5 days · China itinerary
Xiamen in 5 days
Island gardens stay with ferry days, temple time, and two flexible coastal days — editorial outline only.
- 5 days
- Xiamen
- unhurried coast
An independent planning outline, not a booked package. Plan your accommodation and confirm current admission and transport arrangements.
Places on this itinerary
- C.City-centre reference
- 1.Gulangyu Island
- 2.Nanputuo Temple
Day by day
Day 1
Gulangyu — villas and piano museums pace
- Main activity
- Gulangyu — villas and piano museums pace
Plan your visit
Gulangyu Island: Gulangyu Island (鼓浪屿) is a heritage stop in Xiamen. Car-free UNESCO-related island of colonial villas and piano culture. Ferry access from downtown; stay overnight if you want quieter mornings.
Visit timing
About 5 hours on site (catalog estimate; travel and queues extra).
Use the city guide to plan travel between sights.
Admission & reservations
Check current admission and opening hours in the linked attraction guides.
Useful guides
Day 2
Gulangyu quieter lanes or second ferry visit
- Main activity
- Gulangyu quieter lanes or second ferry visit
Plan your visit
Gulangyu Island: Gulangyu Island (鼓浪屿) is a heritage stop in Xiamen. Car-free UNESCO-related island of colonial villas and piano culture. Ferry access from downtown; stay overnight if you want quieter mornings.
Visit timing
About 5 hours on site (catalog estimate; travel and queues extra).
Use the city guide to plan travel between sights.
Admission & reservations
Check current admission and opening hours in the linked attraction guides.
Local planning notes
- Split the island rather than rushing every heritage house.
Useful guides
Day 3
Nanputuo Temple
- Main activity
- Nanputuo Temple
Plan your visit
Nanputuo Temple: Nanputuo Temple (南普陀寺) is a heritage stop in Xiamen. Major Buddhist temple beneath Five Old Men Peak. Combine with campus walks nearby.
Visit timing
About 2 hours on site (catalog estimate; travel and queues extra).
Use the city guide to plan travel between sights.
Admission & reservations
Check current admission and opening hours in the linked attraction guides.
Useful guides
Day 4
Island beaches / seafood neighborhoods
- Main activity
- Island beaches / seafood neighborhoods
Heat and typhoon seasons change plans — check local advisories.
Useful guides
Day 5
Departure buffer
- Main activity
- Departure buffer
Confirm which Xiamen station your ticket names.
Useful guides
Where to stay
If staying overnight, compare neighbourhoods near your main sights and transport. Day trips may not need a hotel; no fixed number of nights is assumed.
Xiamen
Siming: Island-side districts near Zhongshan Road and ferry links suit Gulangyu day visits.
Trains and transfers
These are optional onward connections, not transfers required by the itinerary.
Shanghai → Xiamen (HSR)
Coastal corridor from the Yangtze Delta to Fujian’s island-and-gulangyu city.
Budget
Costs to plan
- Accommodation if staying overnight (confirm the number of nights)
- Meals, local transport and optional excursions
- Admission for the attractions listed on each day
What's included on this page
- Suggested daily activities and catalog visit-length estimates
- Links to verified ticket tariffs when the site has them
- Hotel-area orientation and published route guides
- No booking service, live availability or package total
Prices vary by travel date and provider. Only sourced admission prices are quoted within the relevant day cards; other costs are not assumed to be zero.
Before you go
Common questions
Is this a booked tour?
No. This is an editorial itinerary outline. You book travel and admissions independently.
Are the listed travel times and prices live?
No. Rail timings in the catalog are indicative. Confirm schedules, admission and fares for your specific dates.
How many hotel nights do I need?
That depends on when you arrive and leave. The itinerary counts calendar days, not a fixed number of hotel nights.
Sources and updates
This route uses ChinaTravelChina's destination and attraction catalog. Confirm current admission, opening hours and train information on official channels. Dated ticket sources apply only to the named attractions.