Plan your Xiamen Tour? Walking along Zhongshan Pedestrian Street(中山路步行街) in Xiamen is worth your valuable time for your short trip to Xiamen.
Most visitors would come to Zhongshan Walking Street either before or after going to Gulangyu Island since the west starting point of Zhongshan Road is just across the ferry terminal to Gulangyu Island ( Kinder reminder: now the wharf is only for evening ferry; for daytime ferry you should go to Xiamen International Cruise Terminal).
Avoid going to the Zhongshan Walking Street on weekends or China holidays. Zhongshan Road is bright and alive at night with different colours. Zhongshan Road is teeming with shops and street vendors. Zhongshan Road is more than just a commercial street, it is a leisure, entertainment and food center in Xiamen.
Over 200 shops lines up the street with clear chain store outlets and trinket shops. Most of the buildings along the Zhongshan Road are a combination of Victoria-era and Chinese traditional architectures, a kind of two-storey buildings known as “Qi Lou” (riding across buildings). Qi Lou is designed both for commerce and living.
Try the local favor – seaworms in jellyfish, Huang Zehe Peanut Soup Restaurant easily found on the street. No traffic and no smoking for the whole street, which looks clean and tidy. Zhongshan Walking Street is a must see attraction after or before you visit Gulangyu Island.
Lujiang Harbourview Hotel is just opposite to Xiamen Ferry Terminal ( offering evening ferry to Gulangyu Island) and the west starting point of Zhongshan Road. Lujiang Hotel offers the dim sum and some nice food with excellent views of the city and Gulangyu Island.
Lujiang Harbourview Hotel is the west starting point of Zhongshan Road
The west starting point of Zhongshan Walking Street.
The west starting point of Zhongshan Walking Street
The connected 4-storey Qi Lou Buildings look clean and bright.
The 4-storey Qi Lou Buildings look clean and bright
Zhongshan Road is full of snack carts.
Zhongshan Road is full of snack carts
Many food outlets placed outside the shops lined up on both sides of Zhongshan Road.
Many food outlets placed outside the shops lined up on both sides of Zhongshan Road.
Some snacks imitating western food are sold in snack carts.
Some snacks imitating western food are sold in snack carts
Open-air Cafe and coffee
Open-air Cafe and coffee
You even could find the sugar-covered hawthorn. The Vistoria-era buildings along the Zhongshan Street.
The Vistoria-era buildings along the Zhongshan Street
The western-style Zhongshan Street resembles some streets in London or Paris.
The western-style Zhongshan Street resembles some streets in London or Paris.
The white 3-storey buildings extends your world.
he white 3-storey buildings extends your world.
Zhongshan Road is bright and alive at night
Zhongshan Road is bright and alive at night
Tip：Xiamen Guided Tours
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself Xiamen tour and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Xiamen:
Plan your Xiamen tour? We have listed the top 10 attractions in Xiamen, which may help you plan your short trip to Xiamen. Xiamen is a coastal city in Fujian Province of southeastern China.
Xiamen Tourist Map
Xiamen and the surrounding countryside are famous for being an ancestral home to overseas Chinese. Xiamen provides spectacular scenery and pleasant tree-lined beaches. The most attractive place should be the Gulangyu Island.
Xiamen is also an ideal springboard to explore the Hakka earth rammed buildings known as Tulou ( 土楼）in Chinese. Check out Fujian Tulou Tourfor more travel information.
No. 01: Gulangyu Island 鼓浪屿
Gulangyu, or “Drum Wave Islet”, is a car free island off the coast of Xiamen City, which is quite small and is across from the ferry terminal on Xiamen Island near Xiamen University and Zhongshan Road.
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: Free ( walking around the island ) Opening Hours: the whole day How to get there: Visitors can reach it by ferry from Xiamen Island in about 5 minutes.
No. 02 Sunlight Rock（on the Gulangyu Island ） 日光岩(鼓浪屿)
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
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 60 Opening Hours: 07:00-20:45 How to get there: take a boat from the ferry terminal just across the commercial Zhongshan Road.
No. 03: Zhongshan Road in Xiamen 厦门中山路
Walking along Zhongshan Pedestrian Street(中山路步行街) in Xiamen is worth your valuable time for your short trip to Xiamen. Most visitors would come to Zhongshan Walking Street either before or after going to Gulangyu Island since the west starting point of Zhongshan Road is just across the ferry terminal.
