For eating, there are some places you must go.
Zhongshan Road, there is a stall selling leaf-style mochi, shopping stay snacks will see, you can buy two taste, taste is not everyone's favorite, but definitely have characteristics; the same zhongshan road on the yellow and peanut soup store, peanut soup must drink; in addition, the tour group may only take you to zhongshan road, pedestrian street, in fact, zhongshan road, although the western section of the not a pedestrian street, but there are a lot of things, there is a snacks name! Very interesting, called one-nine-eighty, inside the sand tea noodles must try, may be the best sand tea noodles in Xiamen.
If you like to explore, and Zhongshan Road parallel to its south of an alley (too long did not go to the name to forget), there is a Wu Zaitian, inside the oil onion barley is an authentic Xiamen snack, a unique flavor.
Also, there's something I'm sure you haven't heard of, called earth bamboo shoots jelly. The best place to eat is quite remote, but many Xiamen people know. It is located on the street opposite the west gate of Zhongshan Park. Quite a small store, but business is quite good.
You must go back to Gulangyu Island, the veggie cakes on it are worth bringing back to your friends and family.
The night to the beach, is a pretty good arrangement. First of all, the back door of Xiamen University where the white city beach, where the sea breeze is definitely a kind of enjoyment. Of course, now the five edge of the Bay side has got almost there, where there is a beach stalls, I believe that blowing the sea breeze to enjoy the sea bright moon, tasting food is a pleasure. Also the view of Gulangyu Island from the end of Zhongshan Road is nice. The round island road should be one of the attractions of the tour group, so I won't say more.
All the places mentioned above are free, except for shopping of course.
Xiamen is a delicate place, Gulangyu Island needless to say, that area near Xiamen University has a lot of places you walk around will find a lot of unexpected wonderful. There is an international youth hostel on Nanshan Road near Xiamen University, and a coffee shop called "Black Sugar" on another section, opened by a Taiwanese, on the rooftop, very moody. Of course, there are a lot of cafes in Gulangyu Island, you can go and take a look. There is a coffee shop called "Sun Dance" on Gulangyu Island, which is said to be the sister store of "Black Sugar", but unfortunately I haven't found it yet. If you find it, please let me know.
Weather wise, it is best to check with your travel agent to be aware of typhoons in Xiamen. Of course, when a typhoon arrives, it's a different story, but it can delay your flight.
PS. If you want to go to the Botanical Gardens, it is free before 7am and after 7pm. The boat into Gulangyu is free, as is the boat out after 10pm. Xiamen people speak Mandarin with a bit of the same accent as Taiwanese, but everyone is conscious of using Mandarin in public ****ing situations. In addition, Xiamenites give up their seats on buses to those who need them is a very conscious habit that will make people feel cozy.
That's all for now, if you need more you can email me at forsun1015@126.com