Gulangyu Island (鼓浪屿)
Car-free island a short ferry ride from Siming District, inscribed by UNESCO in 2017 as Kulangsu, a historic international settlement. Its lanes hold colonial consulates, churches, overseas-Chinese villas and the Piano Museum.
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About Xiamen
Xiamen (厦门) sits on an island and the adjoining mainland at the mouth of the Jiulong River in southern Fujian, and covers six districts: Siming, Huli, Haicang, Jimei, Tong'an and Xiang'an. The old centre around Zhongshan Road and the Gulangyu ferry is compact and walkable, while Nanputuo Temple, Xiamen University and the Huandao ring road run along the southeast shore. Gulangyu, a car-free island 8-20 minutes by ferry, holds colonial-era consulates, churches and the UNESCO-listed international settlement. The city is mild, green and unhurried by Chinese standards, with a strong street-food scene of satay noodles, oyster omelettes and peanut soup, and an expanding metro and high-speed rail network.
- Capital
- Fuzhou (provincial capital)
- Largest city
- Xiamen
- Population
- Approximately 5.3 million in the municipality
- Languages
- Mandarin Chinese (Putonghua); Minnan (Hokkien) is widely spoken locally; English is limited outside hotels and major sights
- Currency
- Renminbi (Chinese yuan, CNY)
- Time zone
- China Standard Time (CST, UTC+8, no daylight saving)
Explore Xiamen by topic
Jump straight to the experience you're planning.
Best places to visit in Xiamen
The 14 destinations our editors recommend — from iconic landmarks to under-the-radar finds.
Sunlight Rock (日光岩)
The granite summit on Gulangyu at about 93 m, with a stepped path to a panoramic deck over the island, Xiamen's skyline and the harbour. Koxinga is said to have drilled his troops here in the 17th century.
Shuzhuang Garden and Gulangyu Piano Museum (菽庄花园 / 钢琴博物馆)
Seafront garden built in 1913 with a winding sea-view corridor, rockeries and pavilions, hosting the Piano Museum with antique pianos from the Australian collector Hu Youyi. The museum is part of the garden ticket.
Nanputuo Temple (南普陀寺)
Active Buddhist temple at the foot of Wulao Peak with its origins in the Tang dynasty, entered through the Heavenly Kings Hall and Mahavira Hall. A vegetarian restaurant operates beside the temple.
Xiamen University (厦门大学)
Campus founded in 1921 by Tan Kah Kee, set between hills and the sea, with Furong Lake, Jiannan Auditorium and Minnan-style academic halls. Visitors must book a free slot in advance and carry a passport.
Hulishan Fortress (胡里山炮台)
Coastal artillery fort built in 1894 at the southeast tip of Xiamen Island, holding an 1891 Krupp 280 mm cannon, among the largest surviving of its kind. A walking route crosses the ramparts and sea-facing batteries.
Recommended itineraries
Pick a length, follow the route. Each itinerary balances headline sights with breathing room.
5-Day Xiamen Explorer
- Day 1Arrive in Xiamen, explore city center
- Day 2Visit top attractions and museums
- Day 3Day trip to nearby highlights
- Day 4Local markets and hidden gems
- Day 5Final sightseeing, departure
7-Day Classic Xiamen
- Days 1-2Xiamen city highlights
- Days 3-4Regional exploration
- Days 5-6Cultural immersion and local experiences
- Day 7Return and departure
14-Day Ultimate Xiamen
- Days 1-3Xiamen comprehensive city tour
- Days 4-6Northern region exploration
- Days 7-9Eastern highlights
- Days 10-12Southern attractions
- Days 13-14Return to Xiamen, departure
Where to stay in Xiamen
Three tiers, every traveller covered — from cost-conscious to flagship hotels.
Budget ¥300-420 (~$44-62)
Hostels, budget hotels, and guesthouses offer affordable stays without sacrificing experience.
Mid-range ¥750-1,100 (~$110-162)
Boutique hotels and well-located accommodations provide comfort and convenience at reasonable prices.
Luxury ¥2,000-3,500+ (~$294-515+)
World-class resorts and premium hotels deliver unforgettable experiences.
Conrad Xiamen
Five-star Hilton-operated tower on the south coast of Siming near Shapowei and Xiamen University, with sea views, an indoor pool and a spa. A quieter base than Zhongshan Road.
Check rates on Booking.comShangri-La Xiamen
Five-star hotel in the Guanyinshan business district on the north-east coast of Xiamen island, away from the old town and close to the Guanyinshan waterfront.
Check rates on Booking.comFairmont Xiamen
Luxury Fairmont hotel in Huli District on the north-east side of Xiamen island.
Check rates on Booking.comInterContinental Xiamen
IHG's InterContinental on the eastern shore of Xiamen island, with sea views toward Xiamen Bay; taxi or DiDi is the practical way from Zhongshan Road.
Check rates on Booking.comWhere to eat in Xiamen
Cafés, neighbourhood gems, and tasting menus worth the table reservation.
Huang Ze He Peanut Soup (黄则和花生汤)
A long-running Xiamen shop on the Zhongshan Road pedestrian street that is known for peanut soup, a warm sweet soup of soft peanuts. It is a standard first stop on a Minnan snack walk.
Yuehua Shacha Noodles (月华沙茶面)
A Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand listing that has operated for more than 40 years on Zhenbang Road, the best-known street for shacha (satay) noodles. The broth is a peanut-and-shrimp satay base served with noodles and a choice of toppings.
Haodelai Ginger Duck (好德来姜母鸭)
A casual restaurant devoted to jiangmuya, duck slow-braised with old ginger, sesame oil and rice wine, a winter-warming Minnan dish. The shop opens at nine in the morning and closes once the duck runs out, so late-evening visits can miss it.
