Xiamen City Tour: Free Transit Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Buses & One-Day Routes

Xiamen City Tour

Xiamen sits on a small island in the Taiwan Strait, with most major sights within a 30-minute ride of each other. That compact geography is why a one-day xiamen city tour works: a ferry hop, a coastal fortress, a temple, and a school village on the mainland can all fit into a single daylight block. For travelers with longer stays, the same route stretches easily into two days.

This guide covers the three practical ways to do it. First, the free Xiamen Airlines transit tour for passengers on long layovers. Second, the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus for self-paced days on the island. Third, a one-day land itinerary that links Gulangyu, South Putuo, Hulishan, and Jimei in sequence.

Quick Facts

Xiamen Airlines Free City Tour for Transit Passengers

Xiamen Airlines and Xiamen Gaoqi Airport run a free city tour for transit passengers. It is the most-searched variant of a xiamen city tour.

Eligibility runs 8 to 24 hours on a single ticket. Meanwhile, booking is walk-in at the airport's transit tour counter in the international arrivals area.

The tour itself is free. It includes an air-conditioned coach, a Mandarin-speaking guide, and a fixed route of 2 to 3 marquee stops on the island. However, English is limited. In addition, a fixed rejoin time at the airport applies.

As a result, the route usually covers South Putuo and Hulishan Fortress. For example, Gulangyu is sometimes included when ferry timing fits.

Who Qualifies and How to Book

Transit passengers qualify with a single ticket, an 8 to 24-hour layover, a valid passport, and a confirmed onward boarding pass. Booking is walk-in at the transit tour counter; there is no advance reservation.

Tours cap at 20 to 30 passengers on a first-come basis. Bring the layover printout, expect a security re-clearance, and keep checked luggage with the airline.

Meanwhile, visa-free transit passengers from 53 eligible countries can join without a Chinese visa, as long as they hold an onward ticket to a third country.

What the Free Tour Covers

Ground transport in an air-conditioned coach, a Mandarin-speaking guide, a fixed 2 to 3-stop itinerary on Xiamen Island, and basic travel insurance for the layover window. The full round-trip — including airport security and re-clearance — runs 4 to 6 hours.

• Meals: not included.
• Ferry tickets: for Gulangyu, only included when the route covers the island.
• Deviations: souvenirs and any stop outside the group route.

Most attraction admissions on the route are free or under about $3 (¥20).

🌳 Explore Another Major Coastal Island: If you enjoy the relaxing island vibe and breezy coastal routes of Xiamen, you might also like to discover East China's massive eco-island getaway located just outside Shanghai. Check out our travel guide to Shanghai Chongming Island.

Xiamen Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus

The hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus is the other dominant search intent behind "xiamen city tour" that self-guided visitors use. It is a double-decker bus that loops the island's main stops — Gulangyu ferry pier, South Putuo, Hulishan Fortress, and the Jimei direction — on a fixed route.

Tickets are sold on the bus, at the airport tourist desk, and on the major booking channels. As a result, two main products exist: a 24-hour pass and a 48-hour pass; a night route is sold seasonally. Audio runs in Mandarin and English, and the upper deck is open-top.

A 24-hour pass runs about $15–20 (¥108–140). A 48-hour pass runs about $20–28 (¥140–198). The bus suits first-time visitors who want a self-paced day on the island.

Routes, Stops and Ticket Tiers

Stops run in order from Lundu Pier south along the coast to the Jimei direction; the night route covers the same stops with a coastal emphasis.

Hours, Frequency and Where to Board

First departure is around 08:30–09:00 and last departure around 17:00–18:00. The night route's first departure is around 19:00 in peak season.

• Lundu Pier: the main Gulangyu ferry terminal.
• Airport shuttle drop-off: at the Wushipu sightseeing-bus hub.
• Xiamen Railway Station south square: convenient for HSR arrivals.
• Wushipu sightseeing-bus hub: the central boarding point on the island.

Buses run every 25 to 40 minutes in peak season (April–October) and every 40 to 60 minutes in low season. A full xiamen city tour on this product takes a complete day if you ride the loop plus 2 or 3 hop-offs.

🌊 Discover More Spiritual Island Retreats: While Xiamen offers a great mix of beaches and history, China's coast is also home to incredibly sacred offshore sanctuaries famous for their temples and ocean views. Plan your next maritime adventure with our guide to Putuoshan Island.

