Xiamen

Coastal Charm and Island Adventures

Xiamen is a coastal city in southeastern China known for its mild climate and scenic coastline. The port city has historic buildings, tree-lined streets and a mix of modern architecture with traditional neighborhoods. Local markets sell fresh seafood, tea and handmade crafts. Visitors can explore Gulangyu Island, a car-free area with colonial-era homes and gardens. Xiamen’s public transport includes buses and bike rentals, making it easy to move around. The city balances urban life with green spaces along the waterfront and nearby mountains.

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City in China

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.5

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	7

Read details

3/5

English is moderately spoken, mainly in hotels, tourist areas, and by younger people. Learning a few basic Mandarin phrases can be helpful for a smoother experience.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Xiamen Summary

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Great for coastal city scenery and relaxed atmosphere. Walk seaside promenades, visit historic temples, explore Gulangyu Island and enjoy fresh seafood.

Place score

7.2

Best at:

Street food

Large cities

Sea

Local cuisine

Luxury shopping

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

💻 8

Digital Nomads

🛡️ 7

Travel Beginners

China – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	220 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A , Type I Type A: Type I: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY) £1 ≈ CN¥8.87
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in China, particularly in urban areas. Mobile payment services like Alipay and WeChat Pay are commonly used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not customary in China and is not expected, although it may be appreciated in high-end restaurants or by hotel staff for exceptional service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally not allowed in many places in China, but it is common in restaurants and bars.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in many indoor public spaces, such as restaurants and public transport, but enforcement can vary.

Chinese New Year (January/February)	Major holiday with family gatherings and public celebrations
National Day (1 October)	National holiday with parades and festivities

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 110 (Police), 120 (Ambulance), 119 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	DiDi, Uber
Other:	China is known for its vast cultural heritage, including historical landmarks like the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Army. It offers diverse landscapes ranging from mountains to beaches.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Xiamen, China

🌤️

Jan

☁️

Feb

🌦️

Mar

🌦️

Apr

⛈️

May

⛈️

Jun

🔥

Jul

🌦️

Aug

🔥

Sep

🌤️

Oct

🌤️

Nov

🌤️

Dec

High season:	April, Oct. - Nov.
Shoulder season:	Jan., May - Sep., Dec.
Crowdedness:	9 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Typhoon season July to September; ferries and flights to Gulangyu can be suspended

Chinese National Day holiday, October 1 to 7: extremely crowded, Gulangyu ferry tickets sell out

Chinese New Year, late January to mid February: many restaurants and shops close, domestic crowds

Don't miss

🏝️ Explore colonial architecture on Gulangyu Island
🌄 Climb Sunlight Rock for panoramic city and sea views
⛩️ Visit Nanputuo Temple and hike Wulao Peak behind it
🛍️ Stroll and shop along bustling Zhongshan Road
🚴‍♂️ Relax or bike along scenic Island Ring Road
🐱 Discover street art and cats at Ding’aozai Cat Street

You've been here?

Why travel to Xiamen?

Xiamen feels like a breath of fresh sea air. It offers a mix of historic colonial architecture, buzzing markets and serene coastal walks. The highlight is Gulangyu Island, with its car-free streets, unique buildings and relaxing atmosphere. The city is also known for its incredible street food and tea culture. While generally safe, avoid swimming in rough sea conditions and be mindful of personal belongings in busy areas.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Shell Museum
2 Overseas Chinese Museum
3 Gulangyu
4 Xiamen University
5 Jimei School Village
6 Shapowei Art Zone

🎡Places for activities

1 Kulangsu Organ Arts Center

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Bailuzhou Park
2 Yundang Lake
3 Huandao East Road
4 Zhonglun Park
5 Wetland Park
6 Xiamen Botanical Garden

🛍️Shopping

1 Wanda Plaza
2 SM Lifestyle Center

🎈Events

China International Fair for Investment and Trade (September)
Gulangyu Music Festival (October)
Xiamen International Marathon (January)
Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations
Dragon Boat Festival
Chinese New Year Festivities
Xiamen Beach Music Festival (Summer)
Lantern Festival
Xiamen Stone Fair (March)
Xiamen International Animation Festival

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Ferry to Gulangyu Island. No cars; walk or bike only.
Book Gulangyu ferry tickets early; UNESCO site draws huge crowds daily.
Try sand tea noodles and seafood at Zhongshan Road night market stalls.
Visit Nanputuo Temple early morning; active monks and serene hilltop views await.

How to travel to Xiamen

Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN) connects to many international and domestic destinations. The city is also accessible by high-speed train and has a busy port for ferries to Gulangyu Island and nearby areas.

Access summary

From Xiamen Gaoqi Airport (XMN): Shuttle, BRT or taxi, about 20–40 minutes.
From Shanghai: High-speed trains to Xiamen, usually around 5–8 hours.
From Hong Kong: Direct high-speed trains, typically about 3.5–4.5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Xiamen

Xiamen offers everything from budget hostels to luxury hotels. Gulangyu Island is great for a unique stay, while the Siming District offers convenience for sightseeing and shopping.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Swiss Grand Xiamen

9.1

Millennium Harbourview Hotel Xiamen

Marco Polo Xiamen Hotel

Seaview Resort Xiamen

9.1

Xin'an Yihao Hotel

9.3

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Xiamen

Xiamen has an efficient public bus network and the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) is useful for longer distances. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are widely available. Gulangyu Island is explored on foot, as no cars are allowed.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-66 %

Daily expenses in Xiamen are around 66% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-1 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to CNY) is 1% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£29	£64	£171
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£15	£38	£90
🍝 Food per day	£13	£23	£74
🚕 Transportation per day	£1	£3	£7

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£8
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£2.90
🍟 Fast food combo	£4.10
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£4.30
☕ Cappuccino	£2.60
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.60

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.13
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£4.40
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.85

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£7.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£17
🤧 Cold medication	£1.60
💇 Basic haircut	£8

Safety information overview

General safety

Xiamen is generally very safe for travelers. Petty crime is rare, but it's always wise to take normal precautions with your belongings in busy areas.

Health & Medical

Xiamen has good medical facilities with public hospitals and private clinics. Pharmacies are well-stocked and emergency care is readily available if needed.

Accessibility

The city is quite accessible, with good infrastructure and public transportation. However, some historic and island areas may not be fully accessible to those with mobility issues.

Tap water

Tap water is not recommended for drinking. Stick to bottled or boiled water. Hotels often provide bottled water and it's widely available in stores.