Cruises to/from Хiamen
Хiamen - an island garden city on China's southern coast that is increasingly establishing itself as a cruise gateway to Southeast Asia. The former tea port of Amoy, known to Europeans since the days of the Opium Wars, today blends the colonial architecture of Gulangyu Island with the skyscrapers of a modern business district and some of Fujian's cleanest waterfronts. The city sits on an island of the same name, linked by causeways and bridges to the mainland part of Fujian province, directly across from the Taiwan Strait. For a traveller, Xiamen offers cosy old-town lanes, a modern financial district, and a museum-island where cars are banned altogether.
For cruise travellers, Xiamen has become an increasingly important hub of the Asia-Pacific region in recent years: since February 2026 the port has officially resumed its home-port status for the Chinese liners Star Voyager and Adora Mediterranea, while continuing to welcome international premium lines as a port of call during Asian cruises. This makes Xiamen a rare example of a dual-function port in China — cruises both depart from here and call here for a few hours in port. 🚢
📋 Before setting off on a cruise from Xiamen or going ashore for a few hours in port, here's what you need to know:
🇨🇳 Country: China
📍 Region: Fujian province — Xiamen is a sub-provincial city with separate administrative status
👥 Population: approximately 5.37 million residents (2025)
📐 Area: 1,700.6 km² (656.6 sq mi)
🗣️ Languages: Standard Mandarin (official language); a large share of residents also speak the local Minnan dialect (Xiamen/Amoy Hokkien); English is spoken to a limited extent — mainly in hotels, at the airport, and in major shopping malls
💴 Currency: Chinese yuan (CNY)
🕐 Time zone: China Standard Time (UTC+8), no daylight-saving adjustment — 5–6 hours ahead of Kyiv depending on the season
☀️ Climate: subtropical monsoon, hot and humid summers (82…93 °F / +28…+34 °C), mild winters (50…61 °F / +10…+16 °C); typhoon season runs from July to September
✈️ Nearest airport: Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN) — about 6–7.5 miles (10–12 km) from the cruise terminal
⚓ Official name of the cruise port: Xiamen International Cruise Home Port (厦门国际邮轮母港), also known as the Dongdu Terminal
🗺️ Cruise terminal berth length: 463 metres (1,519 ft); terminal building area of 82,000 m² (883,000 sq ft)
🏛️ Xiamen's history — from a fishing harbour to a special economic zone
⏳ Over 1,700 years of maritime history
Xiamen's history dates back to 282 A.D., when a settlement in these waters is first mentioned during the Jin dynasty. The harbour truly flourished under the Song dynasty (10th–13th centuries), growing into a major hub of international trade. In 1387, under the Ming dynasty, a naval base was established here to fight piracy, and in 1541 European (Portuguese) ships called at the port for the first time. It was around then that the West adopted the name «Amoy» for the city — a rendering of its name in the southern Fujian dialect.
1842 proved to be a turning point: after the Qing Empire's defeat in the First Opium War, the Treaty of Nanking made Xiamen one of five «treaty ports» opened to foreign trade and foreign residence — alongside Guangzhou, Fuzhou, Ningbo, and Shanghai. On neighbouring Gulangyu Island an international settlement grew up, home to consulates, missions, and the villas of foreign merchants — which is how the island earned its reputation as «China's Riviera». Throughout the 19th century, the port of Xiamen remained the leading centre for tea exports from southern Fujian, and later became the largest point of emigration for Chinese coolie labourers bound for Southeast Asia and the Americas.
⚔️ From treaty port to special economic zone
The first half of the 20th century brought slow development and the hardships of Japanese occupation, and the city's true renaissance began only in 1980, when Xiamen was designated one of China's first four special economic zones under Deng Xiaoping's reforms. 🏙️ Since then the city has undergone a rapid transformation: fishing villages gave way to skyscrapers, while Gulangyu Island, by contrast, was carefully preserved as a reserve of colonial-era architecture — in 2017 UNESCO inscribed it on the World Heritage List as the «Kulangsu: Historic International Settlement». Today Xiamen consistently ranks among China's most liveable cities and serves as one of Fujian province's main maritime gateways toward Taiwan and Southeast Asia.
⚓ The Port of Xiamen — from tea clippers to cruise liners
📊 Scale and structure of the port
The modern Port of Xiamen is one of China's largest container ports (ranking among the country's top ten and the world's top 20 by cargo throughput), officially merged since 2010 with the neighbouring Port of Zhangzhou to form the largest port complex in southeastern China. It is divided into several areas, including Heping, Gaoqi, Haitian, and Dongdu — the latter being the one that serves cruise and ferry passengers.
For cruise travellers, the key facility is the Xiamen International Cruise Home Port in Huli District, better known to locals as the Dongdu Terminal or «Xiagu Matou» («the Xiamen–Gulangyu pier»). A major renovation of the terminal was completed in 2012: it is now a three-storey building covering 82,000 m², with architecture styled to evoke an ocean wave, housing restaurants, duty-free shops, customs desks, and waiting areas. In the 2020s, a themed cultural space called «Time Meets Island» opened on the grounds, dedicated to Minnan heritage, with live performances, exhibitions, and a night market.
🚢 How many liners the port can accommodate
Cruise Terminal 2 at the Port of Xiamen has three berths, able to simultaneously accommodate vessels of up to 140,000 GT. The waterfront stretches 463 metres (1,519 ft). After a years-long pause, the port officially resumed its home-port function on 19 February 2026, when the liner Star Voyager arrived carrying over 2,200 passengers from Hong Kong — marking the start of the 2026 season. Between February and April 2026, Star Voyager completed nine round-trip sailings on the Hong Kong–Xiamen route, and from April 2026 the port welcomed a second home-based liner, Adora Mediterranea, which launched a themed «Maritime Silk Road» cruise to Manila and Boracay in the Philippines.
