Gulangyu Island, just a quick five-minute ferry ride from Xiamen, is a living museum of 19th-century trade and culture. Once a hub for merchants and diplomats, it became home to grand mansions built by Chinese and foreign traders taking advantage of Xiamen’s open port status. The island’s car-free streets are a joy to wander, weaving through colonial-style villas, leafy gardens, and striking architecture that blends European and Chinese influences. Ferries can get busy, especially on weekends and holidays, so booking your ticket two to three days in advance is a smart move. Once you’re there, take your time exploring the quieter corners, enjoying the local seafood, or visiting attractions like the Piano Museum or Sunlight Rock for panoramic views.

Booderee National Park is a place of outstanding natural beauty offering a wide range of activities including bushwalking, camping, cycling, boating, swimming, fishing and snorkelling. Booderee is owned by the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community and is a significant place for Koori people. Learn about Koori culture and traditional foods through Booderee's Aboriginal interpretive program.

Carolina Rediviva was erected between 1817 and 1841 and is home to Sweden's oldest university library, founded in 1620. Originally three stories high with two mezzanines, the building now spans 12 stories and has about 5 million books and 3,500 shelf meters of handwritten documents. When you walk through the entrance of the library, you'll come to the exhibition room, where you can view the famous Silver Bible from the 6th century, musical notations made by Mozart himself, medieval manuscripts, and Olaus Magnus' Carta Marina, printed in 1539.