Xiamen shares many similarities with the city on France's Côte d'Azur. Like Nice, Xiamen's warm climate and beautiful coastal setting in the Taiwan Strait make it one of the most sought-after tourism destinations in the region.

The city also boasts a vibrant cultural scene, being host to some important fashion, art and sports events, including the annual Xiamen Fashion Week, which launched in 2013, and the Xiamen Marathon, which has been held each year since 2003.

Xiamen's cultural and art exchanges with France have been growing rapidly in recent years, one of the latest examples being the Jimei Arles photography festivals in 2015 and 2016.

Staged in Jimei district, the festivals were co-organized by prominent Fujian photographer Rong Rong and Sam Stourdze, director of Rencontres d'Arles, a summer photography festival based in Arles, France, and have served as a springboard for a huge range of photographers and contemporary artists.

The city is looking to heighten its French ties ever further in the coming years, including in tourism, education, culture and business.