Ever wondered what makes a vacation a good one? For most, a little bit of shopping does the trick! Retail therapy on holiday is possibly one of the most sought after activities for both men and women. In Xiamen, there is something for everyone. When in Xiamen, the main streets that are peppered with shops and malls and thus, ideal for a bout of retail therapy are Zhongshan Road, Xiahe Road, Longtou Road and the Middle Hubin Road. To make your way to Zhongshan Road and embark on your exciting shopping expedition, inquire about the bus routes for a number of buses take travellers to the old commercial centre.

Zhongshan Road, given that it is the commercial centre of Xiamen, albeit old, is still throbbing with crowds that frequent its shopping centres, small stores and boutiques. The Hualian Commercial Plaza and the Dafeng Shopping Mall are two of the bigger malls in the area. However, smaller stores in the form of the Paris Spring Department Store and the Xiamen No. 1 Department Store are also open to tourists and travellers.

Xiamen is well known for its handicraft particularly embroidery work and bead work. The locals have developed their embroidery skills to such a degree that at present, it is a true art. It makes for quite a fascinating sight to watch their skilled hands link small beads together on a silk string and then embroidering yards and yards of colourful cloth with beautiful and intricate patterns. Tourists will be able to purchase the final products in the form of purses, tapestries, clothing, shawls and even glimmering slippers.
After an exhausting bout of shopping, what would be better than Xiamen’s own peanut crunchy candy? Historically devoured by the elite, this crunchy snack is made with roasted peanuts which are crunched and heated in liquid sugar. These delicious snacks are quickly snapped up by shoppers and promptly used to energise themselves with a sugary boost in their quest for the best bargains in Xiamen!

When searching for a shopping friendly hotel in Xiamen, those located close to the shopping districts are best. The Xiamen hotel that comes most recommended is the Millennium Harbourview Hotel Xiamen.

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

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