Xiamen Garden Expo Garden is located in Jimei District, Xiamen City, Fujian Province. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and an important ecological leisure and garden cultural landmark in Xiamen. Built on Zhongzhou Island in Xinglin Bay Reservoir and many surrounding islands, the scenic spot features the core characteristic of "Water Garden Expo Garden". It integrates traditional Chinese garden art, modern landscape design, coastal ecological wetlands and Minnan regional culture, serving as a large comprehensive urban garden scenic area integrating garden exhibition, ecological protection, leisure tourism, popular science education and cultural exchange. The total land area of the scenic spot is about 3.35 square kilometers, including a land area of about 1.73 square kilometers and a water area of about 1.62 square kilometers. The garden contains 9 islands and 16 landscape bridges. Its architectural styles cover Minnan, Lingnan, Jiangnan, Bashu and other regional features, matched with large areas of ecological wetlands, flower seas, lawns and waterfront landscapes, making it one of the leading water garden expo scenic spots in China.
History and Culture
Construction of Xiamen Garden Expo Garden started in 2004 as the venue of the 6th China International Garden and Flower Expo. The garden expo officially opened in September 2007 and was later permanently opened to the public as an urban park, marking an important milestone in the ecological construction and garden culture development of Xiamen. Relying on the ecological foundation of Xinglin Bay wetland, the scenic area retains the original waters, tidal flats and natural vegetation. Adhering to the concept of ecological priority and cultural integration during construction, it perfectly combines artificial landscaping with the natural environment.
The garden inherits the diverse traditions of Chinese garden culture and gathers characteristic garden exhibition parks from provinces and cities across the country, displaying gardening skills, folk customs and architectural aesthetics of different regions. It also incorporates local cultural symbols such as Minnan red brick ancient houses and Jiageng architecture, forming a garden pattern that blends Chinese and Western styles and integrates northern and southern landscapes. As a model project of ecological restoration in Xiamen, the Garden Expo Garden has transformed abandoned waters into an urban ecological green heart, becoming a landmark project for ecological civilization construction and urban landscape upgrading in Xiamen, as well as a core destination for citizens' leisure and tourists to experience coastal garden scenery.
Main Attractions
Garden Expo Garden Gate
The Garden Expo Garden Gate is the landmark entrance building of the scenic area. It combines traditional Minnan architectural style with modern design, featuring a magnificent momentum with both practicality and ornamental value. It is the first stop for tourists entering the park and one of the core check-in spots for photography.
Xinglin Pavilion
Xinglin Pavilion is the commanding height of the Garden Expo Garden, located in the core area of the park. It is a multi-storey antique pavilion building with a total height of about 50 meters. Climbing the pavilion allows visitors to overlook the entire water garden scenery of the Garden Expo Garden, the panoramic view of Xinglin Bay and the urban style of Jimei District, making it the core viewing attraction of the scenic area.
Moon Ring
The Moon Ring is located in the center of the waters of the Garden Expo Garden. It is an original water landscape installation in China with a diameter of about 36 meters. It creates a dreamy landscape with water curtain, lighting and circular shape. At night, combined with the light show, it presents the visual effect of a full moon reflecting on the water, being the most distinctive Internet-famous attraction in the Garden Expo Garden.
Ecological Wetland
The Ecological Wetland is the core ecological area of the Garden Expo Garden with a vast land area. It is rich in aquatic plants, beach vegetation and bird resources, serving as an important habitat for egrets and other water birds. Wooden boardwalks and bird watching platforms are set up in the wetland, allowing tourists to appreciate the original coastal wetland landscape at close range.
Minnan Style Garden
Minnan Style Garden focuses on displaying Minnan regional culture and architectural characteristics. With red brick ancient houses, swallow-tail ridges, stone carvings and brick carvings as core elements, it restores the layout of traditional Minnan dwellings and gardens, showing Minnan folk customs, intangible cultural heritage and overseas Chinese style.