🏢 Which cruise lines operate from Xiamen
As a home port, Xiamen primarily hosts Chinese brands — Star Cruises (the liner Star Voyager) and Adora Cruises (the liner Adora Mediterranea), which offer short sailings to Hong Kong and themed cruises around Southeast Asia. As a port of call on Asian itineraries, Xiamen regularly receives ships from leading international luxury lines — Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Holland America Line, for whom a call at Xiamen offers a chance to combine modern China with the historic island of Gulangyu. 🌏
💡 Interesting facts about Xiamen and its port
A few lesser-known details make for a fuller picture of the city:
🎹 Gulangyu Island is known as the «Piano Island» — it has the highest concentration of pianos per capita anywhere in China, and hosts a dedicated Piano Museum.
🚫 Cars — and even bicycles — are banned entirely on Gulangyu; the island is served only by electric carts, and getting around mostly means walking.
💣 Hulishan Fort houses one of the largest and best-preserved 19th-century coastal guns in the world, manufactured by the German company Krupp.
🏛️ Gulangyu has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017; covering just 1.88 km² (0.73 sq mi), it draws more than 10 million visitors a year.
✈️ Xiamen Gaoqi Airport (XMN) handled over 29 million passengers in 2025 — a record for a single-runway airport in China. Some flights are due to shift to the new Xiang'an Airport by the end of 2026, so it's worth checking which airport your flight actually lands at before you travel.
🏫 The campus of Xiamen University, founded in 1921, regularly ranks among the most beautiful university campuses in China — it sits right on the seafront, at the foot of a hill.
🍵 Throughout the 19th century, Xiamen (then known as Amoy) was the leading port for tea exports from southern Fujian and the largest point of emigration for Chinese labourers bound for Southeast Asia and the Americas.
📍 Xiamen's top landmarks — must-sees for cruise travellers
A cruise ship's call at Xiamen typically lasts 8 to 12 hours, so it's worth planning your route in advance. A detailed list with photos, addresses, and opening hours can be found in the «Landmarks and Places of Interest» section; below is a brief overview of the city's signature sights.
🎹 Gulangyu Island — Xiamen's main gem, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with colonial-era villas, narrow car-free lanes, and a panoramic view of the city from Sunshine Hill.
💣 Hulishan Fort — a 19th-century coastal fortress with a Krupp cannon, on the southern tip of Xiamen Island.
🎓 Xiamen University — one of the most beautiful university campuses in China, right on the seafront.
⛩️ Nanputuo Temple — an active Buddhist monastery at the foot of Wuyuan Hill, one of the most important in southern China.
🏘️ Zhongshan Road — the old town's main pedestrian street, lined with colonial-era architecture, shops, and evening illuminations.
🏯 Hakka earthen buildings (tulou) — unique circular fortress-dwellings in the mountains outside the city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
✨ Why choose a cruise from Xiamen
Xiamen is an ideal starting point for anyone wanting to combine an Asian cruise with a taste of authentic yet comfortable China.
First, the logistics are convenient: Gaoqi Airport receives flights from dozens of Asian cities, and in the coming years the new Xiang'an Airport will add further capacity. ✈️
Second, it's a port of dual function: short home-port cruises to Hong Kong and themed Southeast Asia itineraries depart from Xiamen, while international liners call here as a port of stop during longer Asian voyages. 🌊
Third, the port itself is already an experience: even a few hours ashore are enough to reach Gulangyu Island, stroll along Zhongshan Road, and sample the flavours of Fujian cuisine. 🍜
The cruise specialists at Four Gates Group will help you choose the right liner, itinerary, and cabin, take care of the details of your flight to China and visa arrangements, and offer exclusive rates from leading cruise brands we work with as a priority partner in Ukraine. 🤝
ℹ️ Please note: the information on this page is provided for general reference and is accurate as of the date of publication. Prices, schedules, routes, and visiting conditions may change without notice. For up-to-date information, please check with a Four Gates Group cruise specialist or the official websites of the relevant venues.
FOUR GATES GROUP — Cruises by Professionals
How to Get to the Cruise Terminal in Хiamen
Хiamen is an island city on the southeastern coast of China, and the island location of the main cruise terminal is a key feature of its logistics. The Xiamen International Cruise Center is located in Huli District, on the western coast of Xiamen Island, and doubles as the ferry terminal to the neighboring island of Gulangyu — so at peak times it simultaneously processes both cruise passengers and ferry tourists. Below is a verified step-by-step guide with all transfer options, current 2026 prices, and tips from the Four Gates Group cruise specialists. 🎯
📍 Where exactly is the Xiamen cruise port located
The city's main and only major cruise terminal is the Xiamen International Cruise Center (厦门国际邮轮中心). In April 2025, a new terminal building opened here — 68,000 sqm (732,000 sq ft) in area and 34.3 m (112 ft) tall, with an exterior that resembles the silhouette of a giant ship. The complex has 4 berths with a combined length of over 1,400 meters (4,590 ft) and can accommodate liners of up to 225,000 GT. The designed annual throughput is 800,000 passengers.
📌 Address for GPS: No. 2 Donggang Road, Dongdu, Huli District, Xiamen, China (厦门市湖里区东渡东港路2号)
🚶 Distance to the island center (the square in front of Xiamen Railway Station): approximately 7–8 km (4.3–5 miles)
⚓ Operator: Xiamen International Cruise Home Port Group Co.
