Houtian Community: Art village meets seafood delights

Departing from Xiamen Island and driving along the Binhai West Boulevard into the southern gateway of Tong'an District, Xiamen, Southeast China's Fujian Province, you'll arrive at Houtian Community. Here, an old fishing village rich in Minnan (southern Fujian) charm rests on one side, while the modern Huandong Romantic Coast lies on the other — connected by an overpass.

Houtian Community has preserved the complete fabric of a traditional Minnan fishing village, with its ancient houses, old banyan trees, historic wells, ancestral halls, and temples. 

The community has carefully collected and restored 34 ancient residential houses covering approximately 3,000 square meters. Using brick, stone, red tile, and rammed earth, the village's original character has been revived, giving shape to the "Houtian Art Village" project.

Today, art studios specializing in sculpture, handicrafts, visual design, and other fields have taken root here, creating a distinctive cultural and creative hub.

Taidi Park's azure-blue ground is adorned with vibrant marine life patterns, bursting with childlike delight and giving visitors the feeling of walking atop ocean waves. 
Having undergone ecological restoration and spatial redesign, the park now features multiple photo-worthy spots, including viral staircases, children's play areas, and marine-themed leisure platforms. Its "internet-famous mini lighthouse" has become especially popular for photoshoots.
At the entrance to the village stands the Houtian Landscape Overpass, known locally as the "rainbow bridge". Crossing the bridge leads directly to the highly popular Huandong Romantic Coast.

In Houtian Community, nearly every household knows how to make seafood rolls. Some seaside stalls serve generously stuffed versions, filled with shrimp, seaweed, scrambled eggs, cilantro, and salad sauce – all wrapped in a crispy outer layer. Other variations include pork floss, shrimp, crab stick, cilantro, peanut sauce, and salad, offering a savory and fragrant taste.

Source: Xiamen Foreign Affairs