By Zhuan Ti ( China Daily )

Tulou, or earth buildings, are the traditional dwellings of the Hakka people in southeastern Fujian that date back to the 12th century. Provided to China Daily

Xiamen, an international tourist destination on the southeast coast of China, is famed for its appealing environment, close proximity to Taiwan and rich cultural heritage.

One of the earliest special economic zones since China began its opening-up and reforms in the late 1970s, Xiamen has attracted an increasing number of tourists from around the globe for its natural beauty and leisure atmosphere.

It has won the Nations in Bloom Award from the International Awards for Liveable Communities and the UN Habitat Scroll of Honor, and has long been dubbed "the garden on the sea" and "the coziest city" in China.

The city boasts a long history with a splendid cultural heritage.

According to legends, Xiamen was originally a habitat of egrets, thus also nicknamed "Egret Island".

In 1387, the 20th year of the reign of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, founder of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the city earned its name Xiamen. In 1842, Xiamen was named among the first five Chinese ports to open for international trade.

As cultural flows of the East and the West converged, Xiamen has gradually developed a unique culture of its own by appreciating the two sides. Thus the city is not only a gateway to China, but also a bridge across cultures.

Considered the origin of Chinese tea, Xiamen is infused with the traditional Chinese drink. Even the English word "tea" is a loan word from "te" in the Xiamen dialect.

Being a city on the sea, Xiamen is rich in tourism resources and boasts well-established service facilities including more than 120 hotels.

The city's tourism products center on the themes of leisure vacation, business conferences and exhibitions, cross-Straits bonds, culture and seaside.

Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, one of the 10 busiest airports in China, operates more than 140 city routes across the world.

Xiamen also provides easy access to world cultural and natural heritage site Wuyi Mountain, world cultural heritage site tulou, or earth buildings, and Quanzhou city, the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road.

Literally translated as "earthen structures", tulou typically comprise an earthen outer wall and an internal wooden framework. The circular design usually surrounds a central shrine, and several hundred people can live in a single complex.

Tulou are the dwellings of the Hakka people in the mountainous areas of southeastern Fujian that date back to the 12th century. They are designed to house large communities and to also serve as a defense against invasion.

There are about 23,000 tulou in Yongding county and about 15,000 in Nanjing county, both about a two-hour drive from Xiamen, a popular tourist destination.

zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn