Rents are really cheap in Xiamen and you should not expect to pay more than cny4,000 per month for a really really nice apartment with sea views and all. Your best bet is to talk to a local foreigner who's had a bit of experience renting in Xiamen because you'll find the Chinese friends you make really aren't much help at getting a decent deal.

Most likely you'll want to live around the Xiamen University area if you're looking for sea views and a nice environment. If you're a business person, you'll want to consider the Marco Polo area (as in the area by the Marco Polo hotel). But for a reasearcher the University area is nicest. You can just hang out in one of the coffee shops for an afternoon and you'll meet a ton of Chinese friends who are willing to help you out with whatever you're doing. Just hop in a taxi and say Xiada.