Xiamen Travel Guide 2026: A Comprehensive Trip Planner
Xiamen, formerly known as Amoy, is one of the largest cities on the southeast coast of China. This city in southeastern Fujian Province is also known for its colourful local culture and appetizing foods. The fresh beaches and mellow island lifestyle is what makes Xiamen a paradise for visitors traveling to China.
This article is the ultimate Xiamen travel guide with all the information you’ll need for a well-prepared trip. Read about the top places to visit in Xiamen, popular activities, and fun things to do. We’ll also talk about how many days to spend in Xiamen including some sample Xiamen itineraries. Other information on Xiamen weather, transportation, and accommodation will also be covered.
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- Top Places to Visit in Xiamen
- How to Plan a Xiamen Itinerary
- Best Time to Visit Xiamen
- Xiamen Transportation
- Where to Stay in Xiamen
- Places to Visit Nearby Xiamen
- FAQs on Xiamen Travel
- Visit Xiamen with China Xian Tour
Top Places to Visit in Xiamen
There are many attractions to visit in Xiamen. Whether you’re into historical sites, cultural scenes, or natural sceneries, you’ll find some activities to do.
Gulangyu Island – Gulangyu island is the most well-known scenic spot of Xiamen. There are many historical sites on this beautiful island. Its chill vibe appeals to many travelers who live in urban areas.
- Attraction Tickets: The island itself is open to the public for free. However, you will need to take a ferry that may cost CNY 35-80. Many attractions on the island like Shuzhuang Gardenand Sunlight Rock require entrance fees.
Huandao Road – Also known as Island Ring Road, Huandao Road is exactly as the name suggests, a circular scenic road hugging the coast of Gulangyu Island. Cycling along the Huandao Road is among the best things to do in Xiamen for visitors.
- Attraction Tickets: free
Xiamen Botanical Garden – Thanks to the warm climate of Xiamen, the city is home to one of the most beautiful botanical gardens of China. It’s a great spot for taking a walk outside, seeing the wonderful collection of plant lives including bamboos, palm trees, magnolia, and peony.
- Attraction Tickets: CNY 30
South Putuo Temple – South Putuo Temple is a famous Buddhist temple of China and the largest temple in Xiamen. To get in touch with local spirituality, architecture and size, it is absolutely worth a visit.
- Attraction Tickets: free
Xiamen University – Known to have the most beautiful campus in China, Xiamen University sits backed by mountains facing the ocean. There’s a private beach on the campus ground, and the school buildings have an architectural style representative of Xiamen, a mix of traditional Chinese and Western designs.
- Attraction Tickets: free
Hulishan Fortress – Hulishan Fortress is a preserved historic site built in 1894 to defend the city against foreign invasion. You can still see over 50 cannons made in Ming and Qing dynasties.
- Attraction Tickets: CNY 25
How to Plan a Xiamen Itinerary
Here is some advice on how many days to spend in Xiamen. We usually recommend spending 3 days in Xiamen to fully immerse yourself in the vibes of the city. With more time, you should definitely take a day trip to see Fujian Tulous or visit other parts of the province. 2 days may be enough to quickly cover the highlights. On top of what to see and do within different lengths of time, we’ll also give you some sample itineraries to help you plan your Xiamen trip.
1 Day in Xiamen
If you’re stopping over for one day in Xiamen, you should at least visit Gulangyu Island, the most famous destination of the city. You can easily spend the whole day on the island if you enjoy taking things slow. To see more of the city, you can choose a couple more attractions based on your interest to fit into your day. Below is the route for your reference:
South Putuo Temple – Hulishan Fortress – Gulangyu Island (Hi Heaven – Shuzhuang Garden – Piano Museum)
- Recommended 1-Day Tour in Xiamen: One Day Xiamen City Sightseeing and Gulangyu Island Tour
2 Days in Xiamen
With two days in Xiamen, you can either stay in the city, walk around to explore shops and local eateries or spend one of the two days to see a famous Fujian Tulou cluster. They are traditional residential complexes built by the Hakka people, some of the most amazing sights to see when traveling to Fujian.
Day 1: South Putuo Temple – Hulishan Fortress – Gulangyu Island – Zhongshan Road
Day 2: Hongkeng Tulou Complex (2.5 hours from Xiamen)
- Recommended 2-Day Tour in Xiamen: 2 Days Xiamen Sightseeing with Tulou
3 Days in Xiamen
If you have 3 days in Xiamen, you can visit multiple Tulous, ones further away from the city like Tianluokeng Tulou Complex. Or you can spend more time in the city.
- Recommended 3-Day Tour in Xiamen: 3 Days Best Xiamen Leisure Tour
Day 1: South Putuo Temple – Xiamen Botanical Garden
Day 2: Hongkeng Tulou Complex
Day 3: Gulangyu Island
Read more about our Xiamen Tour Itineraries
Best Time to Visit Xiamen
Standing on the southeastern coast of China, Xiamen has a warm and humid climate all year round. Spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit Xiamen. It will be warm but not hot. Expect mostly clear weather, plenty of sunshine, and gorgeous views of Gulangyu island and the city. You can enjoy all that, embrace outdoor life, and ferry to the island.
