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Xiamen and Gulangyu Island Travel Guide 2026

Fujian's coastal gem — a leafy seaside city with the car-free Gulangyu island, seafood cuisine, and a more relaxed pace than mainland metropolises.

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Xiamen and Gulangyu Island travel photo

TL;DR

Xiamen is the most livable Chinese coastal city and a top weekend escape from Hong Kong and Shanghai. The highlight is Gulangyu Island (鼓浪屿) — a 20-minute ferry ride, no cars, piano museums, colonial-era architecture, and winding lanes. Spend 2–3 days: Day 1 Gulangyu, Day 2 Xiamen University and Nanputuo Temple, Day 3 day trip to the Tulou earthen-walled villages of Fujian (UNESCO). The food is seafood-heavy and lighter than inland Chinese cuisine. Best October–April; summers are hot and typhoon-prone.
Best time to visitOctober–April (cool, dry; avoid July–September typhoon season)
Daily budget$60 (backpacker) / $130 (mid-range) / $380+ (luxury)
CurrencyCNY (¥)
LanguageMandarin and Minnan (Hokkien); English in tourist areas
Time zoneChina Standard Time (UTC+8)
Last updated2026-06-12

How do I get to Gulangyu Island?

Take the ferry from Lundu Pier (轮渡码头) — ¥35 for the regular ferry, ¥80 for a faster tourist ferry. Buy tickets in advance on the WeChat mini-program "厦门轮渡" to skip the queue. The ride takes 20 minutes. Gulangyu is small (2 km²) and walkable in a day. Return ferries run until 11:30pm but skip the late return to avoid long lines.

Should I do a Tulou day trip from Xiamen?

Yes if you have 3+ days. The Fujian Tulou (永定土楼 or 南靖土楼) are massive earthen-walled Hakka family compounds, 200–600 years old, and UNESCO-listed. The closest cluster (Tianluokeng) is 2.5h by bus each way; DIY is cheap but exhausting. Most travelers book a one-day tour (¥400–600 including transport, lunch, and guide).

Top attractions

Gulangyu Island

UNESCO World Heritage site. Car-free island 20 min by ferry from Xiamen. Piano museums, colonial architecture, beach. ¥35 ferry + island ticket ¥90.

Nanputuo Temple

1,000-year-old Buddhist temple at the base of Xiamen University. Free entry. Active worship site, not a museum.

Fujian Tulou (Earthen Buildings)

UNESCO cluster of Hakka earthen-walled villages 2–3h drive from Xiamen. Day trip with tour (¥400–600) or DIY by public bus.

Xiamen University (Xia Da)

One of China's most beautiful campuses. Tunnel of Furong Lake, palm-lined walks. Daytime entry only with passport registration.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I need in Xiamen?
Two days covers Gulangyu plus Xiamen city highlights. Three days adds the Tulou day trip. The city pairs well with Wuyishan (3h by HSR) for a Fujian-focused week.
Is Xiamen good for kids?
Excellent — flat city, safe streets, good seafood, and Gulangyu is car-free. Aquarium (¥80) and the beach on Gulangyu work well for ages 4+.
When is typhoon season?
July–September. Typhoons occasionally cancel ferries to Gulangyu for 1–2 days. Check the China Meteorological Administration website 48h before travel during this window.
Is Gulangyu worth an overnight stay?
Optional. Most visitors do a day trip. Overnight lets you see the island after the day-trippers leave (5pm onward the lanes empty) and is more atmospheric but doubles your hotel budget.

References

  1. Xiamen Tourism
  2. Fujian Tulou UNESCO
  3. Gulangyu Ferry booking

Written by

NihaoVisit Editorial Team

Travel research team · Regular policy and price audits

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