Pedestrian streets offer a nice way to get acquainted with a city without the noisy distractions of automobile traffic and they're usually lined with all sorts of interesting shops. Xiamen, a coastal city in the Southeast region of China, boasts one of the world's most vibrant pedestrian avenues. A 20 minute drive from the glistening Sheraton Xiamen Hotel, Zhongshan Lu is bustling day and night with locals and visitors on the hunt for the latest fashions, the perfect souvenir, or an authentic meal.

Stretching from the ferry landing to Siming Street, the pedestrian part of Zhongshan Road is a clean, modern expanse where a few remaining elements of traditional Chinese architecture mingle with contemporary European building style. A hundred years ago, Chinese merchants set up their stalls here, planting the seeds for the commercial buzz that quickly grew. Today, major department stores like the popular Laiya, share the scene with small shops selling a variety of local treasures. Keep an eye out for traditional costume boutiques, jewelry stores specializing in South Seas pearls and gold, and art galleries where landscapes depicting nearby islands cover the walls. Pick up Chinese magazines at bookstores like O2 and Xin Hua and peruse their cheerful, glossy images over a steaming cup of oolong at Xiangfu Spring Teashop (Number 50). The peanut soup at Huangzehe (Number 24) is known as the area's tastiest. Fill up on a bowl before setting out in search of a truly special item, a classical Chinese instrument from the 87-year-old shop Huacheng Piano (Number 123). Ever visited Zhongshan Lu shopping street? What were your favorite discoveries?