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Hotels in Xiamen on Trip.com
From $35/night hostels in Zhongshan Road to $220+/night luxury at Le Meridien Xiamen, Conrad Xiamen and 1,200+ more. Filter by district (Gulangyu, Siming, Huli) and tier on Trip.com.
$35 – $220+/night
厦门 · Travel Guide
Xiamen for foreigners
Gulangyu Island, Fujian Tulou, and the most car-free UNESCO heritage in China.
Xiamen is a coastal Fujian city defined by its 2-sq-km island, Gulangyu (鼓浪屿), just a 7-minute ferry ride from the main waterfront. Gulangyu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 2017) and the only district in China with no motor vehicles — deliveries arrive by ferry, hauled on handcarts. The result is an almost European pace of life: cobblestone lanes, piano music drifting from shopfronts (the island has China’s highest density of pianos), and 19th-century colonial architecture from the era when Xiamen was a treaty port. Beyond Gulangyu, Xiamen has the Nanputuo Temple (1,000-year-old Buddhist complex on the main waterfront) and is the gateway to the Fujian Tulou — the iconic round earthen buildings of the Hakka people, 2-3 hours by car in the inland mountains.
Top things to do in Xiamen
The must-see places locals will tell you are unmissable, with photos and a direct link to the in-depth guide for each.
Gulangyu Island (鼓浪屿)
UNESCO-listed 2-sq-km island with no motor vehicles. Take the ferry from Lundu Pier (¥35 round-trip). Allow a full day. The Piano Museum and Shuzhuang Garden are the highlights.
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Nanputuo Temple (南普陀寺)
A 1,000-year-old Buddhist temple on the main waterfront, behind Xiamen University. Free entry; allow 2 hours.
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Fujian Tulou (土楼)
Round earthen Hakka buildings 2-3 hours inland. UNESCO-listed. Most tours combine 3-4 tulou in a day; the most famous cluster is Nanjing Tulou.
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Xiamen University campus
One of China’s most beautiful university campuses, with colonial-era buildings and a tunnel through the mountain. Free; photo ID required.
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Zhongshan Road pedestrian street
Xiamen’s main shopping street, lined with arcade-fronted shophouses from the colonial era. Lively at night.
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Where to stay in Xiamen
We only list hotels that accept foreign guests and accept international credit cards.
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Hotels from $35/night · HSR from $7
Search Xiamen on Trip.com →When to visit Xiamen
October–December for cool, dry weather and clear sea views. Avoid the May–June rainy season. Spring (March–April) is mild but humid.
FAQ
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Do I need a visa for Xiamen?
Xiamen has its own international airport (XMN). Most travelers qualify for 240-hour visa-free transit; otherwise apply for an L-visa before flying. -
Is Gulangyu really car-free?
Yes — the only motor vehicles allowed are a handful of small electric buggies for essential services. Everything arrives by ferry. You can walk across the island in under 2 hours. -
How do I get to the Tulou from Xiamen?
Either a guided day tour (¥400-700) or a high-speed train + local transfer. The Nanjing Tulou cluster is the most popular and reachable in 2.5-3 hours.
Need help in China?
12 bilingual phrase cards for emergencies. Show the Chinese to locals, read the English for context.
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Hospital Emergency
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