Xiamen has intercity air transport, train transport, and coach transport. Transportation within Xiamen is also very convenient: we have information on taxis, city buses, ferries, and cycling. It's very convenient for you to travel to Xiamen and its main attractions (Gulangyu Island and Yongding's Earth Buildings).
Xiamen Air Travel
Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (厦门高崎国际机场) is merely 10 kilometers (6 miles) from downtown. It has daily domestic flights to more than 40 large cities in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Guilin, and regional tourist destinations like Mount Putuo and Mount Wuyi.
It also has direct international flights to Hong Kong, Macau, Bangkok, Singapore, Manila, Seoul, Amsterdam, and Osaka.
Direct Flights to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong
| Destination | Departure | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Guangzhou (Baiyun Airport) | 07:00, 09:05, 09:50, 12:00, 14:20, 16:00, 17:30, 18:55, 19:00, 20:55, 21:45, 22:15 | 1h 20m |
| Shenzhen (Bao'an Airport) | 06:50, 06:55, 07:00, 08:50, 09:30, 10:20, 10:45, 12:00, 15:15, 15:20, 15:40, 16:10, 16:35, 17:40, 20:15 | 1h 10m |
| Hong Kong (Hong Kong Airport) | 07:45, 10:10, 12:10, 15:05, 18:45, 20:00 | 1h 30m |
Airport – City Center Transport
- 1. Airport Shuttle Bus
Xiamen Rapid Transit BusThe airport shuttle bus runs between the airport and Xiamen Railway Station (厦门火车站), available from 08:30 to the last flight of the day.
Pick up location: a 5-minute walk west from the arrival hall exit
Ticket fare: 10 yuan
- 2. City Public Bus
Pick up location: T3 Terminal Building
You can also take a public bus (1 yuan) between the airport and Xiamen urban area.
| Public Bus | Main Destination | Runs |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | The First Pier (第一码头, at the Ferry Terminal) | 06:15 – 22:00 |
| 37 | Xiamen Train Station (厦门火车站(湖东)) | 06:20 – 00:10 |
| 41 | Duty Free Area (保税区) | 06:30 – 21:40 |
- 3. By Taxi
The driving time from the airport to the city center is less than 30 minutes.
Xiamen Trains
Xiamen Station - Ordinary Trains
Every day more than 100 ordinary trains come and go from Xiamen Railway Station. Direct connections include north to Beijing, south to Guangzhou, and west as far as Xi'an, Chongqing, and Kunming. For regular trains search here.
- Xiamen Station (厦门站): at the junction of Xiahe Road (厦禾路) and Hudong Road (湖东路). Take bus 16, 21, 28, or 37.
Xiamen North Station - High-Speed Trains
Shenzhen, Quanzhou, Fuzhou, Wenzhou, Ningbo, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Suzhou, and Shanghai, are on the High-Speed Railway (HSR) through Xiamen North Train Station.
There are many high-speed trains between Xiamen North and Shenzhen North Station. From there you can take a high-speed train to Guangzhou, or a bus or subway train to Hong Kong.
- Xiamen North Station (厦门北站): Houxi Town, Jimei District. Take bus 690, 790, 890, 901, 905, 907, 936, 950, 953, or 980.
Xiamen Bus/Coach travel
Direct buses depart to many domestic cities, as far north as Shanghai and Nanjing, and as far south as Guangzhou, but journeys are longer and pricier than for trains.
Bus travel is best for regional attractions. For example, bus is the best way to Yongding (famous for Hakka Earthen Buildings), apart from private transport (see our tour services below).
Three Main Bus Stations in Xiamen:
- Fanghu Long-Distance Bus Station (枋湖长途汽车站)
Address: 5 Jinhu Road, Huli District (湖里区金湖路5号)
City buses: 7, 15, 18, 31, 42, 49, 68, 81, 82, 85, 86, 118, 132, 134, 652, 757, 845, and 945.
- Hubin Long-Distance Bus Station (湖滨长途汽车站)
Address: 59 Hubin South Road, Siming District (湖滨南路59号)
City buses: 10, 15, 20, 25, 27, 43, 45, 99, 122, 656, 758 and 856 to Binnan Long-Distance Bus Station (滨南长途汽车站)
- Jimei Long-Distance Bus Station (集美长途汽车站)
Address: 159 Jimei Yinjiang Road (集美银江路159号)
City buses: 617, 620 651, 655, 658, 659, 791, 892, 950, 953, 954, and 981.
Direct Buses from Xiamen to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong
| Destination | Departure | Duration | Yuan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guangzhou | 08:20, 08:45, 18:45, 19:10, 21:20, 21:35 | 9h 46m | 250 |
| Shenzhen | 22:00, 22:25 | 8h 17m | 247 |
| Hong Kong | 08:00, 08:20, 08:50, 21:30, 21:50, 22:20 | 8h 56m | 250 |
We only recommend traveling from Xiamen to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong by bus if you can't get a train (or flight), as the price is higher than for train tickets, and the journey is over 8 hours.
Buses to Yongding's Earth Buildings (Yongding Tulou)
If you intend to visit the Earthen Buildings at Yongding, the best choice is to catch the bus from Xiamen to Yongding Tulou (永定土楼).
| From | To | Departs | Duration | Yuan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hubin Long-Distance Bus Station | Yongding Tulou | 6:50, 7:10, 9:10, 12:40, 13:00 | 4 h | 58 |
The bus stops at Zhangzhou City, Nanjing Town, Shuyang Town, Hukeng Town (for the Hongkeng Earthen Building Complex) and Xiayang Town (for the Chuxi Earthen Building Complex).
