On the 21st, 108 mainland cycling enthusiasts set off from Xiamen’s Wutong Wharf on a “mini three links” direct ferry to Kinmen County in Taiwan, just across the water, to take part in the “Ride Around Kinmen – 100 Cyclists” event.
This became a highlight of the fifth Xiamen Self-Drive Tourism Festival, which opened on the same day. Organizers said the 2013 Xiamen Self-Drive Tourism Festival’s “Ride Around Kinmen – 100 Cyclists” activity is a major marketing initiative by Xiamen to attract more out-of-town visitors to Kinmen, and it has been warmly received by the market since its launch.
Among the cycling enthusiasts who traveled to Kinmen that day, the majority came from nearby cities in Fujian such as Zhangzhou, Quanzhou, Longyan, and from Guangdong. Some were seasoned cycling enthusiasts who had long been eager to join a Kinmen cycling trip, while others were amateur riders participating for the first time—the Kinmen ride also sparked strong interest among them.
The Kinmen cycling route covers approximately 30 kilometers, allowing participants to fully enjoy the pleasure of cycling at a relaxed pace without competition. Along the way, riders can also sample Kinmen specialties such as noodles, candied floss, and baked cakes for free.
Statistics show that the number of self-drive and independent travelers in China’s tourism market has risen sharply this year. During the “Golden Week” holiday alone, Xiamen received 4 million self-drive and independent tourists. In response to this market trend, the fifth Xiamen Self-Drive Tourism Festival introduced a number of new initiatives. In addition to the “Ride to Kinmen” event, the launch of the Southwest Fujian Self-Drive Alliance and the opening of an individual self-drive membership platform have also attracted considerable attention.
To meet the rapidly growing demand for self-drive and independent travel, Xiamen Tourism Group International Travel Agency has also issued a “Xiamen and Western Fujian Self-Drive Tourism Product Package,” which is sold online through e-commerce and other digital channels, making it easy and convenient for independent travelers from all over the mainland to plan self-drive and independent trips around Xiamen and Fujian.