Top Stops on a Xiamen City Tour

Four stops anchor almost every xiamen city tour. Three sit on Xiamen Island itself; the fourth, Jimei, is on the mainland and pairs with a return to the airport.

Gulangyu Island

The Gulangyu Island

Gulangyu is a car-free UNESCO-listed island, a 20-minute ferry from Lundu Pier on Xiamen Island. Ferry fare runs around $2–3 (¥15–35) one way. Half a day is the practical minimum for a xiamen city tour that includes it. Main sites: Piano Museum, Shuzhuang Garden, the international settlement villas, and a coastal viewpoint at the highest point.

South Putuo Temple

The South Putuo Temple

South Putuo Temple has free entry on the southeast coast of Xiamen Island, next to Xiamen University. Opening hours run roughly 05:00–19:00. It is one of the major Buddhist temples in southern Fujian and also hosts the South Fujian Buddhist Academy. A vegetarian restaurant on site serves lunch for about $5–8 (¥35–55) per person. It pairs naturally with Hulishan Fortress, a 15-minute drive north.

Hulishan Fortress

The Hulishan Fortress

Hulishan Fortress sits at the southern tip of Xiamen Island, with entry around $5 (¥35). Daily hours run 08:00–18:00. Built in 1891, the 13,000 m² site has granite walls and Ming/Qing military architecture. It houses a surviving late-19th-century Krupp coastal cannon (built 1893) and a small military exhibit. It is best paired with the convention center waterfront walk on the same afternoon.

Jimei School Village and Jiageng Park

The Jiageng Park

Jimei School Village sits on the mainland, connected by BRT Line 1 from the Jimei School Village station, about 30 minutes from downtown. Entry is free. Tan Kah-Kee founded 12 schools including Xiamen University in a Chinese-Western "Jiageng" style. Jiageng Park and the tortoise-shaped stone pagodas share the site. A 1–2 hour stop, ideal as the closing leg before returning to the airport.

🌴 Looking for a Larger Tropical Getaway? For travelers who want to extend their coastal journey beyond Xiamen to China's ultimate southern paradise filled with pristine beaches and rainforests, explore our master list of the best Things to Do in Hainan Island, China.

One-Day Xiamen City Tour Itinerary

A practical 8-hour land route fits all four anchor stops into a single daylight block. The plan works as a self-paced xiamen city tour from a downtown hotel, starting at 08:30.

Catch the 08:30 Gulangyu ferry from Lundu Pier and spend 08:50 to 11:30 on the island: Piano Museum, Shuzhuang Garden, and a coastal walk. At 11:45, lunch near South Putuo runs about $5–8 (¥35–55) per person. Then 12:30 to 14:00 at South Putuo Temple, 14:15 to 15:30 at Hulishan Fortress, and 16:00 to 17:30 at Jimei School Village and Jiageng Park via BRT. Return at 18:00.

Total walking is moderate. Taxi legs between attractions typically cost about $2–4 (¥15–25) each. The hop-on hop-off bus covers the same sequence for visitors who prefer not to plan transport. On a short day, skip Jimei and keep the first three stops.

Getting Around Xiamen

Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN) and Xiamen Railway Station are the two main entry points. The island is small; the metro, BRT, and metered taxis cover almost every stop.

From Xiamen Gaoqi Airport

Three options run from the airport to downtown:

• Taxi: about $14–20 (¥100–140), 20–30 minutes off-peak. Best for 2+ passengers and heavy bags.
• Metro Line 1: about $1–2 (¥6–8), 25–35 minutes.
• Airport shuttle: about $2–3 (¥10–20), 35–50 minutes, runs to the Wushipu hub and the train station.

For a xiamen city tour that starts on arrival, the shuttle to Wushipu drops passengers directly onto the hop-on hop-off bus route.

From Xiamen Railway Station

The station sits at the north end of the island, a 5–10 minute taxi ride or a short Metro Line 1 ride to most central hotels and to Lundu Pier for the Gulangyu ferry. A taxi to the ferry terminal costs about $2–3 (¥15–20).

