Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street

Chinese name: 中山路步行街 (Zhongshan Lu Buxing Jie)

Location: Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian Province, extending from the Lujiang Ferry Terminal in the west to Xinhua Road in the east, facing Gulangyu Island across the sea.

Ticket: Free.

Opening time: Open 24 hours; individual shop hours vary.

Recommended time to visit: Late afternoon to evening (17:00–22:00), when the arcade buildings are illuminated.

How to get there: Metro Line 1 to Zhenhai Road Station or Zhongshan Park Station, then walk; or take a bus to “Lundu Station” or “Zhongshan Road Station.”

Introduction to Zhongshan Road

Zhongshan Road was first built in 1925 and is about 1.2 kilometers long. It is China’s first commercial street that leads directly to the sea and is known as the “living fossil of Xiamen’s commercial history.” It has witnessed Xiamen’s transformation from a coastal defense outpost to a treaty port and then a modern city—locals say “one Zhongshan Road, half of Xiamen’s history.”

The street is lined with Nanyang-style arcade buildings (qilou). The veranda-style design provides shade from sun and shelter from rain while creating a distinctive streetscape. In the evening, the arched windows and colonnades glow under the lights, blending old Xiamen’s charm with contemporary urban life.

Main Highlights:

• Arcade Architecture: The Sino-Western veranda-style buildings are Zhongshan Road’s most recognizable feature.

• Traditional Snacks: Famous local eateries serving peanut soup, satay noodles, and oyster omelets.

• Nighttime Culture: Zhongshan Road is a national-level nighttime culture and tourism consumption cluster, with occasional puppet shows, Minnan folk dance performances, and street performances.