The 14th Gulangyu Piano Art
The coastal city has been ranked among China’s cities with the strongest international communication influence. The ranking reflects its growing profile in trade, culture, sport and international cooperation.
The finding is contained in the China City International Communication Influence Report (2026), which was released recently in Beijing.
The report, jointly compiled by China Daily and institutions affiliated with Tsinghua University and Peking University, assesses how Chinese cities project themselves to international audiences.
It uses five indicators including overall exposure, media attention, online public discussion, regional reach and international reputation to assess the overseas communication performance of cities.
Xiamen’s ranking points to the growing role of cities outside China’s traditional political and economic centres in building international connections.
For foreign visitors and businesses, the city offers a combination of coastal tourism, cultural heritage, investment opportunities and international events.
One of its best-known attractions is Gulangyu Island, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site located off the coast of Xiamen.
The island has a long history of cultural interaction between China and the West and has become one of the city’s most recognisable international symbols.
Gulangyu is particularly associated with music and is known as the “Island of Music”.
The 14th Gulangyu Piano Art Week, held from September 30 to October 6 last year, featured more than 80 events across seven sections.
The festival attracted renowned artists from 14 countries and more than 100 international musicians.
According to the report, coverage by more than 500 overseas media outlets reached audiences in 20 countries and regions, generating one billion international impressions.
In 2025, 330 internationally renowned artists from 27 countries and regions visited the island and participated in 102 music and cultural events.
The figures show how cultural activities have become an important part of Xiamen’s efforts to build its international profile.
But culture is only one part of the city’s global engagement.
Xiamen has also positioned itself as a platform for international economic and industrial cooperation.
As an innovation centre for the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution, the city hosted the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution Forum from May 27 to 28 this year.
The forum provided a platform for discussions on industrial innovation and cooperation while bringing international participants to the city.
Xiamen is also home to the China International Fair for Investment and Trade, known as CIFIT, held annually from September 8 to 11.
The investment and trade fair attracts businesspeople from different parts of the world and provides opportunities for international companies and investors to explore partnerships in China.
For a city seeking to strengthen its international identity, such events provide an avenue to connect its local economy with global markets.
Sport has also become an important part of Xiamen’s international outreach.
The Xiamen Marathon, held early each year, has gained international recognition, helped by its scenic coastal route.
The city also hosted a leg of the World Athletics Diamond League on May 23, attracting global audiences through international broadcasts.
The sporting event offered Xiamen another opportunity to showcase its infrastructure, coastal landscape and ability to host major international competitions.
Together, the cultural, business and sporting activities have helped expand the city’s international reach.
The report’s assessment comes as Chinese cities increasingly seek to build stronger international profiles to attract tourists, investors, businesses and talent.
Xiamen 2026 marathon
The city describes itself as a “Garden City by the Sea”, an identity built around its coastline, greenery and cultural attractions.
Its latest recognition suggests that the image is increasingly being accompanied by a wider international footprint.
Xiamen now says it will continue using openness as a bridge and culture as a medium to strengthen its international communication capacity and global influence.
For international audiences, including those in countries such as Kenya, the city is positioning itself as more than a scenic Chinese destination.
It is also boasting of making strides to become a centre for trade, investment, culture and international cooperation.
