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XMN / Airport to city

Xiamen Gaoqi Airport
to central Xiamen

For Gaoqi Airport, compare the airport bus with a direct taxi to your island hotel. T4 also has BRT connections. Check your airport name carefully: a move to Xiang’an Airport is planned for the end of 2026.

Independent transfer guide · Reviewed

Compare your options
Aircraft lined up in front of the white steel-and-glass facade of Xiamen Gaoqi Terminal 3
Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Terminal 3 and the apron, photographed in October 2026.Photo: Arnie97 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP; cropped responsively for display.
  • 4 options
  • Night arrivals
  • Official sources

01 / Choose your journey

Which transfer suits you?

Simple hotel arrivalUse your terminal's metered taxi rank with the full address.Lower-cost connectionAsk the Airport Express counter which current route suits your hotel.Arriving at T4Check the BRT route before choosing a bus toward the island center.

Comparison point: Central Xiamen Island / Zhongshan Road area. This guide compares access to hotels on Xiamen Island. Xiamen North railway station, Xiang’an and the Gulangyu ferry terminals are different destinations. Bus fares and journey times depend on the specific route; no fixed taxi price is asserted.

  • Airport Express bus
    Cost
    Check at the counterPer-person fare varies by route and destination
    Journey
    Route and traffic dependentAdd waiting and the trip from the bus stop to your hotel
  • T4 BRT connection
    Cost
    Route-based fareCheck the fare to your chosen BRT stop
    Journey
    Depends on your stopInclude the walk from T4 and any onward connection
  • Metered taxi
    Cost
    Metered vehicle fareExact address, traffic and applicable charges determine the total
    Journey
    Traffic dependentA ferry-terminal journey differs from a hotel journey
  • Prebooked private car
    Cost
    Provider quoteConfirm the full vehicle price, including waiting and tolls
    Journey
    Traffic dependentMeeting time and the exact hotel location change the total

Reference fares and journey estimates from the official sources below, checked 11 November 2026. These are not live quotes. All times are local to Shanghai.

02 / The details

Your transfer options

01 / A hotel near a currently served stop

A blue Shanghai Airport Bus Route 1 coach waiting at East Hongqiao Transport Center

Airport Express bus

Gaoqi's Airport Express counters can help you choose the correct city route. Show the hotel's address before buying a ticket: a bus for Xiamen North or another city is not a substitute for a central island transfer.

Current Airport Express stops in Xiamen

  1. At T3, find the ticket counter opposite Arrival Gate 9; at T4, use the counters at Gate 7 or opposite Gate 3.
  2. Show your hotel address and confirm the stop, fare and next departure.
  3. Follow staff directions to the boarding point and plan the final walk or taxi from your stop.

When it runs: The airport lists counter hours of 05:30–23:00, subject to the counter's current notice. These are not a promise that every bus route operates for that whole period.

Before you choose

A counter being open does not guarantee an immediate bus to your destination. Ask for the actual next service before paying.

Sources: Airport Express counters

02 / A T4 arrival with manageable luggage

A blue Shanghai Airport Bus Route 1 coach waiting at East Hongqiao Transport Center

T4 BRT connection

The airport lists BRT services directly accessible from T4. They serve different city and off-island destinations, so check the route display rather than boarding simply because it leaves the airport.

City or off-island BRT stops, depending on the route

  1. From T4, follow signs for BRT / 快速公交 to the station.
  2. Confirm the direction and stop that work for your hotel before buying a ticket.
  3. Keep your luggage manageable and check any final transfer or walk.

When it runs: Check the current BRT station board for the last service to your destination. No overnight BRT service is assumed here.

Before you choose

This is a T4 connection. A T3 passenger should compare the airport bus or taxi before adding an extra terminal transfer.

Sources: Ground-transport overview

03 / Direct access to your Xiamen Island hotel

A turquoise Shanghai metered taxi on a city street with its roof light visible

Metered taxi

Use Gaoqi's signed city-taxi queue for the most direct trip to an island hotel. The airport identifies Arrival Gate 7 at T3 and Arrival Gate 3 at T4 as the city-taxi boarding points.

