Weather: It is cool, dry and often sunny in December. Temperatures continue to fall in December. There is only about 29 mm or 1 inch of total rainfall during the entire month. The month sees about 26 days without any rain. The minimum temperature is 12 °C (53 °F), and the maximum temperature hits 19 °C (66 °F).
The weather is generally fine for tourists! It is a low tourism and travel month for Chinese, so you can enjoy the outdoor attractions and market streets with fewer crowds. See the current weather and forecast>>
Clothing: The weather is cooler, and you should bring coats or sweaters.
Things to Do
Zhongshan Road Walk StreetEnjoy the street markets: There are two street markets we recommend where you can sample the local food, shop, and experience the culture. One is Zhongshan Road Walking Street. It is an excellent place to stroll around. There are local brand name shops as well as independent sellers and small stalls. It is in Siming District on Zhongshan Road (厦门思明区中山路).
We also recommend Taiwan Food Street in Renhe Road. It was the first Taiwanese Food Street in Chinese mainland. The Taiwanese developed their own style of cuisine, and without going there, you can sample all kinds of authentic Taiwanese food. The 200 meter stretch contains outlets and shops from Shilin Night Market in Taipei, the Fengjia Night Market in Taichung and the Liuhe Night Market in Kaohsiung. Renhe Road is in Siming District (厦门市思明区人和路).
Take a boat trip on the Lu River: A prime way to relax during your tour or on a business trip is to take a river cruise. While enjoying something to eat or drink, you can see some local highlights. You might see Gulangyu Island or the old Hulishan Fort depending on the route, and at night, you can see the city lights.
Xiamen UniversitySee Xiamen University: For local sightseeing, the campus of Xiamen University has both architectural beauty and interesting attractions. The university was established with overseas Chinese funds before WWII. See the beautiful buildings that combine Chinese and Western architectural styles and attractive Lotus Lake.
Besides the lake, there is an anthropology museum (人类学博物馆, Rénlèixué Bówùguǎn). You can see Chinese historical artifacts and learn about the history of the region. The university is near an extensive woodland area on the eastern side of the city. Bus 1 goes to the gate of the campus.
Shoulder Travel Month
December falls during the low travel season. Few tourists visit the city, and discounts on hotel rooms and flights are easy to obtain. You can book your flight and train tickets through us, and we might be able to find a discount and deliver the tickets to you conveniently. Why wait in lines at stations for tickets? We can help you book a hotel room that you'll like and perhaps even find a discount and arrange an enjoyable tour with fine meals.
Popular Tours to Xiamen
Earthen buildings, Yongding TulouIf you are planning a Xiamen tour, please see our recommended tours below for inspirations:
- 3-Day Xiamen, Gulangyu, and Tulou Relaxed Tour — Relaxed Weekend Tour
- 5-Day Xiamen, Tulou and Wuyi Mountain Tour — Cultural and Scenic Tour
Not interested in the above tours? Just tell us your interests and requirements, China Highlights will tailor-make you a perfect Xiamen tour.
Take advantage of the newly-opened bullet trains between Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Xiamen. You can travel between Hong Kong and Xiamen in only four hours at 200 kilometers per hour, and it is worth doing just for the novelty; and it is about 5 times cheaper than a flight. You can modify as per your interests to include Hong Kong, Macau, and Shenzhen too.
Further Reading
Xiamen Climate Information by Month
- Xiamen Weather in January
- Xiamen Weather in February
- Xiamen Weather in March
- Xiamen Weather in April
- Xiamen Weather in May
- Xiamen Weather in June
- Xiamen Weather in July
- Xiamen Weather in August
- Xiamen Weather in September
- Xiamen Weather in October
- Xiamen Weather in November
- Xiamen Weather in December