What to Buy in Xiamen (厦门)
The island city of Gulangyu is famous for its crisp pastries, Tieguanyin tea and lacquer-thread carving.
6 must-buy souvenirs
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Gulangyu pies 鼓浪屿馅饼
Crisp pastries with pork floss, green bean or coconut fillings — the island's iconic souvenir.
📍 Gulangyu bakeries
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Tieguanyin oolong 铁观音
The famous Anxi iron-bodhisattva oolong with orchid aroma — Fujian's greatest tea.
📍 Tea shops citywide
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Lacquer-thread carving 漆线雕
Intricate raised patterns built from lacquered thread — a unique Xiamen craft.
📍 Gulangyu craft studios
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Fish-skin peanuts 鱼皮花生
Crunchy peanuts in a thin crisp shell — the city's classic snack.
📍 Supermarkets
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Nampo Temple vegetarian pastries 南普陀素饼
Vegetarian mooncake-style pastries from the famous temple — light and refined.
📍 Nanputuo Temple shop
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Gulangyu shell crafts 贝壳摆件
Shell and driftwood ornaments sold along the island's alleys.
📍 Gulangyu alleys
Shopping Tips
- ·Gulangyu island is the pastry capital — pork-floss pies and coconut cakes are the classics.
- ·Anxi Tieguanyin oolong is grown an hour away and sold everywhere.
- ·Qiluxian lacquer thread carving is a Fujian intangible heritage craft.