Furong Tunnel (芙蓉隧道)

Furong Tunnel is a pedestrian tunnel on Furong Road in Siming District, Fujian province, China, close to Xiamen University, and it is covered from end to end in graffiti and large murals. The tunnel runs through a hillside on the campus side of the city, and students repaint its walls regularly, so the artwork changes from year to year, with cartoon characters, portraits, abstract patterns, slogans and messages for graduates and friends. The tunnel is about 200 metres long, and walking through it takes only a few minutes, but many visitors stop to look at the details and to take photographs with their favourite paintings. A visit often lasts 30 minutes to an hour, particularly for those who also explore the lanes around the university gate and nearby Shapowei. The best photo angles are from the centre of the tunnel looking toward the light at either end, and in front of the large murals that students refresh before graduation season in June. Visitors may see painters at work, and the best view of the art is usually on weekday mornings when there are fewer people. Crowds build in the late afternoon and on weekends, when groups arrive and walkers pass through, and tunnel traffic includes bicycles and electric scooters, so visitors should stay alert. Lighting is limited, and the tunnel can feel dim in the evening, so daylight hours suit photography better. The tunnel is free to enter and open to pedestrians all day, and it is not a ticketed site. It is a short walk from Xiamen University and Nanputuo Temple, and visitors can reach it by city bus to the university stop or by DiDi from Zhongshan Road. Painting on the walls is generally the work of students, so visitors should respect the art and avoid adding their own marks unless the university allows it.