Summer is the hottest season in Xiamen and with all the humidity. Plus, the peak season for tourism in China takes place during this time of the year as all of the students are out of school and many people take summer holidays. In the winter, the daytime temperatures will probably not be too cold, while, no matter what, natural sceneries won’t be as great as in spring or autumn. But this is the low season for tourism, so flights and accommodations will be cheapest.
Read more about Fujian Weather
Xiamen Transportation
Xiamen transportation is very convenient since it is a popular tourist city. You’ll have many options during your stay there.
How to Get to Xiamen
- By Flight
The main airport in Xiamen is Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN). It has direct flights to and from most major cities in China like Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Guangzhou. There are also a few routes connecting other Asian countries including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. If there’s no direct flight from your home country, it is common for visitors to take a flight to a gateway city in China first. Then transfer for a flight to Xiamen.
- By Train
If you’re already in or flew to a nearby city like Guangzhou or Shenzhen to have the flights to Xiamen, a high speed train would be easier than flying to Xiamen. It’s about 3 hours from those two cities. You can check for trains with a serial number beginning with G or D to Xiamen or Xiamen North Railway Station.
How to Get Around in Xiamen
- By Metro
Xiamen currently has 3 lines covering the main island area. Line 1 connects the city airport. It also has a section running above water which has attracted a lot of people because it is reminiscent of the scene in Spirited Away. The metro is the cheapest and most convenient way of getting around the city area.
- By Taxi
If you’re going where the metro isn’t reaching in Xiamen, taking a taxi might be the best idea. With DiDi and other ride hailing apps, you can request a ride wherever they reach you, at almost any time. They’re quite cheap compared to what taxi fares are like elsewhere. Catching one is also a good plan if you’ve grown tired after walking long distances or being out in the heat.
- Biking
Biking is a great way to explore the city when the weather is nice, especially on Gulangyu Island. Feel the island breeze on you as you go past the beach, historic buildings, and beautiful greeneries. There’s a very convenient bike-sharing service in China. You’ll find public bikes by the street. Simply scan the QR code on a bike with WeChat or Alipay. You can rent it for a very cheap price.
- Walking
Walking is also a great option to get to know the city and its culture. Gulangyu Island, Zhongshan Road, and Shapowei Art District are all great places for taking a walk. You can stop by the shops that interest you. Try some local street snacks.
- Ferry to Gulangyu Island
To get to Gulangyu Island from Xiamen city area, you’ll have to take a ferry ride. There are four ferry terminals in Xiamen and two terminals on Gulangyu Island. Depending on your location in the city, you can depart from East Ferry Passenger Terminal, Xiamen First Ferry Terminal, Songyu Passenger Ferry Terminal, or Xiamen Ferry Terminal. You’ll disembark at Sanqiutian Ferry Terminal or Neicuo’ao Ferry Terminal.
The Sanqiutian terminal is recommended for visitors because it is located closer to the scenic spots on the island. Neicuo’ao is closer to the residential area. Each terminal as slightly different operating hours and frequency of service. Services generally start around 7am till 5 or 6pm with a couple of ferries per hour. Tickets are mostly CNY 35. The ferry ride to Gulangyu Island will last 10-20 minutes.
Read more about Fujian Transportation
Where to Stay in Xiamen
The most popular area to stay in Xiamen is near Zhongshan Road. It’s the busiest area with shopping districts, lots of restaurants, and metro stations. You may also choose somewhere close to the terminals.
If you are keen on a relaxing holiday, you can stay on Gulangyu Island near Huandao Road. It boasts good view of the sea and is near the beaches. Family holidays and couples can consider this location.
Places to Visit Nearby Xiamen
Fujian Tulous:
- Tianluokeng Tulou Complex
- Hongkeng Tulou Complex
Nearby Destinations:
FAQs on Xiamen Travel
Do I need a visa to enter Xiamen?
Generally, you will need a visa to travel to Xiamen or most places in China. However, there are some visa-free travel policies in place. You can check if you meet the requirements before applying for a Chinese visa.
Is Xiamen worth visiting?
Yes, Xiamen is a beautiful coastal city in southeastern China. It has a unique culture and vibe that you won’t experience anywhere else.
How many days should I spend in Xiamen?
We usually recommend spending 3-4 days in Xiamen. If you want to visit other parts of Fujian, you can plan for 5-8 days.
Visit Xiamen with China Xian Tour
If you’re in the process of planning a Xiamen tour, you can contact us for help. China Xian Tour can help you customize the ideal itinerary. Just let us know what you want to see and do in Xiamen. We can help you arrange private transportation, attraction and ferry tickets, as well as other logistical matters.
