8th December: Xiamen, China

Our first day in Xiamen was a quiet one. I was awoken at 10am by the musical chimes of some sort of entertainment clock in the nearby pedestrianised area! I popped out for coffee to figure it out but am still none the wiser.

It surprisingly clouded in as the day went on and we were disappointed to have to dig out our extra layers once more before heading out for a wander. Nearby to our hotel, we came across a hot pot place in a small arcade. This was the perfect warming and nourishing lunch to energise us for a little stroll. To the waterfront we went, via a tea shop on a busy shopping street aimed at domestic tourists, although we preferred the back streets.

The visibility wasn’t great but one of the islands, some colonial architecture, and a large sculpture on a cliff could be made out across the bay. Unfortunately, a little further south we ended up banished from the shoreline by a navy base (this area is very close to contested islands) and eventually decided to turn back. We will explore more over the coming days but decided that was enough for today. We picked up some snacks and retreated to the room to catch up on rest, washing, and planning for the trip ahead.