The special history and particular geographical environment of Xiamen, combined with the rapid development, and reform and opening up of the Economic Special Zone have made the Southern Fujian culture once holding dense oriental characters to gradually forming a mixture with new changes. When it is in festivals or in holidays, you can feel the local conditions and customs by yourself. On 15 January in lunar calendar, there is the Lantern Festival with lantern fairs and grand parades on the street. On 15 August in lunar calendar, there is the Mid-autumn Festival together with the pancake competition. On Christmas Day, the magnificent scenery attracts everyone. On the Eve of the Spring Festival in lunar calendar, the whole family is surrounding the stove enjoying the warmth from family gathering. All of these can add some understanding to you about the local culture in Xiamen and the influence of external trends. When the evening lights are lit, it is the time to show the evening charm of Xiamen. The streets and lanes, the flourishing downtown, the nightclubs and bars with the twinkling of neon lamp and various kinds of colors and styles, the recreation and amusement centers and the disc dancing halls are all the famous scenic spots for you to enjoy and to amuse yourself. You can drink the wines and chat with others. You can dance swiftly and lightly. You can sing freely. You can enjoy yourself with pleasure. All these activities might let you enjoy yourself so much as to forget to go home.
The cultural amusement places in Xiamen Economic Special Zone started to develop from 1984. By the end of June 1995, there had been totally 230 places for amusement. The whole investment is more than 400 millions RMB. The area amounted to 66.5 thousand square meters. They can contain more than 10 thousand people to enjoy and to consume at the same time. Besides, there are about 141 normal, awarding, and large-scale electronic game player houses and halls.
The amusement types are greater. The new varieties are emerging into an endless stream. The character of the amusement and the enjoyment is to look for the new and to find the different. At present, there have formed a distribution of several cultural amusement centers in Wenzaokou, in Wucun Village, in Lujiang Lane and at the End of Lotus Road. The cultural amusement places in the Special Economic Zone have created a cultural environment that the Zone needed in its economic development. They also bring rich life in spare time for the citizens in Xiamen.
Xiamen has many cinemas and theaters and mini-cinemas, which show films of various subjects that are suitable for both young and old audience. Piano and violin concerts are held in the Music Hall on Gulangyu Island from time to time. Both famous Chinese and foreign performing groups and Xiamen local theatrical companies give performances in the theaters.
It is as pleasant as in spring all the year round in Xiamen. It has fine weather most time of the year, which is very suitable for outdoor sports and outings to get fit and refresh yourself. You can choose to play bowling or tennis in the well-equipped clubs or have a go in a horse race court or shooting range to spend a joyous period of time. You can also exercise in a fitness hall or relax yourself in a sauna and massage center, which are two fads among local citizens.
Playing golf is another choice. It is a new fad among rich young people. Waving the club in a scenic green court is a really pleasant experience. Xiamen currently boasts two golf courts, i.e. Triumphant (Kaige) Golf Club and Oriental (Dongfang) Golf Club. Starters also have two training courts to choose, which are both within the urban area.
Triumphant Golf Club is built at the foot of Hill of Beauty besides Fuzhou-Xiamen highway within the territory of Tongan County. It is 20 minutes' drive away from Gaoqi International Airport. The Club occupies a plot of 250 hectares with two 18-hole golf courts and one multi-functional conference hall. What's more, it has a golf training school for beginners.
Oriental Golf Club is located at Apricot Wood Haicang. It is 20 minutes' drive away from Gaoqi International Airport. The Club occupies a plot of 236 hectares with one standard 18-hole golf court and one 9-hole golf club for relaxation. Besides, it has a conference hall, an area of villas and other relaxation facilities.
Fortune Castle Amusement Co. Ltd.
Fortune Castle Amusement Co. Ltd. is located in the Bailuzhou Weiduoli Club, which is one of the ten great constructions in Xiamen City. The total area of the city is more than 6,000 square meters. Its inside is decorated with exclusive and classical Athens of European Continental Styles of Construction. Its shape is delightful and unique, and its imposing vigor is classic. In the castle, there are 52 deluxe KTV Boxes. The disco-dancing hall has more than 700 seats. The broad dancing pool can hold about 250 persons at the same time. There is also a Japanese type Sky Garden on top of the building. And there is a super luxurious suite for president. It can be used as the best place for holding various meetings.
Besides the various amusing entertainment, the Company manages automatic service in eating and drinking items at the same time. And it can handle various kinds of big and small banquets.
Xiamen Bailuzhou Crown Amusement Co. Ltd.
Xiamen Bailuzhou Crown Amusement Co. ltd. is located just opposite the large-scale Music Spring in Xiamen Bailuzhou Garden. it occupies an area of 1,800 square meters with a construction area of more than 6,000 square meters. It is a large-scale amusement place consisting of eating and drinking, amusement and sports activities. The first floor of the Company is a large-scale restaurant providing eating and drinking, KTV, singing and dancing services. The tenpin bowling hall on the second floor arranged 32 pieces of ball road. It uses the newest facilities from America. And there are also ball roads for VIP honored guests. There are nearly one hundred electric game players on the second floor and the third floor respectively. It is now the largest game player's plaza in Xiamen.