Xiamen walking tour & city guide

The island city

Old Xiamen grew up around the harbour. Zhongshan Road, a pedestrian shopping street of early 20th-century arcaded buildings, runs down to the waterfront facing Gulangyu, and the lanes around it hide small temples and food stalls. To the south, the old fishing harbour of Shapowei has become a district of studios, cafés and murals, and the Buddhist Nanputuo Temple sits at the foot of a rocky hill beside the campus of Xiamen University.

Along the southeast shore, the Huandao Road coastal path passes beaches, parks and Zengcuo'an, a former fishing village turned into a maze of narrow lanes filled with snack shops and guesthouses. The twin sail-shaped towers of the Shimao Straits Plaza mark the modern skyline.

A classic walk: Gulangyu Island

Take an early ferry to Gulangyu and walk uphill through lanes of colonial villas, churches and banyan-shaded gardens, built when the island was an international settlement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Climb Sunlight Rock, the island's highest point, for views over the harbour and the city skyline, then follow the shore to Shuzhuang Garden and its zigzag bridge over the sea.

Back on the main island, walk Zhongshan Road at dusk and finish with a stroll along the waterfront as the lights come on across the water.

Good to know

October to December and March to May are the most pleasant months; summer is hot and humid, with typhoons possible from July to September. Ferry tickets to Gulangyu should be booked ahead, especially on weekends and holidays. The metro and buses cover the island, and the seaside path is good for walking or cycling.