When is the best time to visit Xiamen?

October to December is the most comfortable time, with dry, sunny weather and warm days by the sea. Spring is mild but often misty and damp, and summer is hot and humid, with typhoons possible from July to September. Winter stays mild, so the city works for a visit all year.

How many days do you need in Xiamen?

Two to three days covers the highlights. Spend one day on Gulangyu for its villas, gardens and Piano Museum, then explore Zhongshan Road, Nanputuo Temple and Xiamen University. Use the rest for a ride along Huandao Road, a stop at Hulishan Fortress and an evening by Yundang Lake.

Is Amoy the same as Xiamen?

Yes. Amoy is the old English name for Xiamen, taken from the way the name sounds in the local Hokkien dialect. You still find it in books and maps from the treaty port years and in the history of the tea trade, while Xiamen is the Mandarin pinyin spelling used today.

How do you get to Gulangyu Island from Xiamen?

Visitors take a ferry from Dongdu International Terminal on the west side of Xiamen Island, a crossing of about 15 to 20 minutes. The shorter downtown ferry is mainly for residents. Tickets are booked online in advance, and once ashore you walk, since cars and bicycles are banned on the island.

Xiamen

Winter here is mild enough for a breezy bike ride along Huandao Road, and spring wraps the hills behind Nanputuo Temple in soft mist. Summer brings long, bright days in the car-free lanes of Gulangyu, plus the odd typhoon, and autumn turns dry and sunny, perfect for wandering.

Away from the ferry crowds, egrets glide over Yundang Lake at dusk and shoppers drift along Zhongshan Road past old European-style facades. The climate is humid subtropical, with hot, wet summers, short mild winters and the driest weather from October on. A Local Friend keeps the plan loose, trading the beach for a teahouse when rain rolls in and adding one more stop when the evening is too nice to end.

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Population: 5.2 millionWhole six-district municipality, 2020 national census.
Founded: 1387Year of the Ming sea fort that gave Xiamen its name.
Climate: Humid subtropicalHot, wet summers with typhoons; short mild winters; dry, sunny autumn.
Record coastal cannon: 50-ton Krupp gun, 1886Over 13 m long and still aimed at the sea from Hulishan Fortress.
Did you know?: Kulangsu is UNESCO-listedThe car-free former international settlement was inscribed in 2017.
Known as: Egret IslandFor its many egrets; the bird is also the Xiamen Airlines logo.
On the street: Mandarin and Minnan HokkienMetro and BRT announcements come in Mandarin, Minnan and English.
Main airport: Xiamen Gaoqi Intl (XMN)About 10 km from downtown, on the island; BRT, buses or taxi.
Elevation: 12 mNear sea level downtown; Gulangyu's Sunlight Rock rises to 92.7 m.
Area: About 1,700 km²Six districts on Xiamen Island and the mainland, 2020 figures.
Time zone: CST, UTC+8China Standard Time all year; China does not use daylight saving.
From the capital: About 1,720 km from BeijingNonstop flights and bullet trains from Xiamen North link the two.
Born here: Lin QiaozhiGulangyu-born obstetrician who delivered over 50,000 babies.

Join us Become a Local Friend in Xiamen

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Earn money showing off your favorite local spots and create unique experiences.
Join our community and be the first to show travelers the Xiamen beyond the postcard.

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Good to know about Xiamen

Practical facts to plan your days, and the stories behind the experiences travelers search for the most.

Last reviewed October 2026

Quick facts

Best time to visit: October to DecemberThe driest, sunniest months; spring is damp and typhoons peak Jul to Sep.
How long to stay: 2 to 3 daysTime for Gulangyu, the old town, Xiamen University and the coast road.
Getting around: Metro, BRT and taxisBRT buses run on their own elevated roads; Gulangyu is ferry-only.
Taste like a local: Oyster omeletteSmall oysters, egg and sweet potato starch fried with garlic shoots.
Before you go: Gulangyu ferry bookingVisitors sail from Dongdu terminal on tickets booked online in advance.

Curiosities behind the most-searched experiences

Gulangyu Piano Museum
More than 100 musical families once lived on tiny Gulangyu, earning it the nickname Piano Island. Its museum shows antique pianos given by pianist Hu Youyi, including one you play by pumping pedals.
Culture & Local Events

Neighborhoods to wander

Zhongshan Road
Pedestrian shopping street of old European-style facades, side lanes and snack shops.
Yundang Lake
Lakeside walkways, restaurants and bars, with egrets flying over the water at dusk.
Xiamen University area
A seaside campus, Nanputuo Temple next door and a street of student shops.
Gulangyu
Car-free island of villas, gardens and music, a short ferry ride from downtown.

Through the year

Xiamen Marathon
January
Platinum Label race along the coastal ring road, finishing near the Gulangyu ferry.
Xiamen Tea Fair
April and October
Spring and autumn editions of a huge tea trade show that welcomes tea lovers too.