1980 Shaorou Zong (1980烧肉粽)
A casual stop on Zhongshan Road for shaorou zong, the sticky-rice dumpling filled with braised pork, chestnut and mushroom that is a Xiamen signature. Satay noodles are also on the menu.
Lianhuan Oyster Omelet (连欢海蛎煎)
A small snack stall in an alley off Siming South Road, known for haoli jian, oysters fried in sweet-potato-starch batter with egg. It sits close to Zhongshan Road, so it pairs easily with a snack walk.
Nanputuo Vegetarian Restaurant (南普陀素菜馆)
The temple restaurant of Nanputuo Temple, serving fully vegetarian food. Reviewers describe a first-floor buffet and a pricier table-service room upstairs; set meals are best arranged ahead.
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Getting around Xiamen
Xiamen is a compact island city linked to the mainland by bridges and a metro. Fly into Gaoqi (XMN), ride the metro or BRT between sights, and use Xiamen North station for high-speed trains to Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Fuzhou and the tulou region. Gulangyu and Kinmen need boats.
Budget breakdown
Daily spend by tier in CNY (¥); USD at 1 USD ≈ 6.8 CNY, broken out by category.
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | ¥120-200 (~$18-29) | ¥400-650 (~$59-96) | ¥1,200-2,200 (~$176-324) |
| Food (per day) | ¥70-110 (~$10-16) | ¥150-250 (~$22-37) | ¥400-800 (~$59-118) |
| Transportation | ¥20-40 (~$3-6) | ¥50-100 (~$7-15) | ¥150-350 (~$22-51) |
| Activities | ¥40-90 (~$6-13) | ¥100-200 (~$15-29) | ¥250-500 (~$37-74) |
| Daily total | ¥300-420 (~$44-62) | ¥750-1,100 (~$110-162) | ¥2,000-3,500+ (~$294-515+) |
Best time to visit Xiamen
Weather through the year in Xiamen
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C.
Autumn (Oct-Dec) and spring (Mar-May) bring 17-27°C days and the clearest skies; winters are mild (about 10-17°C) and rarely cold enough for heavy coats.
Typhoon season runs roughly July to September, with ferries sometimes suspended for a day or more; the spring plum-rain months (March-June) bring drizzle and humidity. Gulangyu and the waterfront are busiest on weekends and public holidays, so weekday mornings are the quietest.
Essential travel tips
- Set up Alipay (with Tour Pass or a linked foreign card) or WeChat Pay before arrival; carry some cash as a backup for small stalls. Foreign-card payments have per-transaction limits.
- Install Amap (高德地图) or Baidu Maps for navigation, DiDi for taxis, and Trip.com or 12306 for trains; Google services are blocked without a VPN installed before arrival.
- Book Gulangyu ferry tickets one to several days ahead on weekends and holidays, and aim to cross before 09:00 on weekdays.
- Show Chinese-character addresses (listed in this guide) to taxi drivers.
- Most visitors need 1 full day for Gulangyu and 2 days for the rest of the island; 3 days covers Jimei and a high-speed rail day trip to Quanzhou.
Safety information
Xiamen is one of China's safest large cities; violent crime against visitors is rare and the main risks are petty theft in crowds, seafood overcharging, resale-ticket touts and typhoon weather
Carry the passport at all times; police may ask for it, and hotels must register foreign guests with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours
Typhoon season runs roughly July to September; ferries to Gulangyu, flights and rail can be suspended on short notice. Check the Xiamen Meteorological Bureau or the China Weather app and follow hotel instructions
Pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a foreign card; keep ¥200-500 (~$29-74) cash as backup
A VPN set up before arrival is needed for Google, WhatsApp and many Western apps; Chinese apps (Amap, Baidu Maps, Didi, Trip.com) work without one
On Gulangyu, buy ferry tickets only through the official Xiamen ferry (厦门轮渡) channel, Trip.com or the ticket office; tickets are real-name, so carry the passport used for booking
Do not photograph military installations, naval vessels, or police; Xiamen faces Kinmen island and the coast has restricted zones
National security and public-order laws are applied broadly; avoid political discussion and unauthorised drone flights
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Xiamen?
Many nationalities can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days under the current exemption programme, and Xiamen is a designated port for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy for travellers with a confirmed onward ticket. Policies and eligible countries change, so check nia.gov.cn or a Chinese embassy before booking.
How do foreigners buy Gulangyu ferry tickets?
Foreign visitors use the Xiamen International Cruise Center terminal (厦门国际邮轮中心) and need their passport number to buy a real-name ticket through the official ferry app, WeChat mini-program or the terminal counters. The round trip is about ¥35 (~$5), and tickets sell out on weekends and holidays, so book ahead.
What is the best time to visit Xiamen?
October-December and March-May offer 17-27°C weather and lower typhoon risk. Avoid 1-7 October and the Spring Festival week for crowds, and July-September for heat and typhoons.
How many days are enough for Xiamen?
Three days covers Gulangyu (one full day), the southeast shore (Nanputuo, Xiamen University, Hulishan, Zengcuo'an) and Jimei or a rail day trip to Quanzhou.
Can foreigners use Alipay and WeChat Pay in Xiamen?
Yes. Both apps accept foreign Visa and Mastercard cards after setup, with per-transaction limits, and Alipay offers a Tour Pass. Carry some cash as a backup for small stalls and taxis.
Which airport serves Xiamen in 2026?
Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN) is the main airport now. The new Xiamen Xiang'an International Airport is scheduled to open around the end of 2026, after which Gaoqi is expected to stop civil flights, so check the airport on the ticket.