SOUTHERN CHINA

Xiamen – That is where I belong! I came from the Fujian (Hokkien) clans in a small town called Amoy, China. My forefathers are from a little village, of fisherman. I did not get to visit my forefather's village called Lam Hua but at least I get to see how Xiamen looks like. I wonder whether my forefather's village is still in existence today.

POINTING AT FUJIAN STREET AT GULANGYU ISLAND

Xiamen is a sub-provincial city in southeastern Fujian, the fourth largest island in Fujian Province.

This is my second visit to Xiamen after the first one in 2011. This time around in 2019, I want to take my mother to see our forefather's city, after much delayed in doing so.

I CAN TOUCH YOU LIGHTHOUSE

We then signed up for a 6D5N tour (6/11 – 11/11/2019) covering five places namely Shantou, Hua An, Zhangzhou, Xiamen and Chaozhou, located in Southern China.

DAY 1 (6/11/2019)

Our flight Air Asia AK142 departed at 11 am from KLIA 2 and reached Shantou Airport at about 4pm.

SHI PAO TAI PARK, SHANTOU

We are lucky as we have time to check out the first destination called Shi Pao Tai Park in Shantou – a park surrounded with beautiful lake, flower and fortress. The park was built in the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Guangxu completion of five years (1874 – 1979), which lasted five years at a cost of 80,000 silver dollar, as of now, more than 100-year-old history.

Later, there is a detour of the Seaside Corridor to view the beautiful scenery of the beach.

DAY 2 (7/11/2019)

Morning call is as early as 5.30am every day for the next five days.  

NANYANG LOU

 

The second day is a “must”visit to the Heritage Dadi Tulou Cluster to have a look of the archaic building namely Eryl Lo, Nanyang Lou and Dongyang Lou situated in Hua'An. It takes about three hours bus ride up the hilly mountain to arrive at Dadi Tulou Cluster. We spent half a day here where home-cook lunch is served here, followed with a detour around the clusters and a tea drinking session.

ERYL LO

Dadi Tulou Cluster is a representative of human and nature unity. Fujian Tulou is the most extraordinary tye of Chinese rural dwellings of the Hakka and others in the mountainous areas in southwestern Fujian.

DADI TULOU ARCHAIC ENTRANCE

The earth buildings are regarded as exceptional examples of a building tradition and function exemplifying a particular type of communal living and defensive organisation in a harmonious relationship with their environment.

DONGYANG LOU

A panoramic view of the Hua'an Dadi Tulou Cluster, Fujian comprises of – Eryl Lou (left), Nanyang Lou (middle) and Dongyang Lou (right). There are a total of 46 tulou sites in Dadi Tulou Cluster.

MING QING ANCIENT STREET

By evening, we visited the popular Ming Qing Ancient Street to peep into its old fashion shops in Zhangzhou.

DAY 3 (8/11/2019)

The third day we traveled from Zhangzhou to Xiamen. Upon reaching Xiamen, we are mesmerised with the massive development of the city – the scenery is similar as Singapore City – tall, majestic and impressive buildings surrounded by water (sea) and crossing the of the many bridges joining mainland to Xiamen Island.

XIAMEN, HERE I COME!

The third day is the most 'exhausted' one where we are going to a few places such as – HuanDao Road (pass by), Xiamen University (outlook), Lesser Kinmen (Overview), South Putuo Temple, and Gulangyu Island. 

LESSER KINMEN

 

In the morning, we covered South Putuo Temple – a famous Buddhist temple founded in the Tang Dynasty and deemed to be one of the must-go tourist places in Xiamen.

We have lunch at Lesser Kinmen and took photographs by the beach side.

SOUTH PUTUO TEMPLE

After lunch, we hip hop into an overly packed ferry to the Gulangyu Island (Wan Guo Buildings) – is renowned for its delicate natural beauty, its ancient relics and its varied architecture. The island is beautifully designed with old looking buildings where one can take photographs as well as food streets. 

