Located in Jimei Subdistrict, Jimei District, Xiamen City, Fujian Province, Jimei School Village was founded in 1913 with funds generously provided by the renowned patriotic overseas Chinese leader Mr. Tan Kah Kee. It is a comprehensive scenic area that integrates culture, education, sightseeing, tourism, and folk customs. The area is defined by its distinctive Jiageng-style architecture, which blends Chinese and Western elements, creating a unique architectural form often described as "wearing a suit and a Mandarin hat." With over 100 school buildings, venues, and garden structures spread across a total area of more than 2.5 square kilometers, it is one of Xiamen's most culturally rich and architecturally aesthetic attractions, and an important cultural-educational tourism landmark in Fujian Province.
History and Culture
The construction of Jimei School Village began in 1913. Embracing the ideal of saving the nation through education, Mr. Tan Kah Kee first established Jimei Primary School, and subsequently founded secondary schools, normal schools, and specialized schools for fisheries, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, gradually forming a large-scale school complex that pioneered private education in modern China. Over nearly a century of development, Jimei School Village has consistently upheld education as its core mission, becoming a renowned cultural and educational base in Fujian and across the country, cultivating a large number of professionals for the nation.
Jimei School Village carries profound overseas Chinese culture and patriotic spirit. Mr. Tan Kah Kee's devotion to education and selfless contribution form the core cultural connotation of the area. The buildings, venues, and monuments within the scenic area are themed around patriotism, educational advancement, and self-strengthening, serving as important tangible testimonies to the patriotic and homeland-loving spirit of overseas Chinese.
The architectural culture of the area is unique. Jiageng-style architecture is based on traditional southern Fujian vernacular dwellings, incorporating Western modern structural elements. The roofs feature swallowtail ridges and glazed tiles, while the main bodies are Western-style colonnades and walls. This is a classic example of Chinese-Western architectural fusion in modern Chinese architectural history, possessing high artistic and historical value.
Major Attractions
Aoyuan Garden
Located at the southeastern seaside of Jimei School Village, Aoyuan Garden was personally designed and built by Mr. Tan Kah Kee and completed in 1961. Covering an area of 8,990 square meters, it consists of four parts: a gate corridor, Mr. Tan Kah Kee's mausoleum, a worship pavilion, and a group of stone carvings. The garden contains over 500 pieces of bluestone carvings in relief, line engraving, and sunken carving styles, depicting historical stories, natural scenery, and daily life, making it a masterpiece of southern Fujian stone carving art.
Former Residence of Mr. Tan Kah Kee
Situated in the central area of Jimei School Village, the former residence was first built in 1918 as a two-story Western-style brick-and-wood structure. It was the main place where Mr. Tan Kah Kee lived and worked. The residence preserves over 100 cultural relics, including furniture, books, and office supplies used by Mr. Tan during his lifetime, comprehensively displaying his life trajectory and educational endeavors.
Jimei Middle School
Jimei Middle School is one of the earliest schools established in the village, founded in 1918. Its campus features iconic Jiageng-style buildings such as Nanxun Tower, Liming Building, and Daonan Building. Among them, Nanxun Tower stands 15 stories high and was once the tallest building in Xiamen, serving as a landmark of Jimei School Village, with its magnificent architecture and striking Chinese-Western fusion.
Jimei University Building Complex
The building complex of Jimei University consists of multiple Jiageng-style teaching buildings, a library, and a gymnasium. The architecture continues the core style of "wearing a suit and a Mandarin hat," with red-tiled flying eaves complementing Western colonnades. With a total floor area exceeding 300,000 square meters, it is the core representative of the cultural-educational architecture in Jimei School Village.
Jiageng Park
Connected to Aoyuan Garden, Jiageng Park covers an area of 30,000 square meters and was opened in 1994. The park features pavilions, terraces, rockeries, ponds, memorial sculptures, as well as leisure trails and sea-viewing platforms. It serves as a park for commemoration, sightseeing, and relaxation, and offers an excellent vantage point overlooking the sea and the architectural complex of Jimei School Village.
Jimei Dragon Boat Pool
Located in the core area of Jimei School Village, the Dragon Boat Pool was excavated under the direction of Mr. Tan Kah Kee, with a total area of 24,000 square meters. Along the pool stand seven pavilions, including Nanhui Pavilion, Pan Pavilion, and Qixing Pavilion, with exquisite and elegant architectural designs. Traditional dragon boat races are held here every year during the Dragon Boat Festival, making it an important carrier of folk culture and leisure landscape in Jimei School Village.
Suggested Tour Route：
Jiageng Park → Aoyuan Garden → Jimei Dragon Boat Pool → Jimei Middle School → Former Residence of Mr. Tan Kah Kee → Jimei University Building Complex
Tour Suggestions：
Recommended tour duration: 3–4 hours, sufficient for a complete visit to the core attractions and architectural sights.
Prefer sunny days for better photography of Jiageng architecture and coastal scenery.
Walking is recommended within the scenic area, as the footpaths are well-maintained and offer a better experience.
An evening visit allows you to enjoy both the daytime architectural beauty and the nighttime lighting.
Consider combining the tour with the Jimei Coastal Ecological Landscape Corridor for an enhanced overall experience.
Important Notes：
The school and college areas within the scenic zone are teaching premises. Please remain quiet and do not enter teaching or office areas.
In Aoyuan Garden and the Former Residence, do not touch the stone carvings, cultural relics, or exhibits.
Do not climb or enter the water at the Dragon Boat Pool and seaside areas; pay attention to personal safety.
Do not carve, graffiti, or litter within the scenic area; protect cultural relics and the environment.
During holidays and peak visitor periods, follow the order and guidance of the site management.
Transportation：
Bus: Take bus routes 901, 903, 905, 921, 922, 923, 959, or 961 and get off at Jimei School Village Station.
Metro: Take Xiamen Metro Line 1 to Jimei School Village Station; the exit is right at the core area of the scenic zone.
Driving: Navigate to the Jimei School Village parking lot; public paid parking spaces are available.
Ferry: Take a ferry from Xiamen Island to Jimei Ferry Terminal, then walk 5 minutes to the scenic area.
Opening Hours：
The overall Jimei School Village scenic area is open all day.
Aoyuan Garden: 8:00–17:30 daily.
Former Residence of Mr. Tan Kah Kee: 8:30–17:00 daily.
Jiageng Park: 7:00–22:00 daily.
All venues are open on Mondays as usual; there are no regular weekly closure days.
Admission：
Free admission. Paid guided tours (audio or human interpretation) are available.