Xiamen is a beautiful coastal city with fresh air and pleasant sunshine. It has elegant and clean Xiamen University, leisurely Gulangyu Island, and delicious seafood and local snacks. It's an ideal place to escape from busy life and slow down. Also, there are nearby places are worth extending your tour to, such as Wuyi Mountain and the Hakka Earthen Buildings.
See our suggestions to help you plan your Xiamen Tour.
144-Hour (6-Day) Visa-Free Transit in Xiamen
Travelers from 53 countries including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand can visit Xiamen for 144 hours without a visa as long as they meet the requirements of the 144-hour visa-free transit policy.
Best Time to Visit
- March–May, September–October
March to May and September to October are the most suitable two periods to tour Xiamen. The weather is pleasant (not too hot) and you can avoid the Chinese students' summer holiday (July and August). But do avoid visiting in the first weeks of May and October, as these are China's hectic "golden tourist weeks".
See Xiamen Weather (by month) and China's Public Holidays to avoid crowded times.
Must-See Places
Xiamen Island Ring RoadXiamen city -the Island Ring Road, South Putuo Temple
- Time suggested: 1 day
Huan dao ('Round Island') Road is a nice place on Xiamen Island for you to have a leisurely time at the seaside. You can have a walk along the wooden broad walk, or take a bike ride to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Nanputuo Temple is a popular temple among pilgrims, and it's free to visit. You can climb up the hill behind the temple to get a great view of Xiamen.
See more things to do in Xiamen.
Gulangyu Island-Pianos and Island Scenery
Shuzhuang Garden, Gulangyu Island- Time suggested: 1 day
Gulangyu Island is about a 10-minute ferry ride from Xiamen city. This is a nice place for you to slow down and enjoy seafood. It's called "The Island of Pianos" because there is a piano and an organ museum on the island. You will be taken aback by the amazing collections of old organs and pianos.
See more things to do on Gulangyu Island.
Fujian Tulou-Earthen Buildings and Hakka Culture
- Time suggested:1 day
Tulou (土楼 Earthen Buildings) are special and charming, different from anything you have ever seen in other countries. The beautiful, ring-shaped buildings attract many visitors from home and abroad. The quiet farming valleys and the simple local people make the man ideal place to enjoy countryside life.
Read more about Fujian Tulou.
The Wuyi Mountains
The Wuyi Mountains- Time suggested:2 day
The Wuyi Mountains are well known for spectacular canyons and clear creeks. There are many ancient plant species and wild animals.This pollution-free place attracts many visitors to enjoy a scenic weekend. It's a good place for hiking, boating, and bird watching.
Find out more about the Wuyi Mountains.
Tour Extension- the Xiapu Mudflats
If you want to see more in your Fujian tour, you can extend your trip to Xiapu, a beautiful countryside and photography destination. If you are a photography lover, you would probably like to spend several daysthere to record the beautiful scenery.
Read more about Xiapu's Mudflats.
How to Get to Xiamen
Xiamen has a convenient intercity air, train, and coach transport. You can get to Xiamen easily from major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong. See the following table for journey times from major cities to Xiamen.
| To Xiamen from: | Beijing | Shanghai | Shenzhen | Guangzhou | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By air | 2h 50m | 1h 30m | 1h 10m | 1h 20m | 1h |
| By high-speed train | / | 7h | 4h | 4h 21m | / |
| By coach | / | / | 8h | 10h | / |
And it's quite easy to get to Fujian attractions from Xiamen, see more details on Xiamen Transport.
Where to Stay in Xiamen
Zhongshan RoadIn Xiamen:Xiamen city center has many star-rated hotels for you to choose from and we suggested you to stay near Zhongshan Road, which is close to the local snack street and shopping street.
On Gulangyu Island: the island is quite small, so you can spend a night at boutique hotel or return to Xiamen city center.
At the tulou areas: there are a few star-rated hotels near the Yongding Tulou, but you might prefer the unique experience of staying at the local earthen building hostels.
Around Mount Wuyi: It's more convenient to stay at the scenic area than in Wuyishan city. There are many hotels in the scenic area.
Visiting Xiamen for 6 Days Visa-Free
You can stay in Xiamen for 6 days without a visa on international transit via Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and its cruise ports, but you can't travel outside the city area on the policy, e.g. to the tulou areas or Mt. Wuyi. See more on Xiamen 144-Hour Visa-Free Travel.
Recommended Xiamen Tours
TulouIf you are planning a Xiamen tour, please see our popular tours below for inspiration:
- 5-Day Xiamen, Tulou, and Wuyi Mountains Tour - Cultural and Scenic Tour
- 3-Day Xiamen Essence and In-Depth Fujian Tulou Tour - Relaxed Weekend Tour
- 9-day Gulangyu Island, YongdingTulou, and XiapuPhotography Tour - For Photography Lovers
Not interested in the above tours? Our tours can be tailor-made. Just tell us your interests and requirements, and we will create a perfect Xiamen tour for you.