GULANGYU ISLAND OLD BUILDINGS

It is a popular island for taking wedding photographs where the old building acts as a backdrop to the photograph. We have a sumptuous dinner on the island.

GULANGYU ISLAND

By 8pm, we returned to Xiamen land, we are allotted one hour shopping spree at Longtou Street – so called for selling branded items, located next to the ferry station.

DAY 4 (9/11/2019)

Our second day in Xiamen is a city tour – to see the Xiamen Lighthouse Park, WuYuan Bay and Wooden Board Area, JiMei School Village and Bailuzhou Park.

XIAMEN LIGHTHOUSE PARK

I am impressed with the Xiamen Lighthouse Park – clean, neat and a recommended place to pose for photographs.

WU YUAN BAY + WOODEN BOARD AREA

Next, is the Wu Yuan Bay + Wooden Board Area – the largest park in Xiamen, land with freshwater is created as a paradise for bird feeding and sheltering. Additionally, with the construction of wooden board road, pavilion, tower, house, dike, bridge, the park is one of the most popular one in Xiamen.

JIMEI SCHOOL VILLAGE

After lunch, we stopped by the scenic JiMei School Village – Jimei is one of the four most popular tourist sites of Xiamen City especially for this academic atmosphere as well as pretty natural and social sights.

BAILUZHOU PARK

By night, we have stop by to admire the Bailuzhou Park – Goddess sculpture is a symbol of the island and also the quality of urban sculpture in Xiamen. The Goddess beautiful posture, sit silently knelt on a rock, combing long hair, many visitors stop and take pictures in this area.

DAY 5 (10/11/2019)

Today, is another traveling day where we traveled from Xiamen to Chaozhou (Teochew) - to view the oldest town called Chaozhou Ancient Town and to experience the Chaozhou cultural and traditional livelihood, here. 

XIANGZI BRIDGE

 

In this ancient town, one can have a look at the Ancient City Wall, Xiangzi Bridge, Guangji City Gate, Bingjiang Corridor, JianDi lane, MingQing Arch Gate Street.

CHAOZHOU ANCIENT CITY WALL/ GUANGJI CITY GATE

We have a chance to visit the KaiYuan Temple located in this ancient township which features architectural style and artistic quality of the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. 

KAI YUAN TEMPLE

 

The MingQing Arch Gate Street is made up of four lanes of old shops selling Chaozhou snacks, traditional toys, lantern, tea, food and all kinds of items.

MINGQING ARCH GATE STREET

Not to be missed is experiencing a breezy trishaw ride from the ancient town back to the entrance before we return back to Shantou.

DAY 6 (11/11/2019)

Finale! In Shantou - we managed to visit People's Square, Laoma Temple and a new township before we departing for the Airport. 

PEOPLE'S PARK

 

LAOMA TEMPLE

 

POSING WITH TOUR GUIDE BEN LIM AT SHANTOU NEW TOWNSHIP

We posed for a last group photograph at the Airport before saying Sayonara to the 16 participants in this wholesome trip.

SAYONARA !! SHANTOU AIRPORT

XIAMEN, CHINA

XIAMEN, THATS WHERE MY ROOTS ARE!!

XIAMEN that is where I belong!! Going back to Fujian Province had make me understand my original “roots”. Speaks Hokkien, Think Hokkien, Feel Hokkien.

If you have a chance, do take a trip back to your own roots. You may learn something you may never discover about yourself.

I am a second generation Chinese born in Malaysia and a descendant from Amoy, in Xiamen – that is where my grandfather resides in the early 19^th century, before he migrated to the then Malaya. I have always dream of visiting Xiamen, it is like returning to my roots and to discover more on how the livelihood of my forefathers in China looks like.

My dream was made possible as I was invited to cover an assignment titled “Malaysia China Culture Interaction Ride" jointly organised by Ipoh City Council and Malaysia Interaction Culture Association, to China.

