Xiamen 厦门
Xiamen is a breezy island city of colonial-era lanes, Buddhist temples and seafood streets, with car-free Gulangyu a short ferry ride away. First-timers should base in Siming old town, use metro/Didi, and allow 3–4 days.
Sights in Xiamen
Gulangyu Island 鼓浪屿
Sunlight Rock 日光岩
Shuzhuang Garden 菽庄花园
Gulangyu Organ Museum 鼓浪屿风琴博物馆
Nanputuo Temple 南普陀寺
Hulishan Fortress 胡里山炮台
Baicheng Beach 白城沙滩
Zengcuoan Village 曾厝垵
Shapowei 沙坡尾
Xiamen Botanical Garden 厦门园林植物园
Overseas Chinese Museum 华侨博物院
Jiageng Park 嘉庚公园
Huandao Road 环岛路
Yundang Lake 筼筜湖
Bailuzhou Park 白鹭洲公园
Wuyuan Bay 五缘湾
Shimao Straits Towers / Yunshang Xiamen Observation Deck 世茂海峡大厦（云上厦门）
Quanzhou Old City 泉州古城
Yongding Tulou 永定土楼
Xiamen University 厦门大学
Jimei School Village 集美学村
Prices are approximate and hours change. Sights without a page haven't been checked yet.
Where to stay
Zhongshan Road & Siming Old Town 中山路步行街/思明老城
Walkable historic core with arcade streets, local food lanes and easy access to the Gulangyu ferry.
Good for: First-timers, short stays, families
Zengcuoan & Island Ring Road 曾厝垵·环岛路
Beachside village of guesthouses and snack stalls, with easy access to coastal cycling.
Good for: Beach lovers, budget travelers, nightlife
Shapowei & Xiamen University 沙坡尾·厦门大学
Old fishing harbor turned cafe/arts district, next to Xiamen University and Nanputuo Temple.
Good for: Couples, cafe culture, sightseeing
Getting there
Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport 厦门高崎国际机场
Taxi/Didi to Zhongshan Road/Siming old town: 30–45 min, approx ¥45–70; airport shuttle bus to Xiamen Railway Station area: ~30–40 min, approx ¥10.
Xiamen Railway Station 厦门站
Central Siming station, closest to Zhongshan Road; fewer long-distance high-speed services than Xiamen North.
Xiamen North Railway Station 厦门北站
Major high-speed hub in Jimei; Metro Line 1 to downtown takes about 45–55 min, so allow extra time.
Getting around
Metro
Cross-island trips and avoiding traffic
Clean and cheap; use Alipay/WeChat transit QR or buy a single ticket.
Taxi/Didi
Airport runs, late nights, beaches
Use Didi in-app; avoid unofficial drivers at ferry exits and attractions.
Shared bike
Island Ring Road and short coastal hops
Use marked lanes; bikes are not allowed on Gulangyu.
Bus
Cheap local routes
Scan QR or use exact change; routes can be slow in rush hour.
Ferry
Gulangyu Island
Book via the official 厦门轮渡 WeChat; tourists depart from 厦门邮轮中心厦鼓码头, not the old Lujiang pier.
Good to know
- Alipay accepts Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover and Diners cards. Payments under ¥200 carry no Alipay service fee; payments of ¥200 or more carry a 3% fee. Verify your passport in the app to raise limits. Source
- A travel eSIM or home SIM on roaming reaches Google, WhatsApp and Instagram without a VPN; a Chinese SIM or hotel Wi-Fi does not. Keep your home SIM active for SMS codes. Source
- Tourist ferries to Gulangyu leave from 厦门邮轮中心厦鼓码头, not the old Lujiang pier; book via the official 厦门轮渡 WeChat and arrive 30 min early.
- Xiamen University campus entry is limited and usually needs a real-name reservation via its official WeChat; don't rely on touts.
- July–September is typhoon season: ferries and flights can be cancelled at short notice, so build slack into island and coastal plans.
- At Zhongshan Road and ferry exits, ignore drivers or touts selling 'discount tours' or 'free tea'; use Didi or metered taxis.
- For local food, head to the lanes around 八市 (Bashi Market) rather than the main pedestrian street; many stalls close after lunch.
What to eat in Xiamen
沙茶面
shā chá miàn
Satay noodle soup · Rich peanut-sesame broth with seafood or pork toppings.
海蛎煎
hǎi lì jiān
Oyster omelette · Sticky sweet-potato omelette with small oysters.
土笋冻
tǔ sǔn dòng
Sipunculid worm jelly · Cold savory jelly made from marine sipunculids; a local delicacy.
花生汤
huā shēng tāng
Sweet peanut soup · Soft boiled peanuts in sweet broth; sometimes served with egg.
烧肉粽
shāo ròu zòng
Pork zongzi · Sticky-rice parcel with braised pork, mushroom and egg.
面线糊
miàn xiàn hú
Vermicelli thick soup · Silky rice-vermicelli soup often topped with pork or seafood.
姜母鸭
jiāng mǔ yā
Ginger duck · Braised duck with old ginger and sesame oil; warming and rich.
四果汤
sì guǒ tāng
Four-fruit dessert soup · Iced sweet soup with fruit, beans and jelly; popular in summer.
Weather by season
| Months | Day | Night | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar-May | 23 °C | 16 °C | Warm and humid with occasional rain |
| Jun-Aug | 32 °C | 26 °C | Hot, humid and typhoon-prone |
| Sep-Nov | 27 °C | 20 °C | Warm and pleasant, cooling late |
| Dec-Feb | 18 °C | 11 °C | Mild and damp with occasional cold snaps |
Typical averages, not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Xiamen?
Oct–Nov and Mar–Apr
Which sights in Xiamen should I book in advance?
Gulangyu Island, Nanputuo Temple, Xiamen Botanical Garden, Overseas Chinese Museum, Shimao Straits Towers / Yunshang Xiamen Observation Deck.
Which airports serve Xiamen?
Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN).
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