High-speed rail to Quanzhou, Fuzhou, and Shenzhen uses Xiamen North Railway Station on the mainland. HSR travelers from the north need a 30-minute metro or taxi leg back to the island.

BRT, Metro and Taxis

Metro Line 1 is the spine of any island xiamen city tour: Lundu Pier → Zhongshan Road → Jiangjuku → Xiamen University / South Putuo → Gaoqi Airport. Line 2 runs east–west and meets Line 1 at Zhongshan Park. The BRT elevated bus is the fastest way to reach Jimei on the mainland from the island center.

Taxis are abundant during the day. DiDi works with a mainland phone. Payment runs through cash, Alipay/WeChat Pay via the dashboard QR, and the same QR on most buses. Foreign cards are not accepted on public transport.

Booking, Prices and Practical Tips

Foreign visitors should book through channels that support overseas cards. Trip.com and Klook both sell the hop-on hop-off bus, private guided xiamen city tour packages, and Gulangyu ferry combo tickets. Trip.com also sells HSR tickets. Walk-up bus tickets are sold at Lundu Pier and the Wushipu sightseeing-bus hubs.

Prices on Trip.com and Klook:

• 24-hour bus pass: about $15–20 (¥108–140).
• 48-hour bus pass: about $20–28 (¥140–198).
• Private guided 1-day tour, small group: about $100–180 (¥700–1,280) per person.
• Private 1–2 person full-day booking: about $200–320 (¥1,400–2,300).

Tips for a xiamen city tour:

• Season: avoid June to September, the typhoon season.
• Crowds: expect heavy crowds on Gulangyu on weekends.
• Ferry: book Gulangyu ferry timed-entry in advance on Trip.com.
• Bus frequency: reconfirm the bus operator's frequency the day before.

English-language service is reliable on Trip.com and Klook but patchy on the ground. We recommend booking Gulangyu ferry timed-entry in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is there a free Xiamen city tour for transit passengers?

Yes — Xiamen Airlines and Xiamen Gaoqi Airport run a free xiamen city tour for transit passengers with layovers inside the published window (commonly 8 to 24 hours). Book at the airport transit tour counter on arrival; bring your passport and onward boarding pass. English is limited, the route is fixed, and the tour covers 2 to 3 main island stops.

Q: How long is a typical Xiamen city tour?

A self-paced xiamen city tour on the hop-on hop-off bus is a full day on a 24-hour or 48-hour pass. A private guided one-day xiamen city tour is typically 8 hours. The free airport transit tour runs 4 to 6 hours, which is the tightest option for transit-only travelers.

Q: Do I need a visa for a free Xiamen city tour?

Not if you are from one of the 53 countries eligible for China's 144-hour visa-free transit at Xiamen, hold a passport valid for the layover window, and are traveling on to a third country. Otherwise, a regular Chinese visa is required, and the layover tour remains available to the holder.

Q: What is the best time of year for a Xiamen city tour?

October through April is the comfortable window, with October–November and March–April being the mildest. Avoid the June–September typhoon season, when ferries to Gulangyu are sometimes suspended and the hop-on hop-off bus is cancelled on storm days. Spring and autumn weekdays are the least crowded option for any xiamen city tour.

Q: Can foreigners book the hop-on hop-off Xiamen bus tour online?

Yes — Trip.com and Klook both sell 24-hour and 48-hour passes for the xiamen city tour sightseeing bus. Vouchers are exchanged for a boarding ticket at the Lundu Pier or Wushipu sightseeing-bus hub. Walk-up purchase on the bus is also possible, though cashless QR payment in the local currency is the norm for most visitors.

Q: Is Gulangyu Island included in a Xiamen city tour?

Most guided and self-paced itineraries include Gulangyu as a morning stop. The free airport transit tour sometimes includes it, but only if ferry timing fits the rejoin window. The ferry from Lundu Pier takes about 20 minutes and costs around $2–3 (¥15–35) one way. Half a day is the practical minimum on the island.

Q: How much does a private Xiamen city tour cost?

A small-group private guided xiamen city tour runs about $100–180 (¥700–1,280) per person. A private 1–2 person full-day booking runs about $200–320 (¥1,400–2,300). Prices typically include vehicle, guide, and hotel pickup/drop-off; attraction tickets and meals are usually billed separately. We recommend booking through Trip.com or Klook for English-language support.