POSING WITH TWO BEAUTIES AT FUJIAN  TULOU

The trip was also to promote exchange of culture, in the form of cycling expedition in China, as well as to promote Ipoh City, to Xiamen.

Over the 10 days trip – Xiamen is one of the selected place where we spent 3D2N to explore the less-known district which has become a popular house name among Malaysian Chinese since the recent establishment of University of Xiamen, in Malaysia.

HERE I COME XIAMEN!

Xiamen also known as Amoy is a major city on the southeast coast of China. It is administered as a sub provincial city of Fujian province with an area of 1699.39 sq km with a population of 3.67 million comprises of Hokkien and Hakka clan, living peacefully together in this island.

GAOBEI VILLAGE

Xiamen is surrounded southern Fujian country side are the ancestral home to large communities of overseas Chinese in South East Asia. The city was a treaty port in the 19^th century and one of the four original Special Economic Zones opened to foreign investment and trade when China began economic reforms in early 1980.

In 2006, Xiamen was ranked as China's second “Most Suitable City for Living” and China's “Most Romantic Leisure City”, in 2011.

 XIAMEN CITY

Xiamen is located in the Fujian Province in the south east coast of China facing the offshore islands, remained undeveloped in the 19602 and 1970s – which has always maintained a 'low profile' until it unveils its 'reform and opening up' drive and its era as a Original Special Economic Zone to the world, in 1980. The reason is to attract foreign investments and trade. In 2001, the governments of mainland China and Taiwan agreed to initiate the Three Mini Links and restored ferry, commercial and mail links between the mainland and offshore islands.

DAY 1

We check into Noah's Ark Kingwest Hotel before paying a courtesy call to Xiamen's Vice Mayor and attended a dinner hosted by the Xiamen Municipal People's 

Government.

COURTESY CALL TO XIAMEN MUNICIPAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT

We also cycled around Xiamen City distributing leaflet from Tourism Malaysia to promote Ipoh City and Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

HUA QIAO MUSEUM (OVERSEAS CHINESE MUSEUM

At the city centre, we also visited the Hua Qiao Museum (Overseas Chinese Museum) which showcase the Chinese history and their past livelihood in Xiamen.

XIAMEN CITY RIVERSIDE

By evening, we drop by the centre for a river cruise to view the high rise buildings surrounding Xiamen City.

 

DAY 2

An adventurous outing – by bus – 2 hours ride up hill to Gaobei Village to view the UNESCO World Heritage Site called Fujian Tulou also known as Hakka Tulou.

FUJIAN TULOU STRUCTURE FROM ATOP

Upon reaching the village, we walked around the place and ushered by our tour guide to her family resident with prepared cooked Fujian cum Hakka food for lunch.

HOKKIEN & HAKKA FOOD SERVED IN TULOU

After lunch, we moved on to see the Tulou Earth Building, equipped with lots of photography session, here. 

KING OF TULOU - CHENGQILOU, GAOBEI VILLAGE

The tulou is a style of Chinese rural dwellings located in the mountainous areas in south eastern Fujian. Built between the 12^th and 20^th centuries. A tulou is a large, enclosed and fortified earth building, commonly rectangular or circular in configuration, with thick load-bearing rammed earth walls between 3 and 5 stories high and housing up to 80 families. Smaller interior buildings are often enclosed by these huge peripheral walls which contain halls, store houses, wells and living areas, the whole structure resembling a small fortified city.

INNER TULOU

There is a total of 46 Fujian Tulou sites, including Chuxi, Tianluokeng, Heking, Gaobei, Dai, Hongkeng, Yangzian, Huiyuan, Zhenfu and Hegui tulou clusters – inscribed in 2008 by UNESCO as World Heritage Site on the category “exceptional examples of a building tradition and function exemplifying a particular type of communal living and defensive organisation in an harmonious relationship with the environment”.

UNIQUE ARCHITECTURE DESIGN

Historically, from the 12^th century to 19^th century, armed bandits plagued Southern China – caused the people of Fujian to built its first strongholds on top of mountains as a defence. These early strongholds later evolved into Fujian Tulou.

