Xiamen itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Xiamen, day by day: Gulangyu island, South Putuo Temple and Xiamen University first, then the Xiamen Botanical Gardens, the Shapowei Art Zone, Baicheng Beach and the Island Ring Road, Hulishan Fortress and the old village of Zengcuo'an on a second day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Xiamen in 1 day
Day 1
Gulangyu
Car-free island off Xiamen with colonial-era villas, gardens, museums and music, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
South Putuo Temple
Buddhist temple founded in the Tang dynasty, on the slopes behind Xiamen University, with halls and hillside rock carvings.
Xiamen University
University founded in 1921, known for its lakeside campus and buildings mixing Western and Chinese styles.
Xiamen in 2 days
Day 1
Gulangyu
Car-free island off Xiamen with colonial-era villas, gardens, museums and music, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Xiamen Botanical Gardens
Large hillside botanical garden on Xiamen Island, with cactus houses, rainforest and rock gardens and city views.
South Putuo Temple
Buddhist temple founded in the Tang dynasty, on the slopes behind Xiamen University, with halls and hillside rock carvings.
Day 2
Shapowei Art Zone
Old fishing harbour area turned arts district, with galleries, studios and cafes in converted buildings by the water.
Xiamen University
University founded in 1921, known for its lakeside campus and buildings mixing Western and Chinese styles.
Baicheng Beach and the Island Ring Road
Sandy beach beside Xiamen University at the start of the Island Ring Road, a seaside road with a path for walking and cycling.
Hulishan Fortress
Late Qing dynasty coastal fortress on a hill above the sea, known for its large Krupp cannon from the 1890s.
Zengcuo'an
Former fishing village on the island's south coast, now a maze of lanes with snack stalls, guesthouses and small shops.
Watch: Xiamen
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Xiamen
October to December has the most pleasant weather, warm and drier. Spring is mild but often foggy and damp, and summer is hot and humid with typhoons possible from July to September. Chinese national holidays in early May and early October bring big crowds.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Xiamen on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Xiamen on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Xiamen on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- From the airport: a private transfer in Xiamen with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for China from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Xiamen
- Ferry tickets to Gulangyu are sold for set departures and visitor numbers are limited; book ahead and bring your passport.
- Gulangyu is car-free and hilly; wear comfortable shoes and allow most of a day to walk its lanes.
- Visits to Xiamen University campus must be reserved in advance and entry may be limited during term.
- South Putuo Temple is an active Buddhist temple; dress modestly and be quiet in the halls.
- Chinese national holidays in early May and early October make Gulangyu very crowded; avoid those dates if you can.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Baicheng Beach and the Island Ring Road: Xmhaoyu, CC BY 3.0
- Gulangyu: -森屿-, CC BY 2.5
- South Putuo Temple: Gisling, CC BY 3.0
- Xiamen Botanical Gardens: Metacladistics, CC BY 4.0
- Xiamen University: 林文庆, Public domain
- Zengcuo'an: Augustohai, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
