Xiamen, Fujian Province
Chaozhou, Guangzhou Province
South East Coast of China


Map Source: Lonely Planet -- always by my side

This trip, during Christmas of 2001, took me by long distance bus, along the south east coast of China from Hong Kong to Xiamen, Fujian Province. Along the way, after a 5 hour trip, overnight in Chaozhou (pop.2,362,400). What a boring city....restaurants as scarce as chicken teeth. Had to eat twice at KFC. Next stop was another 5 hours north to Xiamen (pop. 1,246,700), another of the 4 Special Economic Zones (other SEZ are Zhuhai, Shenzhen, Shantou). Xiamen, situated entirely on an island, was worth seeing, in particular the smaller offshore island of GulangYu. Biggest pain was the incredible air pollution! People are burning junk like there is no tomorrow! Almost as bad as the Philippines.
 

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Xiamen city from 
Gulang Yu island

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 Jimei area of Xiamen 

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Trinity Christian Church on Gulang Yu island on Christmas eve 

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Red Parrot, bird aviary, Gulang Yu

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Red Parrot, bird aviary, Gulang Yu

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Chaozhou bridge

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The streets of Chaozhou 

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 The famous sleeper bus where you can stretch out during your 40 hour busride

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Nearby Jinmen islands of Taiwan--heavily guarded by the Taiwanese

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Jimei area of Xiamen, made famous by Mr. Tan Kah Kee 

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Nanputuo Monks

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Pelican, bird aviary, 
Gulang Yu

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Pelican, bird aviary, 
Gulang Yu

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 Typical Chinese apartment building, Chaozgou

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The streets of Chaozhou

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...and take a pee at the public toilet

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Xiamen city from the hills

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The 'soldiers' of the
Nanputuo Temple

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Nanputuo Monks

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Nanputuo Monks

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Shantou city (pop 4,130,900) near Chaozhou)

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Dentist at work just outside the ancient city walls of Chaozhou

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Old city building
 Chaozhou

China -
so much to see!

               

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