Hotel Indigo Xiamen Harbour

Hotel Indigo Xiamen Harbour is an IHG boutique-brand hotel at 16 Lujiang Road in Siming District, on the waterfront of Xiamen island in Fujian Province, China. Lujiang Road runs along the western harbour that separates Xiamen from Gulangyu island, and the hotel's position places it close to the Zhongshan Road pedestrian street, the old town's historic arcades and the ferry area for Gulangyu. This is the most convenient part of the island for first-time visitors, because the main sights, snack streets and ferry departures are within walking distance or a short taxi ride.

The brand's concept is a neighbourhood-inspired boutique hotel, with design that draws on local character rather than a uniform chain look, and the harbour location gives views across the water toward Gulangyu from many rooms. Room types listed are Standard Rooms, Deluxe Rooms and Suites, and the facilities include wifi, air conditioning, a restaurant and a fitness centre. Rooms facing the harbour are generally the most sought after, though this should be requested when booking.

Dining is provided by the hotel restaurant, which handles breakfast and meals, and the surrounding area offers an exceptional range of local food. The Zhongshan Road area and the nearby lanes are known for peanut-soup, oyster omelettes, satay noodles, seafood and tea houses, so visitors can eat locally with little effort. The location also makes it easy to take early ferries to Gulangyu before day-trip crowds arrive, and to return to the hotel for rest in the afternoon.

Listed rates run from about ¥700 to ¥1,200 (roughly $103-176) per night, placing the hotel in the upscale range without the cost of the island's top luxury towers. Service suits leisure travellers and couples, with staff able to help with ferry tickets, which on Gulangyu generally need advance booking in busy seasons. Visitors who want an old-town base with harbour views, walking access to the main sights and a design-led atmosphere will find this a convenient option. The hotel's phone number is +86 592 336 1666 and its website is hotelindigo.com/xiamen.