❗ Important: the terminal simultaneously handles three flows — embarkation/disembarkation of cruise passengers (母港/homeport sailings), calls by international liners (访问港/port of call), and the daytime ferry to Gulangyu. Cruise passengers go through a separate entrance and customs/border control, so follow the «邮轮 / Cruise» signs rather than the ferry queue. The exact berth and check-in time are always listed on your cruise voucher — verify it 48–72 hours before boarding.
✈️ From Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN) to the cruise terminal
Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN) is located in the same Huli District, 13–14 km (8–8.7 miles) from the cruise terminal, and is the city's only airport. Terminal T3 handles international flights, T4 handles domestic flights. There are no direct flights from Ukraine, so the journey usually connects through Istanbul, Dubai, Doha, Seoul, or other Asian hubs.
🚕 Taxi — the fastest option
Official taxis queue at the exits of Terminal T3 (7th automatic door) and T4 (3rd automatic door).
• Travel time: 20–25 minutes via the short route along Sugang Road (疏港路)
• Estimated fare (as of 2026): approximately CNY 35–45
• Xiamen taxi rate structure: CNY 8 flag-fall (first 3 km/1.9 miles), then CNY 2 per additional km, over 8 km — a 50% surcharge for the «empty return leg», plus a CNY 1 fuel surcharge
• Payment: cash (CNY) or the mobile apps WeChat Pay / Alipay — foreign bank cards are usually not accepted by drivers
• Apps: Didi (滴滴) — the main taxi and private-driver app in China, works with a foreign phone number registered in the app; Uber and Bolt do not operate in Xiamen
💡 Four Gates tip: avoid the «scenic» route along Huandao Road (环岛路) — it is twice as long and more expensive (CNY 60–80), even though some drivers suggest it as a «sightseeing ride». Simply tell the driver «去邮轮中心, 走疏港路» (go to the cruise center via Sugang Road).
🚐 Private transfer — the most comfortable option
If you are travelling as a family, a group, or with heavy luggage, a driver will meet you in the arrivals hall with a name sign and take you straight to the terminal.
• Estimated cost: from CNY 150–250 for a sedan (1–3 people), from CNY 500–700 for a minivan (4–8 people) — the exact price depends on the car class and waiting time
• Benefits: flight monitoring, an English-speaking driver or accompanying interpreter, no taxi queue, and no language barrier
🤝 Four Gates Group arranges private transfers for its clients — simply provide your flight number when booking your cruise.
🚌 Direct bus 84 — the most budget-friendly option
The only public transport that runs without transfers straight from the airport to the cruise terminal.
• Route: 84 (候机大楼 — 国际邮轮码头), stop — near the terminal exit
• Fare: CNY 1
• Operating hours: approximately 6:30 a.m.–9:50 p.m.
• Travel time: 30–40 minutes
⚠️ Important: exact cash fare or payment via a local app QR code — foreign bank cards are not accepted.
🚇 Metro — a convenient option with a transfer
1️⃣ From Gaoqi (高崎) station on Line 1 (the closest to the airport; a free shuttle from the terminal is available if needed)
2️⃣ Transfer from Line 1 to Line 2 at Lüchang (吕厝) station — the only interchange station between these two lines
3️⃣ Take Line 2 to Cruise Center Station (邮轮中心, «Cruise Center»)
4️⃣ Exit No. 6 — leads directly to the cruise terminal building
Fare: CNY 4–6 depending on distance
Travel time: 45–55 minutes including the transfer
⚠️ Metro tickets are purchased from machines with cash (bring small bills in advance) or via a QR code in the Ametro/Alipay app.
🚂 From Xiamen's railway stations to the cruise terminal
Xiamen has two main railway stations, and your route depends on which one you use.
Xiamen Railway Station (厦门站) — located on the island itself, serving a limited number of trains (mostly overnight routes to Shanghai and other major cities). Distance to the cruise terminal — approximately 7–8 km (4.3–5 miles).
• Taxi: 15–20 minutes, CNY 20–28
• Metro: Line 3 (southern extension) transferring to Line 2 → «邮轮中心» station, exit No. 6. Time — approximately 30–35 minutes, CNY 3–4
Xiamen North Railway Station (厦门北站) — the main high-speed rail hub, located on the mainland in Jimei District, 22–25 km (13.7–15.5 miles) from the cruise terminal. Most high-speed trains from Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and other cities arrive here.
• Taxi: 40–50 minutes, approximately CNY 60–80
• Direct «North Line» bus (北站快线 / 空港快线北站专线): runs from the North Station with a stop at «邮轮中心 (Dongdu, cruise pier)» — a convenient direct option with no transfers, fare approximately CNY 15–20, travel time — 50–60 minutes, running roughly every 15 minutes at peak hours
• Metro: Line 1 from the North Station → transfer to Line 2 at Lüchang (吕厝) station → «邮轮中心» station, exit No. 6. Total time — 60–75 minutes, CNY 6–8
💡 Tip: if you have large luggage and limited time before boarding, from the North Station you should definitely take a taxi or a pre-booked transfer — the distance and traffic load make public transport a risky choice on boarding day.
🏙️ From central Xiamen to the cruise terminal
If you spent a night or a few days at a hotel on the island, getting to the terminal is easy:
🚕 Taxi from the hotel — CNY 15–30 depending on the district. The fastest and most convenient option with luggage, travel time — 10–20 minutes.
