Overview
Xiamen is a garden city on the sea. The colonial villas and piano music of Gulangyu, the blue water and sky of the Ring Island Road, the indie shops of Zengcuoan and the youthful buzz of Xiamen University have made it one of China’s favourite destinations for young travellers.
Good for: creatives, couples, families, coffee lovers.
Getting there & around
- High-speed rail: Fuzhou → Xiamen 1.5 h; Shenzhen → Xiamen 3 h; Shanghai → Xiamen 5 h. Stations: Xiamen / Xiamen North.
- Air: Xiamen Gaoqi Airport; Metro Line 1 reaches the city.
- In town: 3 metro lines plus buses and BRT; taxis are inexpensive.
Where to stay
| Area | Character | Reference price |
|---|---|---|
| Zhongshan Road / Lujiang Dao | Old town + sea views | ¥400–1000 |
| Gulangyu | Stay on the island, slow living | ¥300–800 (guesthouses) |
| Zengcuoan / Ring Island Road | Creative + sea views | ¥300–700 |
| Sibei / Huli | Local residential | ¥250–500 |
Eat
| Dish | Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Satay noodles (shacha mian) | Xiamen’s soul food | ¥15–30 |
| Oyster omelette (haili jian) | ¥15–25 | |
| Tusundong | Sea-worm jelly (collagen) | ¥10–20 |
| Ginger duck (jiangmu ya) | Minnan specialty | ¥50–80 |
| Peanut soup | e.g. Huangzehe | ¥8–15 |
| Savoury rice dumpling (shaorou zong) | Minnan style | ¥10–20 |
See & do
| Sight | Ticket | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulangyu | Ferry ¥35 (return) | Half–full day | Colonial architecture + piano museum + Sunlight Rock; buy ferry tickets in advance |
| Xiamen University | Free (book ahead) | 1–2 h | “China’s most beautiful campus”; Furong Tunnel murals |
| Nanputuo Temple | Free | 1 h | Minnan Buddhist site |
| Zengcuoan | Free | 1–2 h | Creative fishing village (now commercial) |
| Ring Island Road | Free | 1–2 h | The best stretch for cycling |
| Shapowei | Free | 1–2 h | Harbour + design shops + coffee |
| Botanical Garden | ¥40 | 2 h | The succulent zone is photogenic |
Practical tips
- Gulangyu ferry: book ahead on the official WeChat account (3–5 days in peak season); Xiamen–Gu Cruise Centre → Sanqiutian Pier.
- Xiamen University requires a reservation (WeChat “U厦大”); easier on weekends and in summer holidays.
- Satay noodles to try: Yuehua, Wutang.
- Xiamen rewards slow wandering — rushing between sights misses the point.