Xiamen travel guide

Xiamen has well-developed land, sea and air connections, so there are many ways to reach the city.

Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport is the fourth-largest international air gateway in China, after Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. It has flights to many major cities on the mainland as well as Hong Kong and Macau. International routes serve destinations including Bangkok, Singapore, Manila, Osaka, Seoul and Kuala Lumpur.

Xiamen was once connected to the outside world by only one railway, the Yingtan–Xiamen Line. Later, the Fuzhou–Xiamen, Longyan–Xiamen, Xiamen–Shenzhen and Hefei–Fuzhou high-speed lines opened one after another, making Xiamen an important transport hub on the southeast coast. Passenger trains depart for Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Hefei, Nanchang, Yingtan, Xi'an, Chongqing, Fuzhou and other cities.

Xiamen's road network is extensive. Long-distance coaches run not only to destinations across Fujian Province but also north to Hunan, Hubei, Anhui and Zhejiang, and south to Hong Kong and to Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Shantou in Guangdong. Xiamen's three long-distance bus stations, Songbai, Binhu and Jimei, all operate direct coaches to Shanghai, Nanjing, Hefei, Nanchang, Yingtan, Fuzhou and other cities.

Xiamen Port's domestic routes run south to Shantou, Guangzhou and Hainan Island, and north to Dalian, Tianjin, Qingdao, Yantai, Nanjing, Zhenjiang and Shanghai. International routes reach 167 countries and regions, including North Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Pakistan, Turkey, Kuwait and Morocco. Passenger ferries sail between Xiamen and Hong Kong every week.

Ferries run daily between Xiamen and Kinmen, but at present they are open only to Taiwan compatriots and Taiwan businesspeople, who must present a travel permit for Taiwan (赴台证) or other relevant documents.

Xiamen's city transport relies mainly on buses, double-decker buses, feeder minibuses, taxis and ferries.

Urban buses and double-decker buses are pay-on-board with no conductor. The fare is ¥1 when boarding, charged by distance up to a maximum of ¥3. Feeder minibuses start at ¥1, can be flagged down anywhere, and the fare increases by distance. Air-conditioned buses and buses on the island-loop route cost ¥2. The Xiamen BRT starts at ¥1 and is fast and convenient.

Xiamen Metro Lines 1, 2 and 3 are now open.

Typhoon season in Xiamen is around August each year, so if you visit at this time, check weather updates closely. Typhoons can cause flight cancellations and the closure of some coastal attractions, and the heavy rain they bring can even trigger mudslides in mountain areas.

Bicycle rental in Xiamen is concentrated near the Baicheng (White City) area of Xiamen University and along the stretch from Hulishan to Zhenzhu Bay. A deposit of about ¥100 is usually required. Single bikes generally cost ¥10 per hour and tandem bikes ¥15 per hour. On the Xiamen Island Ring Road, there are toll stations charging ¥5 for cyclists. Keep your ticket stub, as tickets are checked along the way. Walking does not incur the toll.

Apart from major stations, bus stops on the same route in Xiamen do not always correspond between the two directions, so when returning, be sure to ask where your stop is.

Taxis in Xiamen rarely take unnecessary detours, possibly because complaints are easy to lodge (0592-5615610). In addition, every taxi in Xiamen is fitted with satellite positioning, so afterwards you can present your receipt and ask the traffic authority to look up the vehicle's route and confirm whether it took a detour. To help prevent detours, tell the driver at the start of the journey that you want a receipt.

After exiting the high-speed rail station, you can take a Jinlong coach directly to the airport. The journey takes only 20 minutes and costs ¥10, which is very convenient.

1. Feeder minibuses are sky blue and will stop wherever you flag them down.

2. Xiamen has plenty of taxis in six colours (blue, green, yellow, purple, rose red and orange), each representing one of the city's six taxi companies. Taxis start at ¥10 for the first 3 km, then ¥2 per km. For the portion of a single trip beyond 8 km, a 50% empty-return surcharge is added.

3. Ferries run between the city and Gulangyu. Buy your ticket when you depart. The resident fare is ¥8, while tourists pay ¥35 or ¥50 depending on the pier. Tickets are checked on the return trip.

