South Putuo Temple
Situated at the foot of Wulao Peak on the southern end of Xiamen is South Putuo Temple, first built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Later rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it is now an imposing multi-layered trapezoidal structure that overlooks the sea. The Shrine of Buddhist Scriptures houses a huge collection of Buddhist cultural relics, including a Burmese jade carving of the Buddha and many important Buddhist texts. The temple's Heavenly King Hall, the main prayer hall, the Hall of Great Compassion and the Shrine of Buddhist Scriptures are all graced with painted brackets and upturned eaves. Its rare artifacts include four giant stone turtles lying on the right side of the front gate, a rock with holes in the shape of a Chinese ancient coin, a large Song-dynasty bronze bell and a white porcelain sculpture of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy. The South Fujian Buddhist Institute is located to the left of the temple. Established in 1925, it enjoys great prestige among Buddhists in China.
The Lu Xun Memorial Hall at Xiamen University Housed in the Jimei Building where Lu Xun stayed when he taught in the Chinese Department of Xiamen University from September 1926 to January 1927, the hall displays some of the objects from his old residence as well as cultural relics, pictures and documents about his life.
The Museum of Anthropology This is located in Xiamen University's Museum Building where archaeology and ethnology are studied. The museum has 30-odd display rooms which contain artifacts and relics from prehistoric to modern times.
Huli Hill Fodress This fortress was built in Huli Village in the southern part of Xiamen Island in 1891 during the Qing Dynasty. It was built of sand and clay which is held together with camphor tree juice, lime and glutinous rice. During its heyday in the Opium War the fort had more than 100 cannons. Now only a German-made Krupp cannon which cost 50,000 taels of silver to build remains intact on the eastern platform. Weighing 60 tons, measuring 14 metres long and with a muzzle big enough for a person to fit inside, it is the only well-preserved coastal cannon in China.
The Overseas Chinese Museum At the foot of Fengchao (Beehive) Hill is the six-hectare Overseas Chinese Museum. Founded by the eminent overseas Chinese philanthropist Tan Kah-kee, it has three exhibition halls which have on display 1,200 pictures and documents, 2,000 rare cultural relics and l,000 objects related to the history of Chinese who emigrated overseas.