If you can't get a direct bus, you can also get to the Earthen Buildings from Xiamen via Yongding Town.
| From | To | Departs | Duration | Yuan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hubin Long-Distance Bus Station | Yongding Town | 07:10, 07:50, 09:50, 12:20, 13:00, 13:50, 16:00 | 4 h | 50–75 |
| Yongding Bus Station | Hukeng Town | 09:00, 09:30, 13:00, 15:00, 17:20 | 40 min | 15 |
From Hukeng to Other Earth Buildings
Gaobei Earthen Building Complex: 4 km northeast (2.5 mi, a 15-minute drive) - includes Chengqi Building, 承启楼, the largest earthen building
Nanxi Earthen Building Complex: 5 km southwest (2.7 mi)
Chuxi Earthen Building Complex: 10 km southwest (6 mi)
Xiamen Ferries/Cruises
Xiamen is a graceful costal city, popular for its islands. It has ferries to Gulangyu Island (鼓浪屿), and Kinmen (金门) Island.
To Gulangyu Island
The ferry departs to/from Gulangyu every 20–30 minutes and takes about 8 minutes.
| Piers | Departs | Yuan |
|---|---|---|
| Xiagu–Neicuo'ao (厦鼓码头–内厝澳码头) | Winter: 7:20–17:20 Summer: 7:20–18:20 | 50 |
| Xiagu–Sanqiutian (厦鼓码头–三丘田码头) | Winter: 7:10–17:30 Summer: 7:10–18:30 | 35 |
| Songyu–Neicuo'ao (嵩屿码头–内厝澳码头) | Winter: 7:30–17:50 Summer: 7:30–18:50 | 30 |
| Lundu–Sanqiutian (night cruise) (轮渡码头–三丘田码头) | Winter: 17:50–23:45 Summer: 18:50–23:45 | 35 |
To Kinmen
Ferries run to Taiwanese Kinmen Island (金门Jīnmén) from Xiamen Wutong Port (厦门五通码头), northeast Xiamen Island, 11 km from Xiamen Railway Station and 7 km from Xiamen Airport. It is only 13 km (8 mi) or 30 minutes to Shuitou Port, Kinmen.
| Ferry | Departs |
|---|---|
| Xiamen–Kinmen | 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 11:00, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30 |
| Kinmen–Xiamen | 08:00, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30 |
Xiamen City Transport
City Buses
The city bus network in Xiamen is well developed. Public buses are 1 yuan in summer and 2 yuan in winter.
There are also special-line minibuses. The names of the starting and ending stops are in the bus window. You can catch one en route. The fare depends on the distance you travel, at least 1 yuan, payable on boarding. These minibuses are usually used by locals. They're very convenient if you can read the signs or know which one to take, because they often stop if you wave for them, and they may stop when you call out to get off.
Day Sightseeing Bus - Xiamen Island Circuit
Distance: 50 km, 1 hour 30 minutes
Major Stops: (Hubin Long-Distance Bus Station) – Jinyuan Mansion Square (金源大厦广场, the starting point) – Great Hall of The People (人民大会堂) – Tourist Ferry Terminal (旅游客运码头) – Heping Port (和平码头站) – Hulishan Battery (湖里山炮台) – Peal Bay (珍珠湾) – Taiwan Folk Village (台湾民俗村) – Haiyun Tai (海韵台) – Yefeng Village (椰风寨) – Convention Center (会展中心) – Zhongzhai Wan Bridge (中宅湾大桥) – Jinyuan Mansion Square
Departs: 08:40–16:40 (every 40 minutes, except the 12:00, 13:00, and 14:00)
Fare: 20 yuan usually, or 30 yuan on weekends and public holidays (children under 1.4 meters pay half)
Good to know: Keep the ticket if you get off at a stop for sightseeing, and then you can get on the bus again (the same day). However, you cannot get on the bus twice at the same stop.
Night Sightseeing Bus
Distance: 60 km, 2 hours
Major stops: Jinyuan Mansion Square – Hubin West Road – Hubin North Road – Lianyue Road – Xianyue Road – Jiahe Road – Lianban – Hubin South Road – Lujiang Avenue – Yanwu Bridge – Baicheng (furthest stop) – Lujiang Avenue – Xiahe Road – Shifu Avenue – Jinyuan Mansion Square
Departs: 19:30 (Monday to Thursday); 19:30 and 20:30 (Friday); 19:30, 20:00, 20:30 (weekends)
Taxis
There are plenty of taxis, charging 8 yuan for the first 3 kilometers (about 1.9 miles), and 2 yuan for each additional kilometer.
Bicycles
Bicycle rental shops are mostly along Huandao Road (环岛路), the quiet and beautiful road along the coast of Xiamen Island. The deposit is about 300 yuan, and cost varies, from about 10 yuan per hour.
Recommended Xiamen Tours
If you are planning a tour to Xiamen, please see our popular tours below for inspiration:
- 3-Day Xiamen, Gulangyu, and Tulou Relaxed Tour - Relaxed Weekend Tour
- 5-Day Xiamen, Tulou and Wuyi Mountain Tour - Cultural and ScenicTour
Not interested in the above tours? Our tours can be tailor-made. Just tell us your interests and requirements, and we will create a perfect Xiamen tour for you.