If Lamu is your idea of the perfect coastal escape, there is another old port city you might want to put on your bucket list - Xiamen in southeast China.
Like Lamu, Xiamen has a long maritime history, old streets, islands, traditional culture and a strong connection with the sea.
But unlike Kenya’s quiet coastal town, Xiamen is a bustling modern Chinese city, with a skyline stretching along the coast.
The city is especially busy this week as China marks its National Day holiday from October 1 to 7.
More than 800 cultural and tourism activities have been lined up, ranging from traditional performances and music to street events, exhibitions and outdoor activities.
For visitors, one of the biggest attractions is Gulangyu Island, a short ferry ride from the city.
The island is a UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its old buildings, narrow streets, gardens and musical tradition.
It is also one of the places where Xiamen’s past is easiest to see.
During the holiday, visitors can take part in Bo Bing, a traditional dice game associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival in southern Fujian.
The game is recognised as a national-level item of intangible cultural heritage and has been introduced at tourist sites, shopping areas, metro stations, coastal cruises and local communities.
Visitors receive a “Good Luck Card” before taking their turn at the game.
For Kenyans, it is one of the more interesting ways to experience local culture rather than simply passing through the usual tourist attractions.
Gulangyu is also hosting the 15th Gulangyu Piano Art Week, which runs from September 30 to October 6.
Musicians from China and other countries are performing on the island, continuing its long association with music.
The holiday programme also includes stage plays, concerts, stand-up comedy, Gaojia Opera and Nanyin performances.
There are also traditional craft markets, street performances and art exhibitions at different attractions and commercial areas.
Among the other events are the “Gulangyu Homecoming Season” and the Fantawild Intangible Cultural Heritage Carnival.
But Xiamen is not a city you visit only for its events. Much like Lamu, its attraction is also in simply being by the water.
The Huandao Road, Wuyuan Bay and Yundang Lake offer visitors places to walk and take in the coastal scenery.
Xiamen Garden Expo Park has flower displays, while the Botanical Garden is hosting themed NPC parades during the holiday.
For visitors trying to cover several parts of the city, 21 dedicated tourist routes have been introduced, linking railway stations and passenger terminals with major attractions.
Public transport passes are also available. Gulangyu, however, could do with a little more planning to accomodate the surging crowds.
The island has a limit on the number of visitors it can accommodate, so ferry ticket allocations are adjusted according to visitor capacity.
Additional ferry services and more night sailings are being provided during the holiday to help deal with the crowds.
The comparison with Lamu is not just about the sea as both places have been shaped by centuries of maritime trade and the movement of people, goods and cultures.
But Xiamen shows what happens when an old port grows into a major modern city without completely losing its cultural identity.
That mix is perhaps what makes it worth a visit for Kenyan travellers.
There are old streets and traditional performances, but also modern transport, shopping districts and a busy waterfront.
For a Kenyan visitor, Xiamen offers a different way of experiencing China — one that combines the appeal of a coastal town with the scale and energy of a modern Chinese city.
So if Lamu is already on your travel list, perhaps it is time to add its Chinese cousin.
Xiamen may be thousands of kilometres from the Kenyan coast, but the appeal of an old port, an island, the sea and a rich local culture is not difficult to recognise.
