Plan your Xiamen tour? We have listed the top 10 attractions in Xiamen, which may assist you planning your short trip to Xiamen.
Xiamen is a coastal city in Fujian Province of southeastern China. Xiamen and the surrounding countryside are famous for being an ancestral home to overseas Chinese. It became one of China’s earliest Special Economic Zones in the 1980s.
Xiamen was recently voted China’s cleanest city, and has many attractions for the tourist. Xiamen and its surrounding countryside provides spectacular scenery and pleasant tree-lined beaches. The most attractive place should be the Gulangyu Island.
No. 01: Gulangyu Island
Gulangyu, or “Drum Wave Islet”, is a car free island off the coast of Xiamen, which is is quite small and is across from the ferry terminal on Xiamen Island near Xiamen University.
Gulangyu Island covers an area of 1.78 square kilometers and stands opposite to Xiamen City across the sea. It is home to about 20,000 people and is a very popular tourist destination. Among the many scenic spots on the island, the most attractive are Sunlight Rock and the Shuzhuang Garden. Gulangyu Island is renowned for its beaches and winding lanes and its varied architecture. The island is on China’s list of National Scenic Spots and also ranks at the top of the list of the ten most-scenic areas in Fujian Province.
Entrance Fee: CNY 100
Opening Hours: the whole day
How to get there: Visitors can reach it by ferry from Xiamen Island in about 5 minutes.
No. 01: Gulangyu Island
Gulangyu, or “Drum Wave Islet”, is a car free island off the coast of Xiamen, which is is quite small and is across from the ferry terminal on Xiamen Island near Xiamen University.
Gulangyu Island covers an area of 1.78 square kilometers and stands opposite to Xiamen City across the sea. It is home to about 20,000 people and is a very popular tourist destination. Among the many scenic spots on the island, the most attractive are Sunlight Rock and the Shuzhuang Garden. Gulangyu Island is renowned for its beaches and winding lanes and its varied architecture. The island is on China’s list of National Scenic Spots and also ranks at the top of the list of the ten most-scenic areas in Fujian Province.
Entrance Fee: CNY 100
Opening Hours: the whole day
How to get there: Visitors can reach it by ferry from Xiamen Island in about 5 minutes.
No. 02: Oversea Chinese Museum
Located at the foot of Fengchao Hill, the Xiamen Overseas Chinese Museum is a comprehensive museum that highlights the history of overseas Chinese, and the only Chinese museum set up by overseas Chinese.
The Oversea Chinese Museum was founded by the Chinese philanthropist Chen Jiageng. It is a building with a building area of more than 3,000 square meters, displaying more than 7000 exhibits. Special exhibitions of the museum include Unearthed Mummies in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolian Folk Relics and Ancient Technological Achievements of Chinese Agriculture, etc.
Entrance Fee: free
Opening Hours: 9:30-16:30
How to get there: take Buses No. 1, 2, 15, 18, 21 or 45 to Bowuguan Station
Located at the foot of Fengchao Hill, the Xiamen Overseas Chinese Museum is a comprehensive museum that highlights the history of overseas Chinese, and the only Chinese museum set up by overseas Chinese.
The Oversea Chinese Museum was founded by the Chinese philanthropist Chen Jiageng. It is a building with a building area of more than 3,000 square meters, displaying more than 7000 exhibits. Special exhibitions of the museum include Unearthed Mummies in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolian Folk Relics and Ancient Technological Achievements of Chinese Agriculture, etc.
Entrance Fee: free
Opening Hours: 9:30-16:30
How to get there: take Buses No. 1, 2, 15, 18, 21 or 45 to Bowuguan Station
No. 03: Nanputuo Temple
The Nanputuo Temple is located on the southeast of Xiamen Island. It is surrounded by the graceful sea and the Wulao Peaks behind the temple.
