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MINDBLOWING arrival in China… 🇨🇳 (First time here, Xiamen)
First Impressions of Xiamen China Bumpy Arrival & Local Food
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It's a bumpy first few hours in China as we land in Xiamen for the FIRST time, coming to China it's like a NEW country every time, because the country is so vast and it moves...
It's a bumpy first few hours in China as we land in Xiamen for the FIRST time, coming to China it's like a NEW country every time, because the country is so vast and it moves so quickly that it's changed since you were last here. <br><br> We get first impressions of Xiamen a holiday destination for Chinese, meet the locals of Xiamen, go drinking with locals and we get a taste of what some of the local food tastes like. <br><br> Join us as we visit Xiamen for the first time, China's popular island, a beautiful city that has blossomed from a fishing port into a stunning city, where beaches meet skyscrapers. We'll be checking out Xiamen over the next few days.
Pat & Giulia describe their arrival in Xiamen as a bumpy first few hours in China. They note that coming to China feels like visiting a new country every time because the country is so vast and moves so quickly that it has changed since your last visit. They share their first impressions of Xiamen, a holiday destination for Chinese people, meet locals, go drinking with them, and get a taste of local food. They highlight that Xiamen is a popular island city that has blossomed from a fishing port into a stunning city where beaches meet skyscrapers.
It's a bumpy first few hours in China as we land in Xiamen for the FIRST time, coming to China it's like a NEW country every time, because the country is so vast and it moves so quickly that it's changed since you were last here. <br><br> We get first impressions of Xiamen a holiday destination for Chinese, meet the locals of Xiamen, go drinking with locals and we get a taste of what some of the local food tastes like. <br><br> Join us as we visit Xiamen for the first time, China's popular island, a beautiful city that has blossomed from a fishing port into a stunning city, where beaches meet skyscrapers. We'll be checking out Xiamen over the next few days.
Pat & Giulia's first hours in Xiamen are a whirlwind of travel chaos and genuine human connection. The couple arrives from Indonesia after a six-hour flight, with Pat suffering from food poisoning, but the joy of being back in China is immediate. They note how smooth the immigration process is, praising the e-hailing app DiDi for eliminating taxi scams. After checking into a hotel that doesn't quite match its photos—the promised pool is 200 meters away—they head out for their first meal. A simple bowl of noodles feels 'mindblowingly good,' a testament to the high quality of even basic Chinese fare. The real magic happens when their quest for a SIM card fails. Lost in a residential area, they are invited to sit with friendly locals, who pour them large cups of whiskey and share a 20-year-old radish soup, a gesture of incredible hospitality. The next day, they explore the Shapowei art district, a former fishing village transformed into a hipster enclave with street art, vintage shops, and cafes. They marvel at the contrast between old fishing boats and modern towers. A standout moment is the discovery of oolong tea ice cream. For dinner, they dive into a vegetarian buffet, loading up on a mountain of dishes and desserts for just 38 yuan, a highlight of their food adventures. Throughout, Pat & Giulia are charmed by the city's blend of history and modernity, and by the warmth of its people.
Pat & Giulia kick off their first trip to Xiamen with a classic mix of travel chaos and serendipity. After a long, food-poisoning-plagued flight from Indonesia, they land to find a city of stark contrasts—ancient temples rise next to gleaming skyscrapers. Their hunt for a SIM card ends in failure but leads to an unforgettable evening: local strangers pour them whiskey and serve 20-year-old radish soup, showcasing genuine Chinese hospitality. The next day, they explore the hipster Shapowei art district, a transformed fishing village, where they discover oolong tea ice cream and a dizzying vegetarian buffet for just 38 yuan. Despite a misleading hotel room (pool not included), the couple's arrival is a messy, delicious, and heartwarming welcome back to China.
Pat & Giulia's chaotic first day in Xiamen includes SIM card struggles, a lucky local whiskey session, and a stunning exploration of the Shapowei art district.
First Impressions of Xiamen: Local Whiskey, Art & Street Food
1:49 Use DiDi app in China to avoid taxi scams; follow airport signs for easy e-hailing pickup upon arrival.
2:01 Always carry a pen to fill in your arrival card on the flight, saving time at immigration in China airports.
14:04 Getting a SIM card in smaller Chinese cities can be difficult; ask locals but be prepared for a long search.
23:53 Vegetarian buffets in China offer incredible value and variety, allowing you to sample many dishes for a low price.
1:49 Use DiDi app in China to avoid taxi scams; follow airport signs for easy e-hailing pickup upon arrival.
2:01 Always carry a pen to fill in your arrival card on the flight, saving time at immigration in China airports.
14:04 Getting a SIM card in smaller Chinese cities can be difficult; ask locals but be prepared for a long search.
23:53 Vegetarian buffets in China offer incredible value and variety, allowing you to sample many dishes for a low price.
0:01 Arriving in Xiamen, China
2:36 First impressions of Xiamen
4:28 Hotel room troubles
9:20 Exploring Shapowei art district
11:56 Trying oolong tea ice cream
13:26 SIM card search fails
14:28 Drinking whiskey with locals
20:22 Vegetarian buffet dinner
0:01 Arriving in Xiamen, China
2:36 First impressions of Xiamen
4:28 Hotel room troubles
9:20 Exploring Shapowei art district
11:56 Trying oolong tea ice cream
13:26 SIM card search fails
14:28 Drinking whiskey with locals
20:22 Vegetarian buffet dinner
arrival in chinafirst time in chinaxiamen travelxiamen chinachina vlogchina travel vlogfirst impressions chinachina trip 2025xiamen city tourxiamen street foodthings to do in xiamenxiamen travel guidechina travel tipsvisiting china for the first timetravel vlog chinaexploring xiamenasian travel vlogsolo travel chinabackpacking chinaveggiesontourveggies on tourWhat was the first meal like in Xiamen?
Even simple noodles were mindblowingly good, with fantastic quality like Italian pasta.
What was the most surprising cultural encounter?
Locals invited us to sit with them, poured us large cups of whiskey, and shared 20-year-old radish soup.
How much was the vegetarian buffet?
It was only 38 yuan for a huge mountain of food including desserts and ice cream.
Was the hotel room as expected?
No, the room overlooked a street instead of mountains, and the pool was 200 meters away at a different location.