Say it like a local

Ē-mn̂g

Xiamen in Minnan Hokkien; the old English name Amoy came from a local pronunciation.

Tips & Traps in Xiamen

No one has shared a tip or a trap about Xiamen yet. Know a great spot, or something to avoid? Be the first.

Share the first tip

Questions about Xiamen

What travelers ask most before a trip to Xiamen.

1.
When is the best time to visit Xiamen?
October to December is the most comfortable time, with dry, sunny weather and warm days by the sea. Spring is mild but often misty and damp, and summer is hot and humid, with typhoons possible from July to September. Winter stays mild, so the city works for a visit all year.
2.
How many days do you need in Xiamen?
Two to three days covers the highlights. Spend one day on Gulangyu for its villas, gardens and Piano Museum, then explore Zhongshan Road, Nanputuo Temple and Xiamen University. Use the rest for a ride along Huandao Road, a stop at Hulishan Fortress and an evening by Yundang Lake.
3.
Is Amoy the same as Xiamen?
Yes. Amoy is the old English name for Xiamen, taken from the way the name sounds in the local Hokkien dialect. You still find it in books and maps from the treaty port years and in the history of the tea trade, while Xiamen is the Mandarin pinyin spelling used today.
4.
How do you get to Gulangyu Island from Xiamen?
Visitors take a ferry from Dongdu International Terminal on the west side of Xiamen Island, a crossing of about 15 to 20 minutes. The shorter downtown ferry is mainly for residents. Tickets are booked online in advance, and once ashore you walk, since cars and bicycles are banned on the island.

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Winter here is mild enough for a breezy bike ride along Huandao Road, and spring wraps the hills behind Nanputuo Temple in soft mist. Summer brings long, bright days in the car-free lanes of Gulangyu, plus the odd typhoon, and autumn turns dry and sunny, perfect for wandering.

Away from the ferry crowds, egrets glide over Yundang Lake at dusk and shoppers drift along Zhongshan Road past old European-style facades. The climate is humid subtropical, with hot, wet summers, short mild winters and the driest weather from October on. A Local Friend keeps the plan loose, trading the beach for a teahouse when rain rolls in and adding one more stop when the evening is too nice to end.

Neighborhoods to wander

Zhongshan Road
Pedestrian shopping street of old European-style facades, side lanes and snack shops.
Yundang Lake
Lakeside walkways, restaurants and bars, with egrets flying over the water at dusk.
Xiamen University area
A seaside campus, Nanputuo Temple next door and a street of student shops.
Gulangyu
Car-free island of villas, gardens and music, a short ferry ride from downtown.

Through the year

Xiamen Marathon
January
Platinum Label race along the coastal ring road, finishing near the Gulangyu ferry.
Xiamen Tea Fair
April and October
Spring and autumn editions of a huge tea trade show that welcomes tea lovers too.

Say it like a local

Ē-mn̂g

Xiamen in Minnan Hokkien; the old English name Amoy came from a local pronunciation.

Questions about Xiamen

What travelers ask most before a trip to Xiamen.

1.
When is the best time to visit Xiamen?
October to December is the most comfortable time, with dry, sunny weather and warm days by the sea. Spring is mild but often misty and damp, and summer is hot and humid, with typhoons possible from July to September. Winter stays mild, so the city works for a visit all year.
2.
How many days do you need in Xiamen?
Two to three days covers the highlights. Spend one day on Gulangyu for its villas, gardens and Piano Museum, then explore Zhongshan Road, Nanputuo Temple and Xiamen University. Use the rest for a ride along Huandao Road, a stop at Hulishan Fortress and an evening by Yundang Lake.
3.
Is Amoy the same as Xiamen?
Yes. Amoy is the old English name for Xiamen, taken from the way the name sounds in the local Hokkien dialect. You still find it in books and maps from the treaty port years and in the history of the tea trade, while Xiamen is the Mandarin pinyin spelling used today.
4.
How do you get to Gulangyu Island from Xiamen?
Visitors take a ferry from Dongdu International Terminal on the west side of Xiamen Island, a crossing of about 15 to 20 minutes. The shorter downtown ferry is mainly for residents. Tickets are booked online in advance, and once ashore you walk, since cars and bicycles are banned on the island.

Population: 5.2 millionWhole six-district municipality, 2020 national census.
Founded: 1387Year of the Ming sea fort that gave Xiamen its name.
Climate: Humid subtropicalHot, wet summers with typhoons; short mild winters; dry, sunny autumn.
Record coastal cannon: 50-ton Krupp gun, 1886Over 13 m long and still aimed at the sea from Hulishan Fortress.
Did you know?: Kulangsu is UNESCO-listedThe car-free former international settlement was inscribed in 2017.
Known as: Egret IslandFor its many egrets; the bird is also the Xiamen Airlines logo.
On the street: Mandarin and Minnan HokkienMetro and BRT announcements come in Mandarin, Minnan and English.
Main airport: Xiamen Gaoqi Intl (XMN)About 10 km from downtown, on the island; BRT, buses or taxi.
Elevation: 12 mNear sea level downtown; Gulangyu's Sunlight Rock rises to 92.7 m.
Area: About 1,700 km²Six districts on Xiamen Island and the mainland, 2020 figures.
Time zone: CST, UTC+8China Standard Time all year; China does not use daylight saving.
From the capital: About 1,720 km from BeijingNonstop flights and bullet trains from Xiamen North link the two.
Born here: Lin QiaozhiGulangyu-born obstetrician who delivered over 50,000 babies.