Nanputuo literally means South Putuo. Putuo referring to the mountain in Zhejiang province. The buildings include Devajara Hall (the Hall of Heavenly Kings), Mahavira Hall (Daxiongbaodian), Dabei Hall (the Hall of Great Compassion) and a Pavilion built in 1936. The monks of Nanputuo are often seen on the nearby busy downtown streets. The Nanputuo Temple is a very famous Buddhist temple founded in the Tang era.
Entrance Fee: CNY 3
Opening Hours: 08:00-20:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 45, 87, 17, 18, 29 or 47 from the downtown area to the Nanputuo Temple
The Nanputuo Temple is located on the southeast of Xiamen Island. It is surrounded by the graceful sea and the Wulao Peaks behind the temple.
Nanputuo literally means South Putuo. Putuo referring to the mountain in Zhejiang province. The buildings include Devajara Hall (the Hall of Heavenly Kings), Mahavira Hall (Daxiongbaodian), Dabei Hall (the Hall of Great Compassion) and a Pavilion built in 1936. The monks of Nanputuo are often seen on the nearby busy downtown streets. The Nanputuo Temple is a very famous Buddhist temple founded in the Tang era.
Entrance Fee: CNY 3
Opening Hours: 08:00-20:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 45, 87, 17, 18, 29 or 47 from the downtown area to the Nanputuo Temple
No. 04: Hulishan Fortress
Hulishan Fortress, which is a spectacular site surrounded by walls made of granite and impressive gates, is located at the southern tip of Xiamen Island.
Hulishan Fortress was built in 1891, occupying an area of 13,000 square meters. Its buildings are distinctively preserved to the military style of the Ming Dynasty and also that of the Qing Dynasty. The fortress is composed of the barracks, a secret tunnel, a tower, a sentry platform, the ammunition depot, the trench, and the castle. .The German-made Krupp Cannon is the largest existing coast cannon of its kind in the world.
Entrance Fee: CNY 25
Opening Hours: 7:30-18:00
How to get there: There are many bses can arrive the Hulishan Fortress, including Buses No. 35, 96, 812, 616, 618, 531, 503, 811, 809, 106, 87, 86, 82, 48, 47, 29, 22, etc.
Hulishan Fortress, which is a spectacular site surrounded by walls made of granite and impressive gates, is located at the southern tip of Xiamen Island.
Hulishan Fortress was built in 1891, occupying an area of 13,000 square meters. Its buildings are distinctively preserved to the military style of the Ming Dynasty and also that of the Qing Dynasty. The fortress is composed of the barracks, a secret tunnel, a tower, a sentry platform, the ammunition depot, the trench, and the castle. .The German-made Krupp Cannon is the largest existing coast cannon of its kind in the world.
Entrance Fee: CNY 25
Opening Hours: 7:30-18:00
How to get there: There are many bses can arrive the Hulishan Fortress, including Buses No. 35, 96, 812, 616, 618, 531, 503, 811, 809, 106, 87, 86, 82, 48, 47, 29, 22, etc.
No. 05: Jimei School Village
On the side of the bank facing north Xiamen Island, stands a small town, Jimei, a famous tourist resort, with beautiful scenery and rich cultural relics.
Jimei School Village was built in 1993 with funds provided by a famous philanthropist and educationalist who was a native of Xiamen named Mr. Tan Kah-kee. Occupying an area of 100,000 sq meters, Jimei School Village has universities, colleges, secondary schools, primary schools and kindergartens with 10,000 students and teachers. Jimei Sclool Village is well-known at home and abroad for its tradition of fine education, and for its excellent facilities.
Entrance Fee: free
Opening Hours: the whole day
How to get there: there are shuttle buses between Xiamen Train Station and Jimei School Village., including Buses No. 18, 50, 52, 54, 56, 66 and 67.
On the side of the bank facing north Xiamen Island, stands a small town, Jimei, a famous tourist resort, with beautiful scenery and rich cultural relics.
