Just returned from Xiamen, here's a price guide to help you avoid tourist traps!

Xiamen In-Depth Travel Guide | The Artistic Charm and Lively Atmosphere of the "Garden on the Sea" (Includes Practical Price Guide)

1. Essential Pre-Trip Info
Location: Southeast coast of Fujian Province, core area of Minnan culture, a "Garden on the Sea" combining mountains, sea, islands, and city
Best seasons:
March-May/September-November: Pleasant weather (20-28°C), avoiding typhoon season (July-September), ideal for cycling and hiking
December-February: Warm winter (10-20°C), fewer tourists, perfect for off-peak slow travel
Climate: Subtropical maritime monsoon climate, frequent showers, high humidity (recommend packing foldable umbrellas and dehumidifier bags)
Suggested duration: 3-4 days (covering both classic attractions and in-depth experiences)
Language: Mainly Hokkien, Mandarin widely used
Payment: Mobile payments common, some old shops require cash

2. Transportation Guide
1. Major Transport
Flight: Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport: 10km from downtown, ~¥30 taxi (15 minutes)
Airport Express: ¥15/person (direct to Zengcuoan, Zhongshan Road, etc.)
High-speed rail/train: Xiamen Station (island): Close to downtown, ¥15 taxi to Zhongshan Road
Xiamen North Station (off-island): 25km from downtown, take Metro Line 1 into city (~50 minutes, ¥5 fare)

2. City Transport
Metro: Lines 1/2/3 cover major attractions (¥2-7 per ride, get "Xiamen e-Metro Card" on Alipay)
Bus: ¥1/ride (some tourist routes ¥2, e.g. B3 to Zengcuoan)
Ferry: Gulangyu route: ¥35 round-trip (¥8 for locals, ID required)
Huanggu Sightseeing Cruise: ¥50/person (1 hour, passes by Shimao Twin Towers)
Bike/e-bike rental: Recommended for Huandao Road cycling (Hello Bike ¥1.5/15 minutes, e-bikes ~¥20/hour)

3. Must-Visit Attractions (with ticket prices)
1. Gulangyu (core area)
Ticket: Combo pass ¥95 (includes Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden, Haoyue Park, Organ Museum)
Single attractions: Sunlight Rock ¥50, Shuzhuang Garden ¥30 (recommend buying separately to save time)
Must-try: Longtou Road snacks: Ye's Mochi (¥10), Shen's Minnan rice rolls (¥12)
Bishan Cave graffiti wall: Free photo spot (artsy must-visit)
Gulangyu night tour: ¥198 (includes cruise + show, book in advance)

2. Xiamen University (Siming Campus)
Ticket: Free (requires 1-3 day advance booking via "XMU Reservation System", daily limit 5000)
Hours: Weekdays 12:30-14:00/after 17:30 (open all day weekends)
Must-see: Furong Tunnel: Graffiti corridor (free, wear light colors for photos)
Shangxian Field: Filming location for "Meteor Shower"
Nanputuo Temple: Free (5-minute walk, free incense available)

3. Huandao Road Area
Zengcuoan: Free (food street ~¥30-50/person)
Recs: Mushroom Legend Tempura (¥25), Ashin Thick Toast (¥20)
Huangcuo Beach: Free (best sunrise spot, ~5:30 in summer)
Activities: Sand ATV ¥80/10 minutes, sailing ¥150/person
Shanhai Health Trail: Free (23km total, recommend "Wanshi Cloud Sea" section for city/sea views)

4. Jimei School Village
Ticket: Free (individual attractions may charge)
Must-see: Dragon Boat Pool: Light show (free, Fri/Sat 19:30)
Aoyuan: Tan Kah Kee Memorial (free, ID required)
Shili Long Embankment: Beach camping (free, tents ¥50/hour)
Transport: Metro Line 1 "Gaoqi→Jimei School Village" (sea-crossing section, "subway on the sea")

4. Unique Experiences (per person budget)
1. Minnan Culture
Nanyin performance: Zhongshan Road Nanyin Pavilion (free, Wed/Fri 19:30)
Premium: Gulangyu "Nanyin Elegance" private session (¥128, with snacks)
Puppet show: Siming Intangible Cultural Heritage Center (¥30, weekends 10:00)

2. Water Sports
Sailing: Wuyuan Bay Marina (¥150/50 minutes, life jacket included)
Tip: Choose licensed operators, avoid cheap traps
Paddleboarding: Guanyinshan Beach (¥200/2 hours, with instructor)

3. Nightlife
Shapowei Art Zone: Free (markets, graffiti, trendy shops)
Recs: Juice Bakery (¥25/bread), SAKE NOMI BAR (Japanese-style bar)
Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street: Free (night photos of arcades, try Huang Shengji pork jerky, 1980 braised pork rice dumplings)

5. Food Guide (¥20-80/person)
1. Must-try Snacks
Shacha noodles: Sili Shacha Noodles (¥25/bowl, extra toppings)
Tusundong: Tianhe Ximen Tusundong (¥15, with mustard)
Ginger Duck: Haodelai Ginger Duck (¥68/half, claypot style)
Peanut Soup: Huang Zehe Peanut Soup (¥8, +egg ¥10)

2. Seafood
202 Special Seafood: ~¥80 (try lobster salad, black garlic soup)
Shangqing Seafood Processing: ~¥60 (in Ba Shi Market, choose-your-own seafood)

3. Avoid
Zengcuoan "10 oysters for ¥10" (often farmed, not fresh)
Gulangyu "free samples" (some shops aggressively push overpriced souvenirs)

6. Accommