Xiamen Xiaxiang Leisure Reading｜Books and Sweetness

Xiamen’s softness unfolds like warmth and sweetness when you open a book’s pages～🌿​
Huaxin Road Old Alley Book Bar・Cuoli Xianxian​
A quieter corner than shopping district bookstores! In this book bar transformed from an old villa, wooden bookshelves are stacked with old books, and sunlight filters through stained glass onto the pages📚 Order a cup of “Osmanthus Oolong Milk Cap,” the milk cap sweetly clings to your lips. Flip through a collection of Minnan stories, occasionally looking up to see bougainvillea petals covering the stone table in the courtyard. The book bar owner makes traditional peanut soup, served hot, with peanuts so soft they melt with a bite. Even the rustling sound of turning pages becomes gentle. Snap a photo of the books and tea together, full of peaceful moments～​
Huandao Road Coconut Grove Sunset Picnic・Seaside Sweets​
A more pleasant resting spot than the beach! Spread a floral cloth under the coconut trees and lay out freshly bought local snacks like tubeworm jelly, maqi (glutinous rice cakes), and freshly sliced mango🥭 Bite into the maqi, sticky and wrapped with crushed peanuts, paired with refreshing starfruit juice, the sweet aroma blending with the sea breeze. When the sunset dyes the sea orange-gold, hold up cotton candy for photos, the sugar threads glowing romantically in the sunset light. Occasionally, an egret flies overhead and lands on distant rocks. Such picnic moments are wrapped in gentle breezes～​
Bashi Traditional Pastry Workshop・Handmade Fun​
A sweet experience hidden at the end of the alley! Learn to make “Bowl Rice Cake” with grandma, the rice batter steamed in porcelain bowls until chewy and bouncy, topped with peanut sauce and soy sauce, a perfect blend of salty and sweet🥣 Then try making “Fried Jujube,” glutinous rice balls filled with sesame paste, fried golden in oil. Bite into the hot treat that makes you blow on it but can’t stop eating. Grandma smiles and praises, “You’ve learned well.” Pack your handmade pastries in a box, sharing with friends brings a sense of accomplishment, and even the box carries the warmth of handmade craft～​
Baijia Village Old Tea Stall・Relax and Listen​
A more down-to-earth spot than trendy coffee shops! Old rattan chairs sit under a bamboo shelter, enamel cups steeping Tieguanyin tea, the aroma mingling with osmanthus scent🍵 The tea stall grandpa tells stories of old Xiamen, saying “This alley used to be full of tea stalls like this.” Occasionally, neighbors come to refill tea, chatting in Minnan dialect about daily life, sitting on bamboo chairs sipping tea, watching children chase butterflies in the alley. The lively atmosphere is full of life’s sweetness～​
💡Leisure Reading Tips​
Wear light-colored clothes! Photos at the book bar look softer～Bring wet wipes for picnics! Easy to clean hands after sweets～Wear old clothes for pastry making! Avoid getting oil stains～​
The charm of Xiamen isn’t in rushed check-ins, but in the scent of books, the sweetness of picnics, and the fun of handmade crafts. Strolling like this truly captures Xiamen’s slow moments～💫

Post by CATHERINE MANN | Oct 22, 2025