Jimei School Village was built in 1993 with funds provided by a famous philanthropist and educationalist who was a native of Xiamen named Mr. Tan Kah-kee. Occupying an area of 100,000 sq meters, Jimei School Village has universities, colleges, secondary schools, primary schools and kindergartens with 10,000 students and teachers. Jimei Sclool Village is well-known at home and abroad for its tradition of fine education, and for its excellent facilities.
Entrance Fee: free
Opening Hours: the whole day
How to get there: there are shuttle buses between Xiamen Train Station and Jimei School Village., including Buses No. 18, 50, 52, 54, 56, 66 and 67.
No. 06: Wanshi Botanical Garden
Wanshi Botanical Garden, also known as the Xiamen Botanical Garden, is a carefully designed botanical garden around Modanyan Reservoir on the northern slope of Shi Mountain in southeast urban area of Xiamen.
Modanyan reservoir was built in 1952 with extension of Wanshi Botanical Garden, which is divided into more than 20 botanical zones, cultivating grounds and display rooms for more than tens of thousands of cultivated tropical. Wanshi Botanical Garden has scenic spots such as the Morning Bell of Heaven, the Reading and Music Playing Cave, the Cloud Locking Stones, the Jade Scepter Rock and the Peace Stone.
Entrance Fee: CNY 40
Opening Hours: 05:00-18:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 3, 18, 19, 21 or 809 and get off at Yizhong Station; or take Bus No. 87 and get off at Zhiwuyuan Station
Wanshi Botanical Garden, also known as the Xiamen Botanical Garden, is a carefully designed botanical garden around Modanyan Reservoir on the northern slope of Shi Mountain in southeast urban area of Xiamen.
Modanyan reservoir was built in 1952 with extension of Wanshi Botanical Garden, which is divided into more than 20 botanical zones, cultivating grounds and display rooms for more than tens of thousands of cultivated tropical. Wanshi Botanical Garden has scenic spots such as the Morning Bell of Heaven, the Reading and Music Playing Cave, the Cloud Locking Stones, the Jade Scepter Rock and the Peace Stone.
Entrance Fee: CNY 40
Opening Hours: 05:00-18:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 3, 18, 19, 21 or 809 and get off at Yizhong Station; or take Bus No. 87 and get off at Zhiwuyuan Station
No. 07: Shuzhuang Garden
Shuzhuang Garden is located on the south of Gulangyu Island, sandwiched between ocean and cliff. It creates infinite space by using a plot of slopes and take in all the sceneries that can be seen around the garden in Xiamen.
Built in 1931, the garden was once a private villa of a Taiwan businessman, then it became a garden park open to the public in the 1950s. The garden can be divided into two parts: the Garden of Hiding the Sea and the Garden of Making-Up Hills.
Entrance Fee: CNY 30
Opening Hours: 06:00-18:30
How to get there: take a boat to Guanhaiyuan Port of Gulangyu Island, then walk for a fet minutes
Shuzhuang Garden is located on the south of Gulangyu Island, sandwiched between ocean and cliff. It creates infinite space by using a plot of slopes and take in all the sceneries that can be seen around the garden in Xiamen.
Built in 1931, the garden was once a private villa of a Taiwan businessman, then it became a garden park open to the public in the 1950s. The garden can be divided into two parts: the Garden of Hiding the Sea and the Garden of Making-Up Hills.
Entrance Fee: CNY 30
Opening Hours: 06:00-18:30
How to get there: take a boat to Guanhaiyuan Port of Gulangyu Island, then walk for a fet minutes
No. 08: Tiger Stream Rock
Tiger Stream Rock, or Huxi Roak, is located at the end of the Huxi Road of Xiamen. It is said that there once lived a tiger in the stone cave, where a spring gurgled its way to the stream. Hence it was named Tiger Stream Rock.
Here cliffs are towering high,with clouds floating around, and old banyan trees stretch their knobbed roots along the quite paths. The most attractive sight is the so called “Moon over Tiger Stream”. The Rock Temple, on the top of the mountain, is said to be built in the Tand Dynasty and renovated in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It was quite large in scale, with all its pavilions halls well decorated with carving and paintings.