Avoid going to the Zhongshan Walking Street on weekends or China holidays. Zhongshan Road is bright and alive at night with different colours. Zhongshan Road is teeming with shops and street vendors. Zhongshan Road is more than just a commercial street, it is a leisure, entertainment and food center in Xiamen.
Over 200 shops lines up the street with clear chain store outlets and trinket shops. Most of the buildings along the Zhongshan Road are a combination of Victoria-era and Chinese traditional architectures, a kind of two-storey buildings known as “Qi Lou” (riding across buildings). Qi Lou is designed both for commerce and living.
No. 04: Island Ring Road in Xiamen 厦门环岛路
Xiamen Island Ring Road is a 4-6 lane seaside road totally 43km in length, a green belt that offers tourists a perfect place to bike along beautiful seashores.
The best part of the island ring road starts from the Baicheng Beach from Xiamen University to the Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Center, a 10km ring road from south to the east.
You may rent a bike or tandem to cycle the 10km island ring for about 2 hours.You also can visit some interesting sights like Hulishan Fortress, parks along the ring road and walkway boards by the sea.
If you have strong legs, you can walk the 10km highlight of the island ring road, a paradise for leisure travelers enjoying the blue sky, beach and green belts along the seashores.
Most of the bike rental shops start from 08:00 am and close at 9:00pm. A mountain bike costs about 10 to 15 yuan/hour with a deposit of RMB300. Tandem bicycles are charged at a higher rate.|
No. 05: Hulishan Fortress 胡里山炮台
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 buses 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. 06: Xiamen University 厦门大学
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. 07: Nanputuo Temple 南普陀寺
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. 08: Tsan-tshù-uann 曾厝垵
Tsan-Tshu-Uann is known as the most artistic village in China. It used to be a rustic fishing village, but now it has become a hot cultural and creative village.
The modern and old streets are blended, and there are a lot of unique shops on the street. You can eat while shopping and taking photos, enough for you to spend a whole day.
Cuisine is another label besides literature and art here. The Fifth Street and Eighteen Alleys of Zengcuo 埯 are filled with a wide variety of snacks and fruits that make people’s water flow.
Tsan-tshù-uann at night ( Photo from travel.qunar.com)
It is also a gathering place of characteristic home stays, including traditional courtyards, baroque single-family villas, ancient and unique fishing village houses, and lively and personalized youth hostels.
Tsan-tshù-uann at night belongs to folk songs and bars, where young people talk freely about their ideals. Under the low voice line of folk songs, they drink with emotions and stories to recall the most memorable time
Public Bus information: Take bus 29, 122, 47; Take the airport bus, there is a direct line to Tsan-tshù-uann 曾厝垵.
No. 09: Jimei School Village 集美学村
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.
Jimei School Village at night ( photo from internet)
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 School 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. 10: Xiamen Botanical Garden 厦门园林植物园
Xiamen Botanical Garden is also known as Wanshi Botanical Garden, 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. It is divided into more than 20 botanical zones, cultivating grounds and display rooms for more than tens of thousands of cultivated tropical.
Xiamen Botanical Garden （ Photo from you.ctrip.com）
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 30 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
Tip：Xiamen Guided Tours
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself Xiamen tour and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Xiamen:
We’d like to have the following quick guide to be always updated for the benefit of new visitors visiting Gulangyu Island by ferry. If anybody having used the piece finds necessary updates, please leave a message or feedback. Thanks!
Plan your Xiamen Tour? Gulangyu Island is a picturesque island about 600 meters off the southwest coast of Xiamen City (or exactly Xiamen Island).
ABC of Gulangyu Island
Gulangyu Island is on the top of the Top 10 Attractions in Xiamen. “Gulang” literally means “Drum Waves”, which indicates the sound caused by the waves hitting the reefs and rocks. “Yu” refers to “Island” in Chinese. This island took its present name of Gulangyu Isalnd in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Gulangyu Island started to develop and prospered at late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty. Zheng Chenggong (1624-1662) is a national hero of late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. He and his troops stationed in Gulangyu Island. He and his soldiers fought bravely against the Qing government. He recovered Taiwan Island and from the Dutch invaders.