🚇 Metro (Line 2), «邮轮中心» (Cruise Center) station — the most popular option among independent travelers:
• Exit: No. 6 — leads directly to the terminal building, a few minutes' walk
• Fare: CNY 2–4 depending on the departure station
• Line operating hours: approximately 6:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m.
• Payment: token from a vending machine, the Egou transit card (亿购城市卡), or a QR code in the app
🚌 Public buses — several routes serve the «邮轮中心码头» (Cruise Center Pier) stop, including 11, 51, 87, 309, and B12. Fare — CNY 1–2, exact cash fare or QR-code payment.
🚶 On foot — practically only from the nearest hotels in the Dongdu area (300–900 m / 985–2,950 ft); from the central part of the island (the Zhongshan Road area) walking is not realistic — that is over 6 km (3.7 miles).
🚗 By your own car — parking near the port (and car rental)
If you are arriving at the port by your own or a rented car, there are several parking facilities right next to the terminal:
🅿️ Underground parking at Xiamen International Cruise Center — the closest to the berths, with over 540 spaces (over 1,000–1,400 spaces including neighboring lots on peak days):
• Rate: daytime (7:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m.) — CNY 3.5 for the first hour, then CNY 4.2 per additional hour; night — CNY 2.8 per hour; 24-hour maximum — CNY 35
• Features: 24-hour access, elevators leading directly to the check-in hall
🅿️ Parking near the Ganghang Building (港航大厦) — an alternative option a few minutes' walk away, usually less crowded on peak liner-call days.
⚠️ About renting a car in Xiamen: to drive in China, a foreigner needs a Chinese driver's license — international driving permits and Ukrainian licenses are not recognized, and obtaining one for a short stay is practically impossible. For most Ukrainian travelers, self-drive car rental is therefore not a realistic option; use a taxi, the Didi app, or a Four Gates Group transfer instead.
🛣️ GPS route: from the airport and the island center, the most convenient route is via Dongdu Road (东渡路) to Donggang Road (东港路) — this road leads directly to the terminal. The port operates a one-way traffic scheme, with the main exit via the southern access road (南通道).
♿ Accessibility for passengers with reduced mobility
The new terminal, opened in 2025, was designed with modern accessibility standards in mind:
✅ Elevators, escalators, and ramps on all floors of the terminal building
✅ The «邮轮中心» metro station is equipped with elevators for passengers with reduced mobility
✅ Terminal staff assist with boarding upon prior request — inform the cruise line or your Four Gates Group manager of your needs in advance
✅ The Didi app allows booking a vehicle with extra space for a wheelchair (the «无障碍车» option), although availability of such vehicles is limited
⏰ When to arrive at the cruise terminal
The Xiamen International Cruise Center simultaneously serves sailings where Xiamen is the port of departure (homeport) and liner calls where the city is a port of call during the itinerary. Your arrival time depends on your scenario:
🔵 Scenario 1 — port of call (a stop during your cruise)
If your ship is only calling at Xiamen for a few hours, the key priority is returning to the ship on time.
• Deadline to return to the ship: usually 60–90 minutes before departure — the exact «all aboard» time is printed on your ship card
• Border and customs control on return is usually faster thanks to the new separated-flow processing system introduced in 2025, but during peak hours (several liners calling at once) allow extra time as a buffer
• Carry your passport and Ship Card — these are the main documents required to return to the ship
🟢 Scenario 2 — port of embarkation/disembarkation (homeport)
If your cruise starts or ends in Xiamen:
• Online check-in: most cruise lines (for example, Adora Cruises) open online check-in several days before departure — complete the form in advance, as this significantly reduces your time at the terminal
• Recommended arrival time: 3–4 hours before the ship's stated departure time
• Luggage handling: terminal porters accept suitcases at the drop-off level near the entrance — luggage is delivered to your cabin separately
• Boarding deadline: usually 90 minutes before departure — arriving late means the ship will leave without you
❗ All Four Gates Group vouchers include the exact check-in time and window for your specific sailing — follow that rather than general guidelines.
💡 Tips from the Four Gates Group experts
Over years of working with Asian destinations, our cruise specialists have gathered tips that will save you time and stress in Xiamen:
📱 Install Didi and Alipay/WeChat Pay in advance. These are the main apps for taxis and payments in China; without them, arranging a ride or paying at a café will be much harder. You can link a foreign bank card to Alipay before you even leave home.
🌐 Download a VPN before arriving in China. Google Maps, Google Translate, and most familiar services are blocked in China; use Amap (高德地图) or Baidu Maps for navigation instead.
🛂 Confirm your visa status in advance. Ukrainian citizens can use the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit through China provided they are travelling on to a third country; separately, since 2024 a special 15-day visa-free entry scheme applies to foreign tour groups arriving on cruise ships at Xiamen. Conditions are periodically updated by border authorities — your Four Gates Group manager will confirm the exact requirements for your sailing when booking your cruise.
💴 Carry cash in Chinese yuan. Despite widespread digital payments, airport taxi drivers, bus conductors, and small vendors often do not accept foreign cards. Exchange CNY 200–300 right at your arrival airport.
🈶 Save the terminal's name in Chinese characters. Show the driver the text «厦门国际邮轮中心» (Xiamen International Cruise Center) — this is far more reliable than the English name, which not all drivers know well.
🕐 Arrive in Xiamen at least a day before boarding. A long flight with multiple connections and the time difference (UTC+8, 6 hours ahead of Kyiv) increase the risk of delays — and the ship will not wait.