Entrance Fee: CNY 40
Opening Hours: 06:00-18:00
How to get there: take Bus No. 17 can get there; or climb the back mountain of Xiamen University
Tiger Stream Rock, or Huxi Roak, is located at the end of the Huxi Road of Xiamen. It is said that there once lived a tiger in the stone cave, where a spring gurgled its way to the stream. Hence it was named Tiger Stream Rock.
Here cliffs are towering high,with clouds floating around, and old banyan trees stretch their knobbed roots along the quite paths. The most attractive sight is the so called “Moon over Tiger Stream”. The Rock Temple, on the top of the mountain, is said to be built in the Tand Dynasty and renovated in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It was quite large in scale, with all its pavilions halls well decorated with carving and paintings.
Entrance Fee: CNY 40
Opening Hours: 06:00-18:00
How to get there: take Bus No. 17 can get there; or climb the back mountain of Xiamen University
No. 09: Xiamen University
Xiamen University, which is one of the comprehensive universities directly affiliated with the Education Ministry, is located in the city of Xiamen in Fujian Province.
Xiamen University was founded in 1921 by Tan Kah Kee, the well-known patriotic overseas Chinese leader. Xiamen University, a picturesque campus nestled between the sea and the “Five Old Men” mountains, is largely considered to be the most beautiful campus in China. There are Luxun memorial Hall and Humanities Museum in Xiamen University.
Entrance Fee: free
Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00
How to get there: You can go there by public bus 1, 15, 18, 20, 29, 45.
Xiamen University, which is one of the comprehensive universities directly affiliated with the Education Ministry, is located in the city of Xiamen in Fujian Province.
Xiamen University was founded in 1921 by Tan Kah Kee, the well-known patriotic overseas Chinese leader. Xiamen University, a picturesque campus nestled between the sea and the “Five Old Men” mountains, is largely considered to be the most beautiful campus in China. There are Luxun memorial Hall and Humanities Museum in Xiamen University.
Entrance Fee: free
Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00
How to get there: You can go there by public bus 1, 15, 18, 20, 29, 45.
No. 10: Sunlight Rock
Sunlight Rock is also known as Dragon Head Hill. As the highest point of Gulangyu Island, Sunlight Rock Scenic Area includes Sunlight Rock and Piano Garden. There is a saying that if you haven’t ascended Sunlight Rock, you haven’t really been to Xiamen.
Perched atop Sunlight Rock is a gigantic stone with a diameter of over 40 meters. Sunlight Rock Temple is one of the four top Buddhist temples in Xiamen. The temple was first built in the Ming Dynasty and was famed far and wide, attracting accomplished monks throughout the dynasties. Connected to Sunlight Rock through the cable car, Piano Garden is another attraction for tourists. There are Hero Boulder, the Aviary and a cinema in the garden.
Entrance Fee: CNY 80
Opening Hours: 07:00-20:45
How to get there: take a boat from Xianmen Port
Sunlight Rock is also known as Dragon Head Hill. As the highest point of Gulangyu Island, Sunlight Rock Scenic Area includes Sunlight Rock and Piano Garden. There is a saying that if you haven’t ascended Sunlight Rock, you haven’t really been to Xiamen.
Perched atop Sunlight Rock is a gigantic stone with a diameter of over 40 meters. Sunlight Rock Temple is one of the four top Buddhist temples in Xiamen. The temple was first built in the Ming Dynasty and was famed far and wide, attracting accomplished monks throughout the dynasties. Connected to Sunlight Rock through the cable car, Piano Garden is another attraction for tourists. There are Hero Boulder, the Aviary and a cinema in the garden.
Entrance Fee: CNY 80
Opening Hours: 07:00-20:45
How to get there: take a boat from Xianmen Port
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Tags: top 10 things to do Xiamen, Top 10 Xiamen Attractions, Top things to do Xiamen, top Xiamen Attractions
