This week, at Lao Guo’s kind invitation, I took a trip to Xiamen…
Spring Airlines
Spring Airlines has always branded itself as a low-cost carrier in China, offering differentiated services based on this model. As a result, it doesn’t offer any cabin classes other than Economy and cuts costs in various ways, such as reducing seat pitch to fit more seats, charging for front-row seating, providing only a combined 15kg free allowance for checked and carry-on luggage, offering no complimentary meals or beverages, and having no onboard heating equipment…
My first experience with Spring Airlines was actually okay. Although the price wasn’t as low as I’d imagined, it was still slightly cheaper than other airlines, so I chose Spring.
In Shanghai, after Hongqiao T2 opened, Spring Airlines practically took over the entire domestic section of T1. However, to save money and increase efficiency, they seem to have opened only two boarding gates. Instead of using jet bridges, they use shuttle buses, so Spring’s own three buses constantly ferry passengers back and forth between the aircraft parking stands and the boarding gates~~~~~
The flight from Shanghai to Xiamen wasn’t delayed. The seats were quite cramped, but since I don’t have long legs… it didn’t really matter. The seatbacks don’t recline, but since it’s just over an hour, I treated it like a bus ride~~~ After takeoff, announcements started promoting the CCB Spring Dragon Card, followed by carts being pushed down the aisles selling drinks and snacks. So if you don’t want to be disturbed, bringing a good pair of noise-canceling headphones is definitely necessary. Just before landing, they led a simple in-flight exercise routine. This actually happens on other airlines too, except they usually show it on TV screens. Since Spring flights don’t have TVs, the flight attendants had to lead everyone through the exercises~~~~~
On the return flight from Xiamen to Shanghai, the operating aircraft arrived on time, but unfortunately developed a mechanical issue after arrival… Sweat… About an hour and a half later, boarding began, but we ended up waiting another hour or so on the plane. Luckily, my seat was in the emergency exit row, which was exceptionally spacious. Surprisingly, due to the delay, they even gave out free bottled water and canned Eight Treasure Porridge. Plus, there was no sales pitching, no exercise routines, and no credit card promotions throughout the entire flight….
I actually feel quite sorry for Spring Airlines’ cabin crew—they have to sell products, act as announcers, demonstrate emergency equipment, and even lead passengers in exercises….
Although Spring Airlines tickets are relatively cheap, unless you snag special fares like 99/199 yuan, they aren’t actually that much cheaper. And since it’s currently summer vacation, those special fares are virtually impossible to get. I’d suggest comparing prices across different airlines when booking; if you can avoid flying Spring, you probably should~~~ Especially if you have a lot of luggage. Of course, weather-related delays are unavoidable for any airline, but Spring’s only disadvantage is that under such circumstances, their flights might be queued behind other airlines for takeoff…. So regarding Spring Airlines’ value for money, it really depends on luck—when you’re lucky, the value is pretty high~~~~~
Pizza Hut on the 24th Floor
The highest Pizza Hut in the country has been open here for many years. It features floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows all around. Naturally, the side facing Gulangyu Island is especially popular, and many people who sit there hardly ever leave, so getting a seat on that side requires considerable time and patience…. The view is great, but I’d really prefer a restaurant with more local Xiamen character here—it feels a bit strange to travel all the way to Xiamen just to eat Pizza Hut….
Of course, the scenery here is unbeatable~~~~
Old Town Area
Gulangyu Island
Baishuo Tea Lounge
Discovering this place was a pleasant surprise. At Xinlinghui Plaza opposite the ferry terminal, Starbucks occupies floors 1-3 plus the terrace… I initially thought the plaza only had Starbucks, but when I went upstairs to use the restroom on the second floor, I stumbled upon Baishuo Tea Lounge. They offer a variety of teas, and the shelves on the wall display tea tins from Taiwan’s PEKOE, Bonne Maman jams, EvaSolo teaware, and books by Ye Yilan. I heard Ye Yilan even held a tea lecture here. If I ever have the time, I’d love to spend an afternoon relaxing here~~~~ In the middle of summer, nothing beats a refreshing mix of iced tea and fruit juice, so I ended up visiting this shop two days in a row. The ambiance is lovely, not too crowded—a perfect spot to unwind after taking the ferry~~~~~~ Oh well, I also taught the cashier here how to use QuickPass… Sweat….