🏨 Choose a hotel in the central part of the island (the Xiamen Guandang Road area or the Zhongshan Road waterfront). From there, it is 10–20 minutes to the terminal by taxi or metro, and most of the city's sights are nearby.
📞 Xiamen cruise terminal contacts
Xiamen port border control (information line):+86 592 263 0060
Taxi booking (unified national hotline 95128):95128
China Police: 110
Ambulance: 120
Fire service: 119
Four Gates Group cruise specialists (24/7 for clients):+38 097 653 05 53
Cruise logistics out of Xiamen may seem unfamiliar because of the language barrier and China's specific digital infrastructure, but the port actually has a modern, well-organized transfer system. The Four Gates Group cruise experts help our clients with every step: from choosing the best flight to Xiamen through a convenient hub, to arranging a private transfer with a name sign in the arrivals hall and support throughout every stage of the process. Contact our manager — and your cruise from Xiamen will start without any stress. 🛳️✨
ℹ️ Please note: the information on this page is provided for general reference and is accurate as of the date of publication. Prices, schedules, routes, and visiting conditions may change without notice. Please confirm current details with your Four Gates Group cruise specialist or on the official websites of the relevant venues.
FOUR GATES GROUP — Cruises by Professionals
Хiamen Landmarks and Attractions: A Complete Guide for Cruise Travelers
Хiamen, often called the “Garden on the Sea,” is one of the greenest and cleanest metropolises in China, where the colonial architecture of Gulangyu Island sits alongside Buddhist temples at the foot of Wulao Mountain, and modern skyscrapers neighbor former fishing villages turned bohemian creative quarters. Gulangyu Island, the heart of the city, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Xiamen itself consistently tops rankings of mainland China's most livable cities. For a cruise passenger whose call typically lasts 8–10 hours, the key is to plan the route in advance, since distances between landmarks in this city are greater than they appear on the map. Below is a verified guide to the key locations, with up-to-date 2026 prices, opening hours, and precise directions from the Xiamen International Cruise Terminal (Dongdu) to each site. 🎯
🏝️ 1. Gulangyu Island (鼓浪屿)
💡 Interesting facts and background:
Gulangyu is a tiny island of just 1.88 km² (0.73 sq mi), located 600–700 meters from Xiamen's old town, where motor vehicles are completely banned: the only transport here is service carts and visitors' own two feet. That is why the island is sometimes called “Asia's largest open-air pedestrian museum.” In 2017, Gulangyu was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a “Historic International Settlement.”
🔹 The island preserves more than 930 buildings in a colonial style dating from the late 19th to early 20th century — a legacy of the era when consulates of 13 nations operated here, including Britain, Japan, the United States, Spain, and the Netherlands.
🔹 Gulangyu is known as the “Piano Island”: in the first half of the 20th century, it had the world's highest concentration of pianos per capita. The island is home to China's only dedicated Piano Museum, built around the private collection of pianist Hu Youyi.
🔹 Sunlight Rock (日光岩, Riguangyan), standing 92.7 meters tall, is the island's highest point and its main viewpoint, offering panoramic views of all of Gulangyu, the strait, and mainland Xiamen.
🔹 Shuzhuang Garden (菽庄花园) is a private early-20th-century garden built by Taiwanese merchant Lin Erjia, featuring an elegant system of pavilions known as “forty scenes on twelve acres,” with direct access to the sea.
🔹 The island has a permanent population of about 13,000, yet it receives up to 60,000–80,000 visitors on peak days, so tickets to the paid attractions should be planned in advance.
📜 History:
Until the mid-19th century, Gulangyu was an ordinary fishing island. Things changed after the Second Opium War: in 1902, the island was officially declared an International Settlement under the joint administration of the consular corps of thirteen nations. Foreign diplomats, missionaries, and merchants built villas, churches, hospitals, and schools in an eclectic style that blended European, American, and southern Chinese (Minnan) architectural traditions.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, foreign missions left the island and the villas became communal housing. In the 1980s, Gulangyu was turned into a resort area, and in 2017 UNESCO recognized it as a World Heritage Site for its unique blend of architectural styles and well-preserved historic landscape.
🚢 Getting there from the cruise port:
• Daytime tourist ferry: the pier for foreign visitors is located directly within the Xiamen International Cruise Terminal complex at Dongdu — getting from the ship's berth to the ferry boarding point takes 10–15 minutes by taxi or the port's internal shuttle
• Crossing time: 8–10 minutes by boat to Sanqiutian or Neicuo'ao pier on the island
• ❗ Important: ferry tickets are name-registered, and a passport is required for purchase; the ticket is valid for the return trip for 20 days, so keep it after arrival
💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Standard ferry (round trip): about 35 CNY
• Luxury boat (round trip): about 50–80 CNY
• Sunlight Rock: 50 CNY (includes the Koxinga Memorial Hall, the bird park, and the cable car)
• Shuzhuang Garden: about 30 CNY, or included in the island's combined ticket
• Piano Museum: included in the Sunlight Rock combined ticket
• Opening hours (2026): summer 8:30 a.m.–6:45 p.m., winter 8:30 a.m.–6:15 p.m.
⚠️ IMPORTANT: daytime ferries to the island run only from the Dongdu pier at the cruise terminal; after 6:30 p.m. tourist routes shift to the downtown port. Plan your return to the ship with a time buffer.
⛩️ 2. Nanputuo Temple (南普陀寺)
💡 Interesting facts and background:
Nanputuo is one of the most important Buddhist temples in southern China, dedicated to the bodhisattva Guanyin, the goddess of mercy. Its name means “Southern Putuo,” honoring Mount Putuo in Zhejiang province, the principal shrine of the Guanyin cult in China.
