Xiamen Travel Guide

Kulangsu with a red-domed building and old red-roofed villas among the trees. — Kulangsu (Gulangyu) seen from the sea · Photo: Siyuwj / CC BY-SA 4.0

A seaside city on China's south-east coast, facing Kinmen (Jinmen) Island across the Taiwan Strait. Legend says white egrets once lived here, so it is also called "Egret Island". It has been a trading port since ancient times and was one of China's earliest special economic zones. Ideal for Gulangyu (Kulangsu), a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2017, museums on overseas Chinese history and the heritage of Fujian and Taiwan, and walks by the sea.

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At a glance

Currency: CNY (¥)
Power & plugs: 220V · Type A/C/I
Driving side: Right
Tipping: Not expected
Local language: 中文(简体)
How long to stay: 2 to 3 days

Emergency numbers

Police110
Ambulance120
Fire119
Tourist hotline12345

When to go

According to the Fujian provincial government, the annual average temperature is around 20.9°C, without extreme heat or cold. Typhoons can halt all Gulangyu ferry routes, so check official forecasts and ferry notices before you go. Xiamen Museum and the Overseas Chinese Museum close on Mondays (except national holidays).

Airport to the city

Airport express buses

Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN) has two terminals, T3 and T4. Airport express bus ticket counters are opposite Door 9 in the T3 arrivals hall and at Door 7 and opposite Door 3 in the T4 arrivals hall, open 05:30–23:00 (times as posted at the counter). Lines run towards the Ferry Terminal and towards Wucun Bus Station (the former island railway station), and lines to Jinjiang and Zhangzhou leave from the west side of the domestic arrivals hall. Lines are subject to on-site dispatch; hotline 0592-5708275.

Time check official infoCost check official info

BRT (bus rapid transit)

BRT lines Kuai 1 and Kuai 2 stop at Gaoqi T4 Terminal station, a short walk from T4. For T3, change at BRT Xianhou station to bus L19 and get off at Gaoqi T3 Terminal.

Time check official infoCost check official info

City buses

City buses also serve the airport. For example, from Kaihe Road Junction stop near the Ferry Terminal, the Airport Line and bus 84 go to the T3 and T4 stops, and bus 27 to the T3 stop. Check real-time information with Xiamen Bus Group (0592-968828).

Time check official infoCost check official info

Taxi

Queue at the taxi rank by automatic Door 7 in the T3 arrivals hall or Door 3 in the T4 arrivals hall. Taxis to Quanzhou, Shishi and Zhangzhou leave from the west car park, about 120 m west of the T3 domestic arrivals hall. Use licensed vehicles and keep your receipt (24-hour complaints line 0592-5615610).

Time check official infoCost metered (check official info)

Getting around

Gulangyu ferries (daytime)

Visitor routes run between Dongdu Passenger Terminal and Sanqiutian Pier, Dongdu and Neicuo'ao Pier, Songyu Passenger Terminal and Neicuo'ao, and Xiamen First Pier and Neicuo'ao. On the Dongdu–Sanqiutian route, sailings run 7:10–17:30 (until 18:30 from June to September); other routes have their own times. Tickets are sold under your real name, and the ticket, ID and passenger must match; the operator's rules list a valid passport among accepted IDs. Buy at ticket windows or through the operator's official online channels up to 15 days ahead; boarding gates close 10 minutes before departure.

Gulangyu ferries (night)

The night route runs from Hall 2 of the Xiamen Ferry Terminal to Sanqiutian Pier, 17:50–23:45 (from 18:50 in June to September). Overnight return sailings leave from Piano Pier on Gulangyu. Exact times follow the ticketing system and the notices at the pier.

Metro, BRT and city buses

Xiamen has a metro, plus BRT and city buses. Check the operators' official information for routes and fares. Real-time bus information is available from Xiamen Bus Group (0592-968828).

Taxi

Use the taxi ranks at the airport and in the city. Take licensed vehicles and keep your receipt. Showing your destination in Chinese helps.

Where to stay

Gulangyu

Good for: First visit, historic architecture, gardens

An island south-west of Xiamen Island across the 600 m-wide Lujiang Strait, about 5 minutes by ferry. A national 5A-rated scenic area, with Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden, the Piano Museum and the Zheng Chenggong Memorial Hall.

Zhongshan Road and the waterfront

Good for: Street walks, night views, harbour cruise

Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street is a bustling, lively street. Harbour cruises of 90 to 120 minutes give views of Gulangyu and Kinmen, with a light show at downtown Heping Wharf.

Wuyuan Bay

Good for: Wetland walks, birdwatching

Wuyuan Bay Wetland Park is a resting place for migratory birds passing through Xiamen, with the sea and sky as a backdrop.

