Coastal cities · 18 cities

Xiamen Travel Guide: Gulangyu, Island Ring Road & How to Book Ferry Tickets

Sea breeze, arcaded streets and a car-free piano island

Xiamen is Fujian's easiest seaside city: a car-free island, Gulangyu, is linked to the mainland by ferry, the Island Ring Road runs from beach to fishing village, and the arcades of the old town shelter shacha noodles and oyster omelettes. The city is compact and the metro is clean, so two and a half days covers both coast and town.

Reviewed 2026-09-12

At a glance

Best time: March–May and October–December (July–September is typhoon season)
How long: 2–3 days
Getting there: Gaoqi International (XMN); Xiamen / Xiamen North rail stations
Getting around: Metro 1/2/3 plus the BRT cover the island; Gulangyu is reached by ferry only — no cars

What to see and do

Gulangyu Island Book ahead

Colonial villas, old mansions and a piano museum packed onto 1.9 km² with no motor vehicles at all — you walk everywhere.

TipClimb Sunlight Rock first for the whole-island view, then take the evening ferry back for the city skyline; the lanes have no street signs, so following the crowd usually works.

CostFerry plus a separate island ticket
Island Ring Road & Zengcuoan Walk-in

One of China's best-known coastal cycleways — sea on one side, rocks and fishing villages on the other, ending at Zengcuoan's food lanes.

TipRent a shared bike at White City Beach and ride east to avoid the midday sun; Zengcuoan is crowded, so duck into the side lanes for better stalls.

CostFree
Nanputuo Temple & Xiamen University Book ahead

Nanputuo sits under Five Old Men Peak and is famous for vegetarian food, while the neighbouring university's red-brick halls and Fuyong Tunnel are the most photogenic campus in town.

TipThe two are next door — allow half a day. Campus visitor numbers are capped, so check the current official notice before planning.

CostTemple free

Official site ↗
Eighth Market & the old town Walk-in

The Eighth Market is where locals actually buy fish and vegetables, next to the arcaded shopping street and the Shapowei art district.

TipThe market is liveliest in the morning and you can buy seafood and have it cooked; Zhongshan Road is better for a walk after dark.

CostFree

What to eat

Shacha noodles Peanut-based shacha broth with toppings you pick — a Xiamen breakfast
Oyster omelette Small oysters in a sweet-potato starch batter, fried crisp with sweet chilli sauce
Tu sun dong / peanut soup A savoury seafood jelly with mustard and soy, finished with sweet peanut soup

Booking & tickets

🎹 Gulangyu: the ferry and getting on the island

Gulangyu has no cars and does not allow private vehicles, so visitors reach it by scheduled ferry from designated piers. Tickets are real-name and sold per departure; a passport works for both registration and boarding.

What you need to know

Daytime visitors leave from the Xiagu (Dongdu Cruise) pier; late-evening departures switch to the Lundu pier — check the official timetable, and do not mix the two up
Ferry tickets are real-name. Book with your passport and pick a departure; the return leg is valid all day on any boat
Core sights on the island (Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden, Haoyue Garden) sell a separate combined ticket, online or on site
Tickets are tight around holidays and the summer break — lock in a departure 1–3 days ahead. Ferries can be suspended in typhoon season, so check on the day

How to book

Official Xiamen ferry platform xmferry.com Passport accepted
Register with your passport number → choose pier and departure → pay; scan your passport to board
Official 「厦门轮渡」 WeChat account Passport accepted
Same ticket pool as the website, with same-day availability and timetables

Sources

🛕 Nanputuo Temple & Xiamen University

Nanputuo is free but requires a real-name reservation to enter; the neighbouring university caps visitor numbers and requires booking under its current published rules.

What you need to know

Nanputuo is free and needs an online real-name reservation; dress modestly for the temple
Campus visits run on an official reservation quota that changes with the season
The two are adjacent — half a day covers both, and weekends and holidays are busiest
The Island Ring Road and White City Beach are right there if you want to cycle afterwards

How to book

Official Nanputuo reservation channel Passport accepted
Real-name reservation; a passport can be used to register
Official Xiamen University visitor booking Passport accepted
Quota released under the university's published notice, book ahead

Sources

ℹ️ Xiamen booking rules in general

Booking works very differently by sight: Gulangyu is all about the ferry slot, temples and campuses run on reservations, and the coast and old town are mostly free.

What you need to know

Book the Gulangyu ferry before planning anything else — it sets your arrival time, while island sights can be bought on the day
Metro and BRT cover the airport, rail stations and the main districts; tap in with a QR code
Ferries can be suspended during typhoon season — check the day's notice before setting out
Passports work in the official ferry and reservation systems; where a system only accepts ID cards, use the on-site service window

Sources

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