🔹 The temple sits at the foot of the five peaks of Wulao Mountain (“Mountain of the Five Old Men”), and the complex includes the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Hall of the Great Hero, the Hall of Great Compassion, and a sutra library.
🔹 The temple runs a vegetarian dining hall where, for a modest fee, visitors can sample authentic Buddhist cuisine — dishes made without meat, garlic, or onion.
🔹 The temple is an active monastery and also home to the Minnan Buddhist Academy, one of China's leading centers of Buddhist education.
🔹 A lotus pond at the entrance and thick clouds of incense over the courtyard make this one of the most atmospheric spots in Xiamen, despite its popularity with visitors.
📜 History:
The temple was founded in the late Tang dynasty (late 9th–early 10th century), though its present appearance dates largely from a major reconstruction during the Qing dynasty, funded by Admiral Shi Lang after Taiwan was brought under imperial control. Over the centuries the complex was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, and most of the current halls date from the 20th century.
🚢 Getting there from the cruise port:
• Taxi / DiDi (China's Uber equivalent): 20–25 minutes, roughly 30–38 CNY
• Metro plus walking: Metro Line 2 from “Cruise Center” station (邮轮中心站, located right by the cruise terminal) toward downtown, then transfer to a bus or taxi to the temple; about 45–60 minutes total
• 💡 Tip: the temple is just 500 meters from the main gate of Xiamen University, so both sites are easy to combine in one visit
💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Admission: free (the entrance fee was abolished in 2023), but advance online registration is required through the official Nanputuo booking platform — entry slots are assigned by the hour
• Opening hours (2026): daily 8:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
• Vegetarian dining hall: lunch is served at set hours, dishes from 15–20 CNY
⚠️ Tip from Four Gates: without a pre-booked entry slot you may be turned away even during a short port call — confirm registration details with your cruise manager in advance.
🎓 3. Xiamen University (厦门大学)
💡 Interesting facts and background:
Xiamen University is one of China's most beautiful university campuses and the country's oldest private higher-education institution, founded by the renowned philanthropist Tan Kah Kee, an ethnic Chinese (huaqiao) businessman based overseas. The campus sits directly on the seafront, at the foot of Wulao Mountain and next to Nanputuo Temple.
🔹 The old campus architecture blends classic Chinese upturned-eave roofs with Western colonnades — a style often called “Chinese-Western palace style.”
🔹 The campus houses a Lu Xun Memorial Hall, dedicated to the celebrated Chinese writer who taught here in 1926–1927 — the only university-based museum for the writer in China.
🔹 Furong Lake and the campus's emerald lawns make it a favorite photo spot not only for tourists but for Xiamen locals as well.
🔹 The campus is considered one of the hardest places in China for “unregistered” visitors to enter — admission is strictly by registration.
📜 History:
The university was founded in 1921 — the first university in Chinese history established with private funds by an overseas Chinese émigré. Tan Kah Kee, who had made his fortune in the rubber and shipping trade in Singapore, invested most of his wealth in the project, aiming to give his homeland a modern, Western-style education. Today the university belongs to the elite “Project 985” group of China's most prestigious mainland institutions.
🚢 Getting there from the cruise port:
• Taxi / DiDi: 20–25 minutes, roughly 30–38 CNY (same area as Nanputuo Temple)
• Visitor entrance: through the guest checkpoint at the South Gate (next to Nanputuo Temple)
💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Campus admission: free, but advance online registration is required, with a passport check at the entrance
• Weekday visiting hours: 10:30–11:30 a.m., 1:00–2:00 p.m., 4:30–5:30 p.m.
• Weekend and public holiday visiting hours: wider windows throughout the day — check the university's official website
• Private vehicles and coaches are not allowed onto the campus
⚠️ IMPORTANT: the narrow entry windows mean that with a short port call, a campus visit should be planned in advance and timed precisely against the schedule — otherwise there is a real risk of missing the window.
💣 4. Hulishan Fortress (胡里山炮台)
💡 Interesting facts and background:
Hulishan Fortress is a late-19th-century coastal fort, known in China as the “gateway of southern Fujian and the key to the southern seas.” It is one of the best-preserved coastal fortifications from the “Self-Strengthening Movement,” the Qing dynasty's effort to modernize its military along Western lines.
🔹 The main attraction is a 280 mm Krupp cannon, recognized by Guinness World Records and Chinese heritage experts as the world's oldest surviving 19th-century coastal cannon still in its original position.
🔹 Daily at 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., the site hosts a costumed re-enactment of a “Qing-dynasty cannon-firing ceremony” — a popular spectacle among visitors.
🔹 The fortress covers more than 70,000 m², divided into a battle platform, barracks, and a rear hillside zone with underground tunnels and powder magazines.
🔹 On clear days, the islands of Kinmen (Taiwan) are visible from the fort's walls, making it a symbolic vantage point on the border of the two shores of the Taiwan Strait.
📜 History:
The fortress was built in 1894, the 20th year of Emperor Guangxu's reign, as part of a program to strengthen the Qing empire's maritime defenses following earlier setbacks against Western powers. Its hybrid architecture — semi-underground European-style fortifications combined with Ming-Qing era Chinese building traditions — makes the fort a unique monument of military engineering of its time.