AMAZING TULOU

We walked around the Tulou, residing in the Gaobei Village and also enter one of the Tulou to get to known the people there. Some are traders selling souvenir inside the Tulou. The King of Tulou is the Chengqilou which appeared in a book entitled History of Ancient Chinese Architecture.

SOUVENIR SOLD INSIDE THE TULOU

Apart from visiting the Tulou, we rented bicycles and cycle around the tea plantation and hilly trails available, here. 

TEA PLANTATION IN THE GAOBEI VILLAGE

Finally, having seen, feel, touch the Fujian Grounds, I now return with a 'satisfied' heart, where I had accomplished my one heart desire – to visit my ancestor's 

country in China. 

 

CYCLING IN GAOBEI VILLAGE

JUNE 20-23, 2013

GUANGZHOU-DONGGUAN-XIAMEN-WENZHOU-HANGZHOU-SHANGHAI

GUANGZHOU – DONGGUAN – XIAMEN – WENZHOU – HANGZHOU – SHANGHAI

It was sheer luck I received an invitation to cover a nine days trip entitled “Malaysia – China Culture Interaction Ride” jointly organised by the Ipoh City Council and Malaysia Interaction Culture Association (MICA), held in China, in July 2013.

HERE I COME SOUTHERN CHINA

It was a 9D8N tour to places namely Guangzhou - Dongguan – Xiamen – Wenzhou – Hangzhou – Shanghai with an objective to promote friendship through cycling between Ipoh and China. A total of 10 invitees participated in this fun filled cycling program. 

 

DAY 1

Arrived at Guangzhou via MAS Airlines in the afternoon, check in the hotel and get ready for the Banquet Dinner hosted by the People's Government of Dongguan.

Meet up with Dongguan's Mayor Yuan Bao Cheng, and get to know the locals over dinner.

BANQUET DINNER IN DONGGUAN

Guangzhou – in Cantonese is called Canton is the capital and most populous city of the Province of Guangdong in southern China. Guangzhou has a history of over 2200 years and was a major terminus of the maritime Silk Road, and continues to serve as a major port and transportation hub, and is one of China's three largest cities.

DAY 2

Pay a visit to the Dongguan Exhibition Centre followed with lunch. By evening, we left for a 10-km bicycle ride held at the Songshan Lake - a High Tech Industry Park.

 

EXHIBITION CENTRE

Dongguan City is located at the central south of Guangdong Province, northeast of Pearl River Delta. Dongguan has famous historic and cultural city in Guangdong – Linzexu Opium Destroying Pit, Weiyuan Battery and Shajiao Battery still carry the memory of Opium War.

SONGSHAN LAKE

 

DAY 3

Alighted a flight to Xiamen at the Canton Airport. Check into the Noah's Ark King West Hotel. A courtesy call to Xiamen Vice Mayor and President of Xiamen Airline, at their official place. At night – attended a dinner host by Xiamen Municipal People's Government represented by Li Xiao Ping.

COURTESY CALL

DAY 4

A must visit place in Xiamen the Tulou Earth Building. Upon arrival, we have our Hakka lunch prepared by our tour guide, who lives around the vicinity.

TULOU EARTH BUILDINGM VIEW FROM TOP

After lunch, energy consumed – we started our trail walking around and explore the many Tulou Earth Building still existing, here. Indulge in a light cycling activity at the scenic hilly side of Tulou area. Peep into the lifestyle of the original Xiamen's people living, here.

TULOU EARTH BUILDING

By evening, we returned to Xiamen City – to view the beautiful river side and took a river cruise to view the city's majestic buildings.

XIAMEN CITY

To me, Xiamen is akin to Singapore. Xiamen is formerly known from its Hokkien pronunciation as Amoy – is a sub-provincial city in southeastern Fujian Province, China. Xiamen Island possessed a natural harbor in Yundang Bay, but Fujian's International trade was long restricted to Quanzhou or Guangzhou in Guangdong.