Jiangnan Water Street
Jiangnan Water Street reproduces the elegant and graceful style of Jiangnan gardens. Featuring small bridges over flowing water, white walls with black tiles, pavilions and waterside terraces, it has winding rivers surrounded by green plants, creating a poetic atmosphere of Jiangnan water town. It is an elegant scenic spot in the park.
Lingnan Garden
Lingnan Garden shows the exquisite and transparent gardening characteristics of Lingnan gardens. Matched with rockeries, ponds, carved doors and windows, tropical green plants, it integrates Cantonese gardens and Lingnan folk culture with exquisite and delicate landscapes and distinct regional features.
Landscape Bridge Group
There are 16 distinctive landscape bridges in the Garden Expo Garden connecting all major islands. The bridge styles include antique stone arch bridges, modern steel structure bridges and covered bridges. Each bridge has both traffic function and landscape value, forming a unique style of one bridge with one scenery.
Light Show Paradise
Built relying on the water garden and wetland ecology, it integrates traditional intangible cultural heritage lantern craftsmanship with modern sound, light and electricity technology. It has nine themed light areas and dozens of large water and land lantern groups, matched with live performances, folk parades and interactive light and shadow experiences. With traditional festival atmosphere, Minnan culture and trendy night tour style, it is a popular night tourism check-in spot in Xiamen.
Tour Route
Garden Expo Garden Gate → Minnan Style Garden → Jiangnan Water Street → Lingnan Garden → Ecological Wetland → Moon Ring → Xinglin Pavilion → Landscape Bridge Group → Garden Exit
Visit Light Show Paradise at night
Travel Suggestions
- It is recommended to spend 4 to 6 hours visiting to fully explore the core attractions and avoid a rushed schedule
- The best travel seasons are March to May in spring and September to November in autumn with comfortable climate and beautiful flower sea scenery
- It is recommended to visit the Ecological Wetland and Moon Ring in the evening to enjoy both daytime scenery and night light show
- The park covers a large area; taking the scenic sightseeing vehicle is recommended to save physical strength and time
- Bring sunscreen supplies, drinking water and comfortable walking shoes for long-time outdoor sightseeing
- Photography enthusiasts are recommended to focus on checking in at Moon Ring, Xinglin Pavilion, Ecological Wetland and Landscape Bridge Group
Notes
- Pets are not allowed into the scenic area; climbing landscape buildings, trees and bridge guardrails is prohibited
- The Ecological Wetland is a bird reserve; feeding wild animals, trampling vegetation and playing in the water are forbidden
- Smoking, spitting and littering are prohibited in the park to maintain environmental hygiene
- The lighting effect of the Moon Ring is only available at night; only the installation itself can be viewed in the daytime
- The number of tourists is large on holidays; it is recommended to travel off-peak and follow the scenic area traffic arrangement
- The park has a vast water area; children must be accompanied by adults at all times and stay away from dangerous waters
- Carrying flammable, explosive items, controlled knives and other dangerous goods into the park is prohibited
Transportation
- Subway: Take Xiamen Metro Line 1 to Garden Expo Garden Station, walk about 500 meters to reach the scenic gate after exiting
- Bus: Take bus routes 791, 892, 903, 921, 922, 930, 941, 942, 951, 952 to Garden Expo Garden Station and walk directly to the entrance
- Self-driving: Navigate to Xiamen Garden Expo Garden Parking Lot. The scenic area is equipped with a large toll parking lot. Parking spaces are tight on holidays, so it is advised to depart early
- Online car-hailing / Taxi: Locate directly at the South Gate of Xiamen Garden Expo Garden and get off at the entrance
Opening Hours
The daily opening hours are from 06:00 to 24:00. The opening hours of indoor venues such as pavilions and Xinglin Pavilion are from 08:30 to 17:30. The light show of Moon Ring is open from 19:00 to 21:00. The opening hours and light show duration will be appropriately adjusted according to the scenic arrangement during holidays.
Ticket
Garden entry is free of charge, but tickets are required for Light Show Paradise. You can search for the official WeChat service account "厦门园林博览苑" to get the latest updates.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.