Xiamen

More cities in China

From the hutongs of Beijing to the Shanghai waterfront, there is always more of China to explore.

Shanghai
0 Local Gurus4 Local Friends
Beijing
1 Local Guru1 Local Friend
NanJing
1 Local Guru1 Local Friend
Aba Zangzu Qiangzu Zizhizhou
1 Local Guru0 Local Friends
Acheng
0 Local Gurus1 Local Friend

See all 9 cities in China

Tips & Traps in Xiamen

No one has shared a tip or a trap about Xiamen yet. Know a great spot, or something to avoid? Be the first.

Share the first tip

Join us Become a Local Friend in Xiamen

There are no Local Friends in Xiamen yet, and that is where you come in.
Earn money showing off your favorite local spots and create unique experiences.
Join our community and be the first to show travelers the Xiamen beyond the postcard.

Join our community

Good to know about Xiamen

Practical facts to plan your days, and the stories behind the experiences travelers search for the most.

Last reviewed October 2026

Quick facts

Best time to visit: October to DecemberThe driest, sunniest months; spring is damp and typhoons peak Jul to Sep.
How long to stay: 2 to 3 daysTime for Gulangyu, the old town, Xiamen University and the coast road.
Getting around: Metro, BRT and taxisBRT buses run on their own elevated roads; Gulangyu is ferry-only.
Taste like a local: Oyster omeletteSmall oysters, egg and sweet potato starch fried with garlic shoots.
Before you go: Gulangyu ferry bookingVisitors sail from Dongdu terminal on tickets booked online in advance.

Curiosities behind the most-searched experiences

Gulangyu Piano Museum
More than 100 musical families once lived on tiny Gulangyu, earning it the nickname Piano Island. Its museum shows antique pianos given by pianist Hu Youyi, including one you play by pumping pedals.
Culture & Local Events

Shacha noodles

The local name, sa-te mi, gives away the roots of this dish in Malay satay. Xiamen tops the peanutty broth with pork liver, fried tofu or shrimp, and the fancy bowls even add abalone.

Gastronomy

Huandao Road

This ring road hugs the island's coast past beaches and a seaside boardwalk. Each January it carries the Xiamen Marathon, which drew 73,896 entrants in 2013, a lot of sneakers for one shoreline.

Sports & Outdoors

Bo Bing mooncake dice

Legend says Koxinga's officers invented this Mid-Autumn dice game in Xiamen to cheer up homesick troops. Players still roll six dice in a bowl, and the luckiest throw wins the champion cake.

Culture & Local Events

Sea worm jelly

Tusundong sets small marine worms in a cool, clear jelly, served with soy sauce, vinegar and chili. The worms taste of almost nothing, so the chewy texture does all the talking.

Gastronomy

Nanputuo Temple

Named as the southern cousin of Mount Putuo, this Buddhist temple sits right beside the gates of Xiamen University. Behind it rises Wulao Peak, the 'peak of five old men', with views over campus, sea and city.

Art, Photography & Writing

Join us Become a Local Friend in Xiamen

Good to know about Xiamen

Quick facts

Curiosities behind the most-searched experiences

Gulangyu Piano Museum

Neighborhoods to wander

Zhongshan Road

Yundang Lake

Xiamen University area

Gulangyu

Through the year

Xiamen Marathon

Xiamen Tea Fair

Say it like a local

Tips & Traps in Xiamen

Questions about Xiamen

More cities in China

Shanghai

Beijing

NanJing

Aba Zangzu Qiangzu Zizhizhou

Acheng

Neighborhoods to wander

Zhongshan Road

Yundang Lake

Xiamen University area

Gulangyu

Through the year

Xiamen Marathon

Xiamen Tea Fair

Say it like a local

Questions about Xiamen

More cities in China

Shanghai

Beijing

NanJing

Aba Zangzu Qiangzu Zizhizhou

Acheng

Tips & Traps in Xiamen

Join us Become a Local Friend in Xiamen

Good to know about Xiamen

Quick facts

Curiosities behind the most-searched experiences

Gulangyu Piano Museum

Shacha noodles

Huandao Road

Bo Bing mooncake dice

Sea worm jelly

Nanputuo Temple

Bo Bing mooncake dice

Sea worm jelly

Nanputuo Temple