Xiamenisanislandcitywitharichanddramatichistory,repletewithpirates,rebelleaders,andEuropeanmerchants.NowlinkedtomainlandFujianbyacauseway,Xiamenretainsastronginternationalflavor.KnownintheWestasAmoy,Xiamenhasalonghistoryasaportcity,andlaterbecameacenterofBritishtradeinthe19thcentury.Theirforeignsettlements,latertakenoverbyJapaneseinvadersatthestartofWorldWarII,wereestablishedonthenearbysmallGulangyuIsland.Manyoftheoldtreaty-portandcolonialbuildingsinWesternstylessurvive.XiamenwasdeclaredoneofChina’sfirstSpecialEconomicZonesintheearly1980’s,takingadvantageofthecity’sheritageasatradingcenterandtheproximitytoTaiwan.TodayXiamenisoneofChina’smostattractiveandbest-maintainedresortcities.Xiamenwasfoundedin1394atthebeginningoftheMingdynastyasacenterofdefenseagainstcoastalpirates.Itsprosperitywasduetoitsdeepwatershelteredharbor,thatsupplantednearbyQuanzhou,theportthathadbeenthecenterofthemaritimetradewiththeIndies.