🚢 Getting there from the cruise port:
• Taxi / DiDi: 25–30 minutes, roughly 35–45 CNY. Address: No. 2, Zengcuo'an Road, Siming District
• Combine with: the fort is a 10–15-minute walk from the Zengcuo'an waterfront, so both sites are convenient to visit together
💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Adult ticket: 25 CNY
• Student ticket: 12 CNY
• Senior ticket (65+): 10 CNY
• Opening hours (2026): summer 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., winter 8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
• Ticket purchase: a passport or other valid ID is required
🎨 5. Zengcuo'an (曾厝垵)
💡 Interesting facts and background:
Zengcuo'an is a former coastal fishing village that, over the past two decades, has become Xiamen's most popular creative quarter. Locals jokingly call it “China's most commercialized fishing village.”
🔹 The quarter's narrow lanes are lined with traditional red-brick houses in southern Fujian style, now home to hundreds of art shops, cafes, hostels, and independent design workshops.
🔹 The quarter is especially atmospheric in the evening, when neon signs light up and night food stalls open, serving local street food.
🔹 It sits directly along the Huandao coastal ring road (环岛路) and Baicheng Beach, one of the best city beaches in southern China.
📜 History:
The village was founded as early as the 13th century by the Zeng clan, from whom it takes its name (“cuo'an” being a southern Fujian dialect term for a fishing settlement). For centuries its residents lived by fishing and small-scale trade, until in the early 2000s the nearby Xiamen University student community grew rapidly — that is when young entrepreneurs began renting out empty fishing houses as cafes and hostels, gradually turning the entire village into a tourist magnet.
🚢 Getting there from the cruise port:
• Taxi / DiDi: 25–30 minutes, roughly 35–45 CNY
• Combine with Hulishan Fortress: a 10–15-minute walk along the waterfront
💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Entering the quarter: free (it is simply a residential and commercial district)
• Cafes and snacks: from 10–15 CNY for a drink, from 20–30 CNY for street food
• Baicheng Beach: free, open around the clock
🌊 6. Huandao Ring Road (环岛路) and the Island Coastline
💡 Interesting facts and background:
Huandao is a scenic coastal route more than 40 kilometers (25 miles) long, tracing the southeastern shore of Xiamen Island along the sea. It is often called mainland China's most beautiful seafront promenade.
🔹 The route has a dedicated red-asphalt cycling and running path, considered one of the longest continuous coastal bike paths in Asia.
🔹 Along the way are Baicheng Beach, a sculpture park, and the famous “Xiamen – Garden City by the Sea” sculpture group, a popular photo spot with Gulangyu Island in the background.
🔹 Every autumn, the route hosts a leg of the Xiamen International Marathon, one of Asia's most prestigious races.
🚢 Getting there from the cruise port:
• Taxi / DiDi: 20–30 minutes depending on the section of road, roughly 30–45 CNY
• 💡 Tip: the most efficient way is to combine a walk along the coast with a visit to Zengcuo'an and Hulishan Fortress, since all three sites lie along the same stretch of coastline
💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Walking the coastline: free, open around the clock
• Bicycle rental: from 20–30 CNY per hour at rental points along the route
🎨 7. Other Notable Attractions
• 🛍️ Zhongshan Road pedestrian street (中山路) — the main shopping street of old Xiamen, lined with eclectic early-20th-century buildings, with the “Eighth Market” (八市) seafood market nearby. Free admission.
• 🌳 Wanshi Botanical Garden (万石植物园) — one of China's largest tropical botanical gardens, with a collection of more than 6,000 plant species, at the foot of Wulao Mountain. Ticket — about 30 CNY.
• 🎨 Shapowei Creative Quarter (沙坡尾) — a former fishing harbor in the city center, now transformed into an artistic district with galleries, bars, and views of the old port. Free admission.
• 🏛️ Overseas Chinese Museum (华侨博物院) — an exhibition on the history of ethnic Chinese emigration (huaqiao) from Fujian around the world, founded by the same Tan Kah Kee. Free admission.
• 🌉 Wuyuan Bay (五缘湾) — a modern district with a wetland park, a marina, and a bridge with viewing points; a popular spot for a quiet stroll away from the tourist crowds.
🗺️ Three Self-Guided Routes Around Xiamen in 9 Hours
A cruise call in Xiamen typically lasts 8–10 hours. Realistically, you can see 2–4 top landmarks — distances on the main island are greater than in the compact historic centers of Barcelona or Istanbul, and Gulangyu Island requires extra time for the ferry crossing. Below are three options depending on budget and preferences.
🥉 Route 1. Budget — up to 150 CNY per person
⏱️ Total time: 9 hours | 💰 Estimated budget: 100–150 CNY + food
9:00 a.m. — Leave the cruise terminal, ferry to Gulangyu
Buy the ferry ticket (35 CNY round trip) right at the terminal complex; the crossing takes 8–10 minutes.
9:20 a.m.–12:30 p.m. — Gulangyu Island
Wander the colonial streets, climb Sunlight Rock (50 CNY, including the Piano Museum), view Shuzhuang Garden from outside, coffee at a local cafe.
12:30–1:30 p.m. — Lunch on the island
Local Fujian cuisine at a waterfront cafe — from 40–60 CNY per person.
1:30–2:00 p.m. — Ferry back to the port
2:00–2:30 p.m. — Taxi to Zengcuo'an
35–45 CNY, 25–30 minutes.
2:30–4:00 p.m. — Walk around Zengcuo'an and Baicheng Beach
Free, light street-food snacks — 20–30 CNY.
4:00–4:40 p.m. — Taxi back to the port
35–45 CNY.
