Xiamen (厦门) blends sea breezes, red-brick campuses, and a rhythm that’s equal parts historic Minnan and modern coastal cool. Once a treaty port known as Amoy, it blossomed as a crossroads of trade and music—best felt on car-free Gulangyu Island, famed for its graceful villas and a love affair with pianos.

Today, the city is a canvas of palm-lined boulevards, bikeable waterfronts, and fragrant snack lanes where oyster omelettes sizzle beside bowls of satay noodles. Sunlight Rock views, temple bells at Nanputuo, and murals in Xiamen University’s Furong Tunnel show how art and faith color everyday life.

Practical notes: summers are humid with possible typhoons (July–September), while spring and autumn are breezy and ideal for a coastal itinerary. Cashless payments are ubiquitous; taxis and DiDi are cheap; and the metro covers key hubs. Book Gulangyu ferries and Nanputuo/XMU campus visits in advance on peak weekends/holidays.

Xiamen

Set in Fujian, Xiamen faces Kinmen across the strait and looks inland to the tulou heartlands. The city’s greatest hits include UNESCO-listed Gulangyu, Nanputuo Temple, Hulishan Fortress, and a stunning coastal bikeway along Huandao Road.

Neighborhoods to know: Siming District for Zhongshan Road and the old port; Shapowei Art Zone for atelier cafes and galleries; Zengcuo’an for bohemian lanes and beach sunsets; Jimei for Tan Kah Kee’s campus and Turtle Garden (鳌园).

Where to stay: Browse apartments and villas on VRBO Xiamen or compare hotels on Hotels.com Xiamen. Look near Zhongshan Road or Shapowei for walkability; Zengcuo’an/Huandao for beach vibes; Gulangyu for old-world romance (note: luggage wheels on cobblestones and many stairs).

Getting in: Fly to Xiamen Gaoqi International (XMN)—search fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Typical nonstop times: Shanghai ~2h, Beijing ~2.5–3h, Guangzhou/Shenzhen ~1–1.5h. High-speed rail to Xiamen North is ~5–6.5h from Shanghai and ~2–3h from Fuzhou; check schedules on Trip.com Trains.

Day 1: Arrival, Check-in, and Zhongshan Road Night Bites

Morning: Travel to Xiamen. If you arrive early, grab a restorative coffee at M Stand (chain; reliable espresso) or Seesaw Coffee near the city center.

Afternoon: Check in near Siming/Shapowei. Stretch your legs along the old arcades of Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street (中山路步行街). Duck into Huang Zehe Peanut Soup (黄则和花生汤) for its silky, lightly sweet peanut broth—an old-school local staple.

Evening: Do a street-food crawl: Lianhuan Oyster Omelette (莲欢海蛎煎) for a crisp-edged Minnan classic; 1980 Shaorouzong (1980烧肉粽) for addictive pork-and-peanut zongzi; and Wu Zai Tian Snacks (吴再添小吃) for satay noodles (沙茶面). For dessert, try Ba Ba Po Grass Jelly (八婆婆烧仙草), a beloved Fujian/Taiwan-style bowl with add-ins.

Day 2: Gulangyu Island — Pianos, Gardens, and Villa Lanes

Morning: Book the tourist ferry from the Xiamen International Cruise Center to Gulangyu (20 minutes; ~¥35–50 round-trip). Start at Shuzhuang Garden (菽庄花园), where sea-lapped pavilions frame postcard views, then step into the Piano Museum to hear the island’s “music box” story.

Afternoon: Climb Sunlight Rock (日光岩) for a sweeping harbor panorama, then meander the car-free lanes for preserved villas and photo-friendly doorways. Try a milk tea at Zhang Sanfeng (张三疯奶茶) or tangy yogurt at Pan Xiaolian (潘小莲酸奶).

Evening: Ferry back at dusk. For dinner near the ferry, Lujiang Harbourview’s classic Cantonese–Minnan seafood dining rooms serve steamed local fish and razor clams with garlic. Nightcap in Shapowei Art Zone—cafes and quiet bars line the canal-front warehouses, great for people-watching.

Day 3: Nanputuo Temple, Xiamen University, and Shapowei Art Zone

Morning: Visit Nanputuo Temple (南普陀寺), a serene Buddhist complex backed by boulder-studded hills; arrive by 8:30 a.m. for incense and chants. Walk next door into Xiamen University—its red-brick lecture halls and lakes feel like a campus park. Furong Tunnel’s student murals make a colorful detour (ID/reservations may be required on peak days).

Afternoon: Head to Hulishan Fortress (胡里山炮台), home to a massive 19th‑century Krupp coastal gun and sea-facing ramparts. Lunch on satay noodles at Lao Xiamen Shacha Mian (老厦门沙茶面; rich broth, customizable toppings) or fish balls at Lin Ji (林记鱼丸).

