Xiamen is a port city on the coast of southeastern Fujian, built around a harbour that has drawn traders and migrants for centuries. Its urban core grew up on southern Xiamen Island, and the city now spreads across the island and onto the mainland coast, with the car-free island of Gulangyu lying just offshore.
For a visitor, the practical split is between Xiamen Island itself, the mainland districts linked to it by bridge, tunnel, metro and BRT, and Gulangyu, which is reached only by ferry. This guide covers which of these areas to base yourself in, what each is like, and how the choice changes with your budget and the kind of trip you are planning.
Best areas to stay in Xiamen
1. Xiamen Island
Xiamen Island holds the city's urban core, which grew up from the port on its southern shore. It covers the whole of Huli District in the north and most of Siming District in the south, and it is where the municipal government sits, beside the reclaimed land at Yundang Lake. The island is roughly 13 km across, so distances within it are manageable, and it is the most straightforward base for a first visit.
This suits first-time visitors and anyone who wants to be in the middle of things, with the widest choice of places to stay and the easiest access to transport. It also connects directly to the mainland: several bridges carry road, rail and rapid transit links to Jimei, one bridge runs to Haicang, and a tunnel reaches Xiang'an.
2. Gulangyu
Gulangyu is a small island just off Xiamen Island, a ferry ride away from the rest of the city and significant enough for tourism that it is treated as a destination in its own right. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it can be reached only by boat.
Staying here suits travellers who want the island's atmosphere in the quiet hours rather than as a day trip, and who do not mind depending on the ferry to reach everything else. Because there is no bridge, tunnel, metro or BRT connection, plan your days around the boat rather than assuming you can come and go freely.
3. Jimei
Jimei is one of the mainland districts that are administratively part of Xiamen. A few decades ago these areas were largely rural, but Jimei now has a population of several hundred thousand and is growing quickly as the city expands beyond the island.
It suits travellers who want a mainland base with a direct link to the island, since Jimei is connected to Xiamen Island by several bridges carrying road, rail and rapid transit. It is also home to Jimei University, one of the city's major institutions.
4. Haicang
Haicang is another of the mainland districts, lying to the west of Xiamen Island. Like the other mainland areas, it was largely rural a few decades ago and has since grown into a substantial urban district.
It is connected to Xiamen Island by a single bridge, which makes it a workable base if you have business or reasons to be on that side, but less convenient than Jimei if you plan to move between the island and the mainland repeatedly. It suits travellers who prefer a quieter mainland setting while keeping a direct road link to the island.
5. Tong'an
Tong'an is a mainland district to the north, and the name carries the area's long history: Xiamen was known as Tong'an County from antiquity until administrative restructuring in the twentieth century, and Xiamen Island itself was once described as an islet of Tong'an County.
It suits travellers who want to stay on the mainland away from the island's urban core, and who are comfortable relying on the metro or BRT connections that link the mainland districts to the rest of the city.
6. Xiang'an
Xiang'an is the easternmost of the mainland districts, reaching out to the islands of the same name. It is one of the areas that has grown quickly from a rural past into a substantial district.
It is linked to Xiamen Island by a tunnel rather than a bridge, and has metro or BRT connections to the rest of the city. It suits travellers with a specific reason to be in the east, or those who prefer a mainland base and do not mind the trip to the island's core.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: look on the mainland districts, where the city has expanded beyond the island and where metro and BRT links keep you connected without paying island prices.
- Mid-range: Xiamen Island gives you the widest choice and the shortest trips to the urban core, the port area and the transport links to the mainland.
- Splurge: Gulangyu, where the ferry crossing is part of the stay and the island itself is the destination, or the island's core if you want to be in the middle of the city.
Best area for a first visit
Base yourself on Xiamen Island. It holds the city's urban core and the original port area, it has the widest range of places to stay, and it connects directly to the mainland by bridge, tunnel, metro and BRT. From here you can reach Gulangyu by ferry and the mainland districts without committing your whole trip to one of them.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to stay on Xiamen Island to see the city?
No. The mainland districts of Haicang, Jimei, Tong'an and Xiang'an are all administratively part of Xiamen and are linked to the island by bridge, tunnel, metro and BRT. Only Gulangyu is different, as it can be reached solely by boat.
Can I stay on Gulangyu and still visit the rest of Xiamen?
Yes, but you will depend on the ferry, since Gulangyu has no bridge, tunnel, metro or BRT connection to the rest of the city. It works best if the island itself is the focus of your stay.
Which mainland district is easiest to reach from the island?
Jimei, which is connected to Xiamen Island by several bridges carrying road, rail and rapid transit. Haicang has one bridge, and Xiang'an is reached by a tunnel.
When is the best time of year to visit Xiamen?
The climate is monsoonal humid subtropical, with long, hot and humid summers and short, mild and dry winters. Spring is the dampest season, and typhoons in late summer and early autumn can make that period wetter overall, while autumn is warm and dry.
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