4. You can also rent a car in Xiamen, with options for long-term or short-term rental, with or without a driver.

Fujian cuisine is one of China's Eight Major Cuisines, and Xiamen cuisine is of course a leading representative of it. Fujian dishes are mainly steamed, pan-fried, stir-fried, quick-fried, deep-fried or braised. The flavours are light, fresh and crisp, with a slight touch of spice. Seafood, medicinal herbal dishes and vegetarian food are must-tries in Xiamen.

The Zhonggu Cable Car runs for more than 1,000 metres and offers the only true moving viewing platform in the air over Xiamen. From above, you can look down on the beauty of the Botanical Garden, take in panoramic views of Gulangyu, and gaze into the distance at the Taiwanese islets known as Sandan, Sidan and Wudan.

Among the vegetarian dishes of Putuo, the most famous is “Half-Moon Sinking Fragrance” (半月沉香). It is said the dish was originally called “Angelica and Gluten Soup.” After tasting it, the renowned writer Guo Moruo composed a poem on the spot: “Half a moon sinks to the bottom of the river; a thousand peaks enter the eye's hollow.” People then renamed the dish “Half-Moon Sinking Fragrance.”

Xiamen's signature specialties include Ajizai pie (many varieties), golden meat floss, seafood, dried fruit, and tea (oolong). It's best to compare several shops before buying.

Duck congee for ¥2 a bowl, with a youtiao (fried dough stick) or a marinated egg on the side. Cheap, delicious, and the most common breakfast in Xiamen.

Condiments matter a great deal when eating tusun jelly. Soy sauce, Chinese black vinegar, sweet sauce or chili sauce are essential, and you can add wasabi, satay chili sauce or minced garlic to taste.

1. When buying dried seafood, bargaining is key. Open at around half the asking price and don't be soft-hearted. A final price of about 60% of the asking price is typical.

2. The best dried shrimp is "golden hook" (jin gou). Some shops pass off big-head shrimp as golden hook. If you can't tell the difference, taste a sample before buying. Golden hook has a very fresh, rich flavour; if it doesn't, it isn't the real thing. Your own taste won't lie to you.

3. Gulangyu pies are another good buy, and Wangji Pies are the best. Vegetarian cakes from Nanputuo Temple are also very famous.

Xiamen is one of the cities best suited to independent travel, and a visit should include experiencing Haiyun (the sea's rhythm). Consider staying on Gulangyu or at a hotel near the sea. Hotels range from two to four stars, priced from ¥120 to ¥3,000. National Day and Chinese New Year are peak seasons when rooms are scarce, so it's advisable to book in advance.

Xiamen has a huge variety of snacks. Among the most representative are peanut soup, satay noodles, stir-fried thread noodles, braised pork zongzi, tusun jelly, oyster omelette, mianxian hu (rice noodle soup), chive boxes, fried five-spice rolls, scallion oil cakes, and thin pancakes.

There are two main options for staying in Xiamen. The first is the main island, which is well connected, serves as a key transport hub for entering and leaving Fujian, and is home to the city's main shopping districts and most of its sights. The second is Gulangyu, where rooms typically cost around ¥160. It has beautiful scenery and the freshest seafood.

Xiamen's main shopping streets include Zhongshan Road, Longtou Road on Gulangyu, Xiahe Road, Bailuzhou, and Hubin Middle Road.

Watching the twinkling lights of fishing boats moored in the bay, seen from Gulangyu, Haicang Bridge or the White Castle beach at Xiamen University, is one of the city's favourite night-time pastimes. Strolling along Huandao Road is also wonderfully romantic. You can also take a night cruise on the Lujiang River, with a route linking Yanwu Bridge, Haicang Bridge and the Xinglin Road-and-Rail Bridge. It offers a fresh perspective on Xiamen's dazzling night views, and you'll be captivated by their enchanting brilliance.

Binlang Road has the highest concentration of bars, with well-known spots such as Bujian Bar. Hexiang West Road also has several, and some are along Xidi. The old Laofan bar street at the Convention and Exhibition Center has hardly any crowds; 13K or Heitang are recommended for their excellent atmosphere. In addition, the open-air Eden Bar on Bailuzhou has a musical fountain in the evenings.

Nanhua Road in Xiamen is home to several distinctive bars. The bars and cafés in this area have a rich cultural atmosphere, each with its own character: some are themed around travel, others around humanities and the arts. They are well worth exploring one by one.