Xiamen University (厦门大学), founded in 1921 by overseas Chinese patron Tan Kah Kee, has one of the most memorable campuses in China: wedged between Wulao Peak and the South China Sea, with red-tile Nanyang-style academic buildings, a lake, and a beach within the campus wall.
The photogenic stops that Xiaohongshu posts keep recycling: the Siyuan Lake (思源湖) and its reflection of the main teaching building, the Hall of Endurance (群贤楼) facade, the campus beach at Baicheng, and the tree-lined Daxue Road boundary.
Practical: the university restricts tourist entry to preserve study atmosphere. In 2026, visitors need an advance reservation via the university's WeChat mini-program (search "厦门大学参观") — slots open 7 days in advance and go fast on weekends. Weekdays are much easier. Free, but bring your passport. Entry from the Daxi Gate (large west gate) near Shapowei is usual. Allow 90 minutes.