Gulangyu Island became a treaty port as the result of the Chinese losses in the First Opium War and the Treaty of Nanjing in 1842. 15 countries including Great Britain, France and Japan set up houses and consulates in the international settlement in Gulangyu. Now Gulangyu Island is teeming with Victorian-era style architecture – Villas, churches, and hospitals. Japanese invaders occupied the island began in 1942, and lasted until the end of World War II.
Gulangyu Island takes an area of 1.87 square kilometers with a population of 20,000 residents. Gulangyu Island is now classified as a AAAAA scenic area by the China National Tourism Administration. The local government is in full swing in preparation of applying for UNESCO World Culture Heritage.
How to Get to Gulangyu Island
Go to Xiamen Cruise Port to take a ferry boat to Gulangyu Island. Xiamen Cruise Port is officially known as Xiamen International Cruise Center ( 厦门国际邮轮中心).
The location of the Cruise Port (Red Lettered) for Gulangyu Isalnd
1) Xiamen Airport Shuttle Bus
After taking your checked luggage, then follow the sign to go to T 4 or T 3 to take the shuttle bus taking from Xiamen Airport to Xiamen Cruise Port. Departure Time: ：8:00 8:30 9:00-11:00（ every 20 minutes） 11:15-16:15（every 15 minutes ） Drive Time: about 25 minutes Bus fare: 10 yuan p/p
2) By Taxi
Xiamen Airport – Xiamen Cruise Port : 20 minutes,11 km and 35 yuan Xiamen Downtown – Xiamen Cruise Port: 15 minutes, 4 km and approx. 15 yuan Xiamen Railway Station – Xaimen Cruise Port : 16 minutes, 6 km and approx. 20 yuan Xiamen North Railway Station – Xaimen Cruise Port : 30 minutes, 25 km and approx. 80 yuan
Gulangyu Island Ferry Boat Timetable & Tickets
Ferry fares: 35 yuan ( hard seat ）； 50 yuan ( soft seat); 150 yuan ( including a circular tour )
7:10 7:20
9:50 10:00
12:30 12:40
15:10 15:20
7:30 7:40
10:10 10:20
12:50 13:00
15:30 15:40
7:50 8:00
10:30 10:40
13:10 13:20
15:50 16:00
8:10 8:20
10:50 11:00
13:30 13:40
16:10 16:20
8:30 8:40
11:10 11:20
13:50 14:00
16:30 16:40
8:50 9:00
11:30 11:40
14:10 14:20
16:50 17:00
9:10 9:20
11:50 12:00
14:30 14:40
17:10 17:20
9:30 9:40
12:10 12:20
14:50 15:00
18:30 18:40
Entrance Fees for the Island and Inside Paid Sights
Through Entrance ticket: RMB 100 ( Actually the island itself is free of charge if you don’t go inside the paid attractions in the island).
If you don’t want to buy a through entrance ticket, you may visit the attractions in the Island one by one and pay one by one.
Paid sights on the Gulangyu Island: Sunlight Rock: 60 Yuan Suzhuang Garden: 30 Yuan Bright Moon Park: 15 yuan Organ Museum: 20 yuan International Character Engraving Art Gallery: 10 yuan
Take a ferry-boat and reach Gulangyu Island in five minutes.
We are approaching the Ferry Pier at Gulangyu Island.
We are approaching the Ferry Pier at Gulangyu Island.
Gulangyu Island has beautiful beaches.
Gulangyu Island has beautiful beaches.
The statue of the National Hero – Zheng Chenggong ( Koxinga )
People are playing on the rocks and beaches with the cityscape as the backdrop.
People are playing on the rocks and beaches with the cityscape as the backdrop.
On the top of the Sunlight Rock, the highest place on the Island.
On the top of the Sunlight Rock, the highest place on the Island.
The Lujiang River cuts through Xiamen Island and Gulangyu Island, a sharp contract between the modern buildings and the traditional Victorian-era style architecture.
On the top of the Sunlight Rock, the highest place on the Island
Sun is setting over the mesmerizing Gulangyu Island
Sun is setting over the mesmerising Gulangyu Island
Tip：Xiamen Guided Tours
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself Xiamen tour and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Xiamen:
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