Cultural enrichment trip for expats

A bird's eye view of Gulangyu Island, Xiamen, Fujian province. Xiamen was ranked as the most popular city in Fujian province in 2014 for the number of visits to the city, according to the China National Tourism Administration. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/For China Daily]

The 100 Expats event, which is aimed at engaging the foreign community by cultivating interest in China's rich culture and heritage through travel, will be held at Xiamen, a seaside city in Fujian province, from Sept 12 to 14.

The two-day, two-night event, organized by Ctrip International, highlights a visit to Gulangyu, Xiamen's landmark tourist destination, a cobbled pedestrian-only island peppered with colonial Victorian architecture, remnants of its days as an international settlement. The trip will also offer visitors a trip to tulou, the earthen communal houses of the Hakka people in Yongding county that were placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008.

Similar events have been held at Huangshan Mountain, Anhui province, and in Zhangjiajie, Hunan province. "We are delighted to offer travelers the chance to take part in our third trip to Xiamen," said Beth He, director of Ctrip International's website division. "After the enormous success of the previous two events, Ctrip is thrilled to introduce another fabulous destination to expats in China, and bring together like-minded individuals who have a passion for travel and adventure," she said.

The activity is open to all foreigners living in China. English language proficiency is highly recommended for all participants. The tour includes an experienced English-speaking tour guide, two-nights at a five-star accommodation with breakfast, admission fees, five meals and transportation between sites.

To take part in the event one needs to sign-up at http://english.ctrip.com/tours/97717. The cost is 1,380 yuan ($223) for those who register before Aug 15, or 1,580 yuan for bookings made from Aug 16 to Sept 12.