Xiamen is located in the Fujian province on the southeast coast of China just a short distance across the water from Taiwan. The total area of the city is 1,565 square kilometres with a sea area covering over 300 square kilometres.

Xiamen possesses an excellent natural deep-water harbour. There are numerous outlying islands nearby and the city is surrounded by hills. These excellent features have helped make Xiamen an important foreign trading port along the southeast coast of China for many years.

Xiamen also enjoys a sub-tropical climate with mild temperatures and plentiful rainfall. The annual average temperature is about 21°C.