Borrowing a few official photos
If you’re interested, check out their Douban page:http://www.douban.com/people/basao/
Xiamen University
As a tourist attraction, Xiamen University gets extremely crowded. However, because the campus is vast—with mountains behind and the sea in front—it doesn’t feel overly congested~~~ Right next door is Nanputuo Temple, another major Xiamen landmark that draws massive crowds, mainly because admission is free. Practically everyone visiting Xiamen University stops by for a look, which must be a nightmare for those coming specifically to burn incense….
Aside from its academic buildings and dormitories, Xiamen University is essentially a beautiful park. Walking past Furong Lake, heading uphill toward the reservoir, circling around it, then descending to Baicheng Beach—you could easily mistake the whole route for a scenic park rather than a university campus. Of course, if it weren’t so hot… I definitely would’ve explored even more….
Right at the entrance, you’re greeted by gorgeous tropical landscapes~~~
Hilltop Reservoir
There are tons of Xiamen University photos online—just search them yourself…
Lujian Hotel Sea View Restaurant
I originally wanted a restaurant that offered both local specialties and ideally ocean views, but got misled by Dianping’s categories—a place specializing in Cantonese dim sum somehow ended up listed under Fujian cuisine on Dazhong Dianping… Well, anyway, the ambiance was quite nice, and luckily I managed to grab the last window seat.
When it’s not too hot, definitely sit outside~~~~
The famous Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street…
Let’s talk about the dishes:
The shrimp dumplings were pretty good—after all, shrimp is incredibly abundant in Xiamen. The sauce on the chicken feet had a flavor I’d never tasted before, and the BBQ pork buns didn’t seem to contain traditional char siu,
The beef balls were mediocre, the chicken wings were very salty, but the steamed pork ribs were excellent—the most authentic dish here. As for Shanghai xiaolongbao… well, at least they didn’t taste like the xiaolongbao you’d get in Shanghai…
Of course, just like many restaurants claiming to serve regional cuisines end up becoming Northeastern-style once they open in Changchun, this place has likely adapted its menu to local tastes. So if you’re looking for authentic Cantonese cuisine, I wouldn’t recommend it—but if you’re curious about Xiamen-style Cantonese dim sum, it’s worth trying. Still, if you don’t manage to get a window seat, it’d be quite a pity.
SM City Plaza
SM City Plaza is huge—Phase 1 and Phase 2 are already open, and Phase 3 is still under construction. Phase 1 targets the lower-end market, with one floor dedicated to mobile phones and another filled with lesser-known brands. Phase 2 is significantly more upscale, comprising three buildings: one focused on dining and entertainment, while the other two mainly house clothing stores. Consequently, the dining and entertainment building is always bustling with people, whereas the two apparel buildings… are practically deserted….
Honestly, if it weren’t so scorching outside, I’d never bother visiting malls, because compared to Shanghai’s commercial scene, other cities nationwide simply can’t compete….
Häagen-Dazs is pretty much the same everywhere you go…..
Summary
Overall, urban development across China seems to be heading in the same direction—restaurants and shops increasingly becoming national chains. As a result, I’m less inclined to travel these days, since every city ends up having the exact same stores. For locals, this is convenient—they can enjoy food and products from all over without leaving home. But for tourists, it becomes somewhat dull. Aside from postcards and pastries, there’s hardly anything uniquely local anymore; practically every city sells the same stuff….
Of course, as a coastal city, if you’re fortunate enough to stay seaside, it’s absolutely wonderful. But if your daily itinerary while traveling consists solely of riding a bus to the beach and then sitting there staring at the ocean, it gets pretty boring fast… And you can’t exactly eat at Pizza Hut every day either……
P.S. I strongly advise against visiting Xiamen in summer… Because when the weather is pleasant, Xiamen looks stunning everywhere you turn—but in summer, all you’ll feel is relentless heat….
Next post will cover Gulangyu Island~~~~~ All photos above taken with iPhone 4S, post-processed in Lightroom 4
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