MINGLING WITH A LOCAL AT TULOU

The city is known for its mild climate, Hokkien culture and Gulangyu Island, and low pollution. In 2006, Xiamen was ranked as China's second “most suitable city for living” and China's “most romantic leisure city” in 2011.

DAY 5

A one day detour Xiamen City – visited Museum Huo Qiao (Overseas Chinese Museum) for photography session outside the buildings.

HUO QIAO MUSEUM (OVERSEAS CHINESE MUSEUM


By afternoon, transfer from Xiamen to Wenzhou – visited the Wenzhou Malaysia Product Display Centre. Dinner and courtesy call to Chairman of Wenzhou Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference Bao Zhe Dong.

DINNER IN WENZHOU

Wenzhou - is a perfecture-level city located in the south eastern Zhejiang Province in China. The Province is a prosperous foreign treaty port. It is also known for its emigrants from Europe and USA, with a reputation for being entrepreneurs who start restaurants, retail and wholesale businesses in their adopted countries. Wenzhou people make up a large number of ethnic Chinese residents of Italy, France and Spanish.

 

DAY 6

Depart from Wenzhou to Hangzhou by bus - Check into Ramada Plaza Hotel. Courtesy call to The Standing Committee of Zhejiang Provincial Committee of The Communist Party of China, Zhao Yide. 

FAREWELL TO WENZHOU 


At Hangzhou - visited the Residence of Hu Xue Yan (1930) and the Freemori Bakery Outlet.

RESIDENT OF HU XUE YAN

 

FREEMORI BAKERY OUTLET

DAY 7

Cycling activities at Hangzhou West Lake – participated in a 30 km bicycle ride around the promising lake. Giving out leaflet of Tourism Malaysia to other cyclists present at the lake side.

READY TO GO! WEST LAKE

West Lake is a natural and humanistic lake. The side landscapes comprises cave, pavilions, Temples, wall and doors are full of story. In the six urban district and the West Lake scenic area – there are more than 200 protected Historic Sites, 49 Provincial Protected Historic Sites, and Municipality ones, as well as Buddhism Confucianism, Taoism and other religious cultural protection sites.

CYCLING AT WEST LAKE

West Lake is reputed as the 29^th World Cultural Heritage, 4^th World Heritage, 5-A Level National Natural Attraction. The spatial pattern of “ringed on the three sides of the mountain” makes Hangzhou paradigm of a mountain water city. Hanzhou itself covers 16,600 sq km – possess the most picturesque lake view and sophisticated culture. 

POSING WITH THE WEST LAKE  (BACKDROP)

 

Dinner arranged by The Standing Committee of Zhejiang Provincial Committee of The Communist Party of China, Zhao Yide. 

DINNER COURTESY OF HANGZHOU GOVERNMENT

DAY 8

Depart to Shanghai by a bullet train – arrived in the morning at 11am.

BULLET TRAIN

A city tour by bus – visited the Tou Bao Shopping Area, Shanghai Bund, Nan Jing Street. Explore the highest tower in Shanghai called Orient Pearl Tower – a revolving tower – transparent glass top – good for photography session. 

ORIENT PEARL TOWER

Shanghai is one of the four municipalities under the direct administration of the central government of China, the largest city in China by population and the second most populous city proper in the world with 24.18 million in 2017. It is a global financial centre, and transport hub, with the world's busiest container port, located in Yangtze River Delta. Shanghai has been described as the “showpiece” of the booming economy of mainland China, renowned for its Lijiazui skyline, museum and historic building, The Bund, and the City God Temple and the Yu Garden. It is also the most cosmopolitan offering visitors a chance to experience the past, present and future all at once.

TRANSPARENT REFLECTING WALKING GLASS

DAY 9 - DEPART FROM SHANGHAI – KLIA

JUNE 18 – 12, 2013