Evening: Wander Shapowei Art Zone’s galleries and design shops. Dinner at Yuji Fish Head Casserole (渔季鱼头煲) for a hearty Fujian-style hotpot, or go casual with oyster thin noodles (蚵仔面线) from a stall. Grab gelato and stroll the harbor lights.

Day 4: Huandao Road Coastal Bike Ride and Zengcuo’an Village

Morning: Rent bikes along Huandao Road (环岛路)—expect ¥20–40 for a half day from storefronts; dockless app bikes are everywhere too. Pedal from Baicheng Beach past boardwalks and wind-bent palms, stopping at viewing decks for sea photos.

Afternoon: Park at Zengcuo’an (曾厝垵), a once-sleepy fishing village turned artsy warren of snack alleys and indie boutiques. Lunch on fish-skin dumplings (鱼皮饺) and seaweed peanut rolls; coffee at a lane-side roaster or Seesaw for a cold brew break.

Evening: Sunset at Zengcuo’an or Huangcuo Beach—both are easy walk-ups with soft sand. Dine on simple, ultra-fresh seafood: choose your clams, shrimp, and greens and have them stir-fried with garlic and basil, then end with mango shaved ice from a Taiwanese-style dessert shop.

Day 5: Full-Day Fujian Tulou Tour (Nanjing or Yongding)

Join a small-group or private day tour to the UNESCO-listed Hakka tulou clusters in Nanjing or Yongding (2.5–3 hours each way by car/van). You’ll walk inside centuries-old, earth-packed circular and square fort-homes—places like Tianluokeng (田螺坑), Yuchang Lou (裕昌楼; the “tilted” one), and Hegui Lou (和贵楼) rising out of tea hills and bamboo groves.

Expect tea tastings, village lanes, and a farmhouse lunch of Hakka braises, wild greens, and taro. Tours usually run 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; budget about ¥500–900 per person ($70–125) depending on group size and inclusions. Wear comfy shoes; steps can be uneven.

Day 6: Jimei School Village, Turtle Garden, and Hot Springs

Morning: Metro or taxi to Jimei School Village (集美学村), founded by philanthropist Tan Kah Kee. Stroll past hybrid Minnan–Western facades and visit the Tan Kah Kee Memorial Hall if open. Coffee near the scenic lakefront before continuing.

Afternoon: Explore Turtle Garden (鳌园), a sculptural park of stone carvings and patriotic reliefs that doubles as a contemplative sea walk. For lunch, try a Jimei snack alley for braised duck rice (卤鸭饭) and wonton soups.

Evening: Ease into the evening at Riyuegu Hot Springs (日月谷温泉; reservations recommended), a landscaped garden complex with multiple pools and herbal baths. Return to the city for a late seafood congee and pickled vegetables to finish light.

Day 7: Wanshi Botanical Garden, Railroad Culture Park, and Departure

Morning: Wanshi Botanical Garden (万石植物园) unfolds as a granite-and-green oasis with cactus zones, lily ponds, and boulder trails. Start early to avoid heat. Breakfast beforehand at a local bakery for pineapple buns and soy milk.

Afternoon: Walk or cycle a stretch of the Railroad Culture Park (铁路文化公园), a leafy greenway repurposing old tracks through tunnels and neighborhoods. Slurp one last bowl of satay noodles or fish-ball soup near Zhongshan Road before heading to the airport or station.

Evening: Depart Xiamen in the late afternoon or evening. For flights and trains, compare times and fares on Trip.com Flights, Kiwi.com, and Trip.com Trains. Airport taxis to Siming typically run ~¥35–60 depending on traffic.

Where to Stay (book first nights now)

• Beach/relaxed: Zengcuo’an or around Huandao Road for sunsets and easy bike access.
• Historic/central: Siming near Zhongshan Road or the ferry for classic arcades and Gulangyu access.
• Island escape: Gulangyu villas for quiet mornings—factor in ferry timings and stairs.

Compare across Hotels.com Xiamen and furnished stays on VRBO Xiamen. Popular picks include high-rise bay-view hotels near the ferry, stylish boutiques in Shapowei, and family-sized apartments by the beach.

Need-to-Know Tips

• Gulangyu ferry: Reserve preferred times, especially weekends/holidays; keep your ID handy.
• XMU/Nanputuo: Check for visitor quotas and bring ID; modest dress is appreciated at temples.
• Weather: Pack sun protection year-round; summer showers roll in fast. Autumn is prime for biking.
• Getting around: Metro and buses are cheap; DiDi/taxis are plentiful. Huandao Road is bike and pedestrian-friendly.
• Souvenirs: Phoenix eye oolong (闽南茶), crunchy peanut candies, fish-bone floss, and delicate piano-themed trinkets from Gulangyu.

In a week, you’ll have sailed to “Piano Island,” traced temple eaves and campus murals, pedaled a sea-bright boulevard, and stepped inside earth-walled Hakka fortresses. Xiamen’s gentle pace and snack-lane aromas linger—making it the kind of coastal city you’ll plan to meet again.