Your hotel or confirmed ferry terminal

  1. At T3, follow Taxi signs to Arrival Gate 7; at T4, use Arrival Gate 3.
  2. Show the full destination in Chinese and check that the meter is used.
  3. Keep the receipt, particularly if your luggage contains several separate bags.

When it runs: Use the signed rank and current airport assistance after arrival; check availability if your flight lands very late.

Before you choose

Long-distance taxis for Quanzhou or Zhangzhou are a separate arrangement. For Gulangyu, give the driver the ferry terminal on your ferry booking, not just the island's name.

Sources: Taxi pickup locations

04 / A planned meeting point and luggage space

Signed ride-hailing pickup stand at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport Terminal 1

Prebooked private car

A car arranged through your hotel or chosen provider can simplify the arrival from Xiamen Gaoqi Airport, especially with children or several suitcases. Confirm Gaoqi versus the future Xiang’an airport and T3 versus T4 with the provider; the airport move changes the pickup location completely.

Your Xiamen hotel or agreed ferry terminal

  1. Send the full hotel address, passenger count and luggage details before accepting a quote.
  2. Save the driver's contact, meeting location and included waiting time offline.
  3. Agree any child-seat requirements, tolls, parking charges and cancellation terms in advance.

When it runs: Pickup is by arrangement. Send your flight number and arrival date and confirm how flight delays are handled.

Before you choose

The public taxi queue is not automatically the meeting point for a prebooked car. Use the location on your confirmation. No live transfer price or availability is quoted here.

03 / After baggage claim

Find your pickup point

Check Gaoqi versus Xiang’an

The airport operator's October 1, 2026 filing says Xiang’an is planned to open at year-end and Gaoqi will close at the same time. It does not supply a confirmed switch date. Recheck your airline's airport information before using these Gaoqi directions.

Sources: October 2026 relocation filing

Use the terminal-specific counter or rank

At T3, the express-bus counter is opposite Gate 9 and the city-taxi rank is at Gate 7. At T4, bus counters are at Gate 7 and opposite Gate 3, and the city-taxi rank is at Gate 3. Follow current signs if access has changed.

Sources: Airport Express counters · Taxi pickup locations

04 / Arriving late

Plan your late-night arrival

Check the actual bus departure

The listed Airport Express counter hours finish at 23:00, subject to local notices. Do not treat that as the last departure of every route. Ask staff after baggage collection or use a taxi or a confirmed car booking.

Sources: Airport Express counters

Save a contact at your hotel

A late arrival is easier with the hotel address and phone number stored offline. If you intend to continue to Gulangyu, confirm the ferry terminal and usable sailing separately before leaving the airport.

05 / Ready to go

Tickets, payment and your address

Confirm the route before paying

Airport Express fares depend on where you are going. Ask the counter to identify your destination stop and confirm the accepted payment method; carry a renminbi backup rather than relying on an untested app.

Save the exact address

Keep the Chinese hotel address and, if relevant, your ferry booking's terminal name. Central Xiamen Island, Xiamen North railway station and Xiang’an are different places and should not be used interchangeably.

06 / Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Do these directions apply to the new Xiang’an Airport?

No. This guide describes Gaoqi Airport's T3 and T4. An October 2026 operator filing plans Xiang’an's opening and Gaoqi's simultaneous closure for the end of 2026 without giving a confirmed switch date. Check the airport on your airline's current information.

Is there a direct metro station inside Gaoqi's terminals?

Gaoqi's official ground-transport guide lists airport buses, city buses, T4 BRT and taxis rather than a direct terminal metro connection. Use the current airport signs and compare the bus or taxi options for your arrival terminal.

Where are the taxi ranks at Gaoqi Airport?

The operator lists city-taxi boarding at Arrival Gate 7 in T3 and Arrival Gate 3 in T4. Join the signed queue and show the driver your full destination address.

Can I use the same transfer for a Gulangyu trip?

You will need to reach the ferry terminal specified by your ferry booking first. A central Xiamen hotel, a ferry terminal and Gulangyu itself are different destinations, so confirm the sailing and terminal before selecting your airport transport.

07 / Check the details

Sources and updates

Reviewed . Fares and operating windows are published reference information, not a live feed. Recommendations reflect the tradeoffs described above; check the official operator before traveling.