💰 Cost breakdown:
• Ferry to Gulangyu: 35 CNY
• Sunlight Rock: 50 CNY
• Round-trip taxi to Zengcuo'an: 70–90 CNY
• Food: 60–90 CNY
💸 TOTAL: about 215–265 CNY per person
🥈 Route 2. Optimal — 400–500 CNY per person
⏱️ Total time: 9 hours | 💰 Estimated budget: 450 CNY + food
8:30 a.m. — Leave the port, taxi to Xiamen University / Nanputuo Temple
30–38 CNY, 20–25 minutes. Book your campus entry window in advance.
9:00–10:00 a.m. — Xiamen University
Stroll the campus, Furong Lake, and the Lu Xun Memorial Hall.
10:00–11:00 a.m. — Nanputuo Temple
Visit the halls, the lotus pond, and, if time allows, a vegetarian lunch in the temple's dining hall.
11:15–11:45 a.m. — Taxi back to the cruise terminal and ferry to Gulangyu
35–40 CNY by taxi + 35 CNY for the ferry.
12:00–3:00 p.m. — Gulangyu Island
Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden, lunch at a waterfront restaurant overlooking the strait (80–120 CNY).
3:00–3:30 p.m. — Ferry back to the port
3:30–4:30 p.m. — Free time at the terminal or shopping on Zhongshan Road, time permitting
💰 Cost breakdown:
• Round-trip taxi to the university area: 65–75 CNY
• Ferry to Gulangyu: 35 CNY
• Sunlight Rock: 50 CNY
• Meals (2): 120–180 CNY
• Buffer: 50 CNY
💸 TOTAL: about 420–490 CNY per person
💡 A university campus visit requires advance online registration 1–3 days ahead — coordinate the timing with your cruise manager in advance.
🥇 Route 3. Premium — private tour from 2,500 CNY per group
⏱️ Total time: 9 hours | 💰 Estimated budget: 2,500–4,000 CNY per group + tickets
🏆 What's included:
• ✅ Meet-and-greet with a private driver holding a name sign right at the ship's gangway
• ✅ A comfortable car/minivan for the whole day
• ✅ A licensed Russian- or English-speaking guide
• ✅ Pre-arranged registration for entry to Xiamen University and Nanputuo Temple
• ✅ Priority boarding on the Gulangyu ferry, no queuing
• ✅ Table reservation at a Fujian-cuisine restaurant
• ✅ A flexible route — adjusted on the fly
You can book this through your cruise manager, or contact us directly however is most convenient:
Phone numbers:
• Office: +38 (044) 337 82 01
• Mobile (LifeCell): +380 93 653 05 53
• Mobile (Vodafone): +380 66 653 05 53
• Mobile (Kyivstar): +380 97 653 05 53
Email us
8:30 a.m. — Meet your driver and guide at the terminal
9:00–10:30 a.m. — Xiamen University and Nanputuo Temple with your guide
A private tour with no queues, thanks to pre-arranged access.
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. — Gulangyu Island (priority boarding)
Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden, the Piano Museum, lunch at a waterfront restaurant overlooking the strait — from 150 CNY per person.
2:30–3:30 p.m. — Hulishan Fortress
Skip-the-line entry, viewing the costumed cannon-firing ceremony (per schedule).
3:45–4:45 p.m. — Zengcuo'an and the Huandao waterfront
A private walk through the creative quarter, tasting local street food, photos on Baicheng Beach.
5:00 p.m. — Return to the port in a comfortable car
💰 Cost breakdown:
• Private guide (9 hrs): from 900 CNY
• Driver with car (9 hrs): from 800 CNY
• Priority access and tickets (Gulangyu + Hulishan): about 300 CNY per person
• Lunch at a Fujian-cuisine restaurant: from 150 CNY per person
💸 TOTAL: from 2,500 CNY per group (calculated per group, not per person)
🤝 Four Gates Group arranges private tours of Xiamen with licensed guides, transfer from the ship's gangway, and a guaranteed return on board. Contact your cruise specialist — and your day in Xiamen will be planned perfectly to your taste. 🛳️✨
⚠️ Important to Know Before Going Ashore
🕐 “All aboard” rule: you must be back on board 60–90 minutes before departure. If you are late, the ship will not wait, and catching up with it at the next port will be at your own expense.
🪪 Documents: always carry your passport — it is required both to buy the Gulangyu ferry ticket and to enter Xiamen University. Confirm the entry procedure for your specific shore excursion with your cruise specialist, since China's visa-free transit and group shore-visit rules change from time to time.
💶 Cash and cards: mobile payments (Alipay, WeChat Pay) dominate in China and are hard to set up without a local phone number, so carry cash in yuan (about 300–500 CNY) for small purchases and taxis.
📱 Mobile connectivity and apps: Google services, Google Maps, and most Western apps do not work in China without a VPN. Download offline maps in advance and install DiDi (China's Uber equivalent) — its English-language interface works and accepts foreign bank cards.
👟 Clothing: comfortable shoes for long walks through Gulangyu's car-free lanes. In summer, light clothing and sun protection are essential, as humidity in Xiamen runs high.
🔐 Safety: Xiamen is one of China's safest cities with a low crime rate, but keep a close eye on your belongings in the tourist crowds on Gulangyu.
☕ Language: English is spoken less widely in Xiamen than in Shanghai or Hong Kong; it helps to have a translation app on your phone or printed landmark names in Chinese characters.
ℹ️ Please note: the information on this page is for general guidance and was accurate at the time of publication. Prices, schedules, routes, and visiting conditions may change without notice. For up-to-date information, please check with a Four Gates Group cruise specialist or the official websites of the relevant venues.
FOUR GATES GROUP — Cruises by Professionals