad.

The temple covers an area of 30,000 sq m and was built in an exquisite and grand style. Vegetarian food is served in the temple and it is deemed as a must-see on an itinerary to Xiamen.

3. Round-the-Island Road

Located in the southeast of Xiamen Island, this 31 km road is the most famous street in Xiamen. The road runs along the coastline and is lined with lavish trees. A trip on a rented bike or the tourist bus is strongly recommended.

It is hard not to feel relaxed when surrounded by all those trees and sandy beaches feeling the sea breeze in your face.

4. Hulishan Fortress

Lying to the south of Xiamen, the fortress played an important defensive role in resisting foreign aggressors.

The fort was built in 1894 at the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and includes a barracks, a secret tunnel, an ammunition depot and a castle. The cannons there are among the largest and oldest 19th-century breechloaders still in existence. In the neighboring Rongguang Museum, ancient firecrackers, guns, swords and stones are on display. The fortress is located near the university, our next recommendation.

5. Xiamen University

It is one of the China's most privileged universities, and is famous for the picturesque campus scenery. Facing the ocean and surrounded by Xiamen Bay, it has been crowned as the most beautiful campus in China.