Xiamen
Jimei School Village, Xiamen
Jimei School Village sits on the mainland side of Xiamen, about 17 kilometres north of the old town, and is the life's work of one man: Tan Kah Kee (Chen Jiageng), the rubber magnate and overseas-Chinese philanthropist who poured his fortune into schools here from 1913 onward. The result is a whole district of campuses, parks and memorials built in a distinctive style locals call Jiageng architecture: Western stone bodies topped with sweeping Chinese swallowtail roofs.
What to see
Start at Longzhou Pool (Dragon Boat Pool), the rectangular lake around which the most striking buildings stand. The schools of Jimei line one bank, their orange-tiled roofs reflected in the water, with the tall Nanxun Tower rising behind.
Jiageng-style school buildings reflected across Longzhou Pool
Walk on to Aoyuan (Turtle Garden) on the seafront, where Tan Kah Kee is buried beside the 28-metre Jimei Liberation Monument. He began building the garden himself in 1950, after settling back in China from Singapore, and it took a decade to finish: some 666 stone reliefs, carved into the surrounding walls, tell the story of his life and of modern China alongside it. He died in 1961, the year the garden was completed, and was given a state funeral. Kah Kee Park and the memorial hall nearby fill in more of the history. The whole area is still a working education town, so you will see students cycling between buildings.
Wide view of the Jimei skyline with the Nanxun Tower
Tickets and hours
The village itself is open all day and free to wander; individual sites such as the memorial hall keep daytime hours and are also free or charge only a token fee. Because it doubles as a campus, keep noise down near classrooms.
Getting there
The easy way is Metro Line 1 to Jimei School Village Station: it is an elevated station, and Longzhou Pool is a five-minute walk from the exits. Numerous buses also serve the area. Allow two to three hours.
When to go
Late afternoon is lovely, when the low sun catches the roofs over Longzhou Pool and the light is best for photos. Weekdays are quieter than weekends.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is Jimei School Village free? Yes, the area is free to walk; most individual sites are free or charge a token fee.
How do I get there from central Xiamen? Take Metro Line 1 directly to Jimei School Village Station, then walk about five minutes to Longzhou Pool.
Who was Tan Kah Kee? A Xiamen-born businessman who built his fortune in Singapore and funded the schools and Xiamen University; the village is his legacy.
Highlights
- Tan Kah Kee's century-old education town in distinctive Jiageng architecture
- Longzhou (Dragon Boat) Pool ringed by orange-roofed school buildings
- Aoyuan seafront garden with Tan Kah Kee's tomb and 666 stone reliefs
- Nanxun Tower and the Kah Kee memorial hall
- Free to visit, a five-minute walk from Jimei School Village Station on Line 1
Travel Tips
Come late afternoon
Low sun over Longzhou Pool lights the swallowtail roofs and gives the best reflections for photos.
Respect the campus
Classes still run here; keep your voice down near school buildings.
Combine with a meal
The student area has cheap, good local eateries, a handy lunch stop before heading back.