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Top sights

Gulangyu (Kulangsu)
A small island at the mouth of the Jiulong River, facing Xiamen. It gained international settlement status in 1903, and 931 historic buildings mixing Chinese and international styles of the 19th and early 20th centuries survive, along with roads and gardens. As "Kulangsu, a Historic International Settlement" it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017. With many pianos and more than 100 musical families, it was named the "Island of Music" by the Chinese Musicians' Association in 2002.
Shuzhuang Garden, Kulangsu · Photo: Siyuwj / CC BY-SA 4.0
Sunlight Rock and Shuzhuang Garden
Gulangyu's best-known sights. The island was named in the Ming dynasty after Gulang (Drumming Wave) Rock in the south-west, which sounds like a drum when waves strike it. The island also has Bright Moon Garden, the Piano Museum and the Zheng Chenggong Memorial Hall.
Sunlight Rock, Kulangsu · Photo: Rolfmueller / CC BY-SA 3.0
Xiamen Museum
A regional museum focused on the heritage of Fujian and Taiwan, founded in 1983 and opened in 1988; it was first housed in the Bagua Building on Gulangyu. It holds more than 60,000 relics, notably ancient ceramics, calligraphy and painting, jade and stone carvings. Permanent exhibitions include Xiamen history and the ancient stone sculpture and folk culture of Fujian and Taiwan. Closed on Mondays (except national holidays); check official information for hours.
Overseas Chinese Museum
Proposed by overseas Chinese leader Tan Kah Kee in 1956 and opened in 1959, it was China's first cultural institution built with funds raised by overseas Chinese. The palace-style building has white granite walls and a green glazed tile roof. Its three permanent exhibitions are "Overseas Chinese", the Tan Kah Kee collection and a nature museum. Closed on Mondays (except national holidays); the provincial government's 2025 listing says a passport is required for entry.
Overseas Chinese Museum, Xiamen · Photo: Mike-dog / Public domain
Xiamen harbour cruise
A 90- to 120-minute cruise with views of Gulangyu and the Kinmen islands, with puppet shows and other performances on board and a light show at downtown Heping Wharf. Payment, language and signage services have been upgraded for international visitors. Check official information for times and fares.
Wuyuan Bay Wetland Park
A park where migratory birds stop to rest, including the chestnut-throated bee-eater, called "China's most beautiful bird". Dongshan Reservoir in Dongpingshan Park, Siming district, is another resting stop for migratory birds.
Wuyuan Bay Wetland Park, Xiamen · Photo: 向史公哲曰 / CC BY-SA 4.0

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What to eat

Oyster vermicelli (haili mianxian)

Thin noodles with oysters, listed as a Xiamen dish by the Fujian provincial government.

Peanut soup (huasheng tang)

A sweet traditional dessert of peanuts and eggs seasoned with sugar. It originated in Quanzhou and is also listed as a Xiamen dish.

Fried five-spice rolls (zha wuxiang juan)

Deep-fried rolls with a five-spice filling, listed as a Xiamen dish by the Fujian provincial government.

Taro buns (yu bao)

Dumplings made with taro, listed as a Xiamen dish by the Fujian provincial government.

Daily budget (per person)

BudgetTransport: ferries, BRT and city buses keep costs low. Check official information for ferry and bus fares. Hotel and food costs vary a lot by date; check booking sites

Mid-rangeAdding taxis and a harbour cruise: check official prices. Check booking sites for hotels and food

ComfortAccommodation is most of the budget — compare prices for your dates on booking sites

Amounts are rough figures in local currency. Check exchange rates before you go.

Suggested itinerary

Day 1
Take an early ferry from Dongdu Passenger Terminal to Gulangyu for Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden and the Piano Museum. Return sailings are busiest from 15:00 to 18:30, so head back a little earlier. In the evening, walk Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street and take a harbour cruise with the light show at Heping Wharf.
Day 2
The Overseas Chinese Museum in the morning and Xiamen Museum in the afternoon (both closed on Mondays), then a walk in Wuyuan Bay Wetland Park towards sunset.

Local tips

Gulangyu ferry tickets are sold under your real name. Bring your passport; the ticket, ID and passenger must match. Under the operator's rules, visitor-route returns off the island leave from Sanqiutian and Neicuo'ao piers (overnight sailings from Piano Pier), and 15:00–18:30 is the busiest time. Ferry enquiries 0592-3372020 (8:00–20:30).
From 1 September 2026, individual ferry tickets can be refunded or changed free of charge once a day if you do so within 30 minutes of paying and at least 4 hours before departure. After the departure time, a ticket can be changed once until 24:00 that day, for a fee of 20% (same day) or 30% (another day).
From 12 October 2026, the approach bridge at the Xiamen Ferry Terminal is being rebuilt for about 40 days, so walking routes change. Work may run longer in bad weather; follow the signs and staff on site.
Xiamen airport has a one-stop service centre for foreign visitors that helps with currency exchange, ATMs and setting up mobile payment (airport notice, February 2026).
A new airport, Xiamen Xiang'an International Airport, is being built on Dadeng Island in Xiang'an district. Check whether your ticket shows Gaoqi (T3/T4). Emergency numbers: police 110, fire 119, ambulance 120.
Visa rules, including visa-free entry, change often. Check the latest rules with the Chinese embassy before you travel.