Xiamen, a city with both coastal scenery and profound cultural heritage, has nurtured the Xiamen (China) International Buddhist Items & Crafts Fair. As a major event in the global Buddhist articles industry, it attracts people with Buddhist affinity and practitioners from home and abroad every year.
Ⅰ Fair Overview: From Inception to Industry Benchmark
Launched in 2006, the fair was upgraded to a “bi-annual event (Spring & Autumn)” in 2013. Today, it has become a leading platform for professional trade of Buddhist articles worldwide. Taking the 2025 Spring fair as an example, it covers a total exhibition area of 130,000 square meters, with over 1,400 domestic and foreign brand enterprises participating. The exhibited products cover the entire industrial chain, including Buddha statue sculptures, incense products & incense utensils, Zen-style cultural and creative products, Zen tea & vegetarian food. It not only meets the needs of professional procurement but also allows visitors to appreciate the charm of Buddhist articles.
Overseas enterprises showcase distinctive highlights: Japan brings roof tiles for ancient buildings, thousand-year-old prayer beads and Kōun-dō Buddhist utensils; South Korea exhibits exquisite Buddhist utensils; Malaysia displays natural agarwood. All these promote the exchange of diverse Buddhist cultures.
Ⅱ Core Attractions: Exhibits and Concurrent Activities
1. Featured Exhibits: Demonstrating Ingenuity
★ Buddha Statue Sculptures: Covering various crafts such as stone carving, bronze casting, and ancient glazed glass. Examples include the Saha Trinity Buddha with copper gilding and colored painting, the Samantabhadra Bodhisattva with clear-knife carving, and the flying apsaras with Putian wood carving, combining classics and innovation.
★ Incense Products & Incense Utensils: Gathering precious incense products like agarwood and sandalwood, as well as exquisite incense burners and incense holders. Some enterprises have launched derivative products such as home and car fragrances, integrating incense culture into modern life.
★ Zen-style Cultural and Creative Products: Combining Buddhist elements with modern design, products like bookmarks, Buddha statue ornaments, and Zen-style clothing are both practical and culturally connotative.
2. Concurrent Activities: Interactive Experiences
★ Industry Forums: Such as the 2025 Forum “Traditional Culture: Contemporary Expression”, where experts discuss ideas on cultural inheritance and innovation.
★ Immersive Experiences: Incense ceremony performances showcase traditional etiquette; famous incense tasting sessions allow learning of incense appreciation skills; handcraft making experiences enable visitors to feel the ingenuity of craftsmen.
Ⅲ Practical Information: Time, Venue and Travel Guide
1. Basic Information
★ Time (Reference to Regular Schedule):
Spring Exhibition: April 17 -20
Autumn Exhibition: October 16 – 20
Note: The specific schedule is subject to the official notice of the organizing committee each year. It is recommended to pre-register through the exhibition’s official website www.buddhafair.com or WeChat official account in advance.
★ Venue Address: Xiamen International Conference & Exhibition Center (No. 198 Huizhan Road, Siming District, Xiamen City)
2. Nearby Transportation
★ Public Transportation:
Metro: Take Xiamen Metro Line 2 to “Software Park Phase II Station” or Line 3 to “Huli Innovation Park Station”, then transfer to a bus or taxi to the venue (about 10-15 minutes); or directly take buses No. 19, 29, 30, 58, 91, etc., and get off at “Xiamen International Conference & Exhibition Center Station”.
★ Free Shuttle Buses: During the exhibition, the organizing committee arranges free shuttle buses from Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, Xiamen Railway Station (high-speed rail), Xiamen North Railway Station (high-speed rail) and nearby metro stations (e.g., “Guanyinshan Station” of Line 2) to the venue directly. (For specific schedules, please check the official website in advance.)
★ Self-driving: There are exclusive parking lots around the venue. Exhibitors and pre-registered visitors can enjoy parking discounts (application in advance through the official website is required).
3. Recommended Nearby Accommodation
★ Cost-effective Hotels (10-15 minutes’ walk to the venue):
◇ Xiamen International Conference & Exhibition Hotel: Adjacent to the venue, featuring Chinese-style decor. Some rooms offer sea views, suitable for visitors prioritizing convenience.
◇ Homestays near Xiamen International Conference & Exhibition Center: Concentrated in residential areas such as Huizhan Nanli and Mingfa Seaview Garden. Affordable in price, some provide Minnan-style services, suitable for families or small groups.
★ Mid-to-high-end Options (5-10 minutes’ drive to the venue):
◇ Xiamen Fliport Wutong Hotel: Located on Huandao East Road, offering excellent sea views and equipped with a Zen-style tea break area, which fits the exhibition atmosphere.
◇ Xiamen International Conference Center Hotel: Close to the exhibition center, with convenient transportation and comprehensive catering services.
4. Xiamen Cuisine: Savor Minnan Flavors
After visiting the exhibition, you can experience Xiamen’s characteristic cuisines. Recommended categories and stores are as follows:
★ Classic Minnan Snacks:
◇ Shacha Noodles: Recommended at “Wutang Shacha Noodles” (No. 42 Minzu Road, Siming District) – rich soup base with abundant ingredients; “Lianhuan Oyster Omelette” (No. 10 Jukou Hengxiang, Zhongshan Road, Siming District) – fresh oysters with crispy outer layer and tender inner part.
◇ Sipunculid Worm Jelly & Fish Ball Soup: Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street and Bashi (No. Datong Road, Siming District) are must-visit places. The combination of spiced rolls and sipunculid worm jelly at “Bashi Ajie Spiced Rolls” is a classic.
★ Zen Tea & Vegetarian Food:
There is a Zen tea and vegetarian food experience area in the exhibition, where you can taste high-mountain Zen tea and exquisite vegetarian snacks.
In the urban area, “Qingxin Vegetarian Restaurant” (multiple branches, e.g., Xiahe Road Branch in Siming District) is recommended, offering a rich variety of buffet-style vegetarian dishes with high cost-effectiveness.
★ Seafood Feast:
◇ “Little Glasses Seafood Restaurant” on Huandao Road: A popular spot among locals, serving fresh and affordable seafood. The signature dishes include soy sauce-braised sea fish and boiled shrimp.
◇ Seafood Processing Stores near Bashi: You can purchase fresh seafood at Bashi and have it processed nearby, experiencing the authentic Minnan-style seafood cooking.
Ⅳ Significance and Services of the fair
For practitioners, the fair is a business platform to expand business and find partners; for people with Buddhist affinity and cultural enthusiasts, it is a grand feast to experience Buddhist culture up close and inherit traditional culture.
The organizing committee also provides thoughtful services: Monks can enjoy free vegetarian lunches and VIP tea breaks; monks from other cities can receive two nights of free accommodation upon advance registration; ordinary visitors can enter for free and enjoy VIP tea breaks with pre-registration, ensuring every participant feels at home.
If you have a connection with Buddhism, work in the Buddhist articles industry, or are passionate about traditional culture, this grand event is not to be missed. Here, you can not only appreciate the ingenuity of Buddhist articles but also experience the charm of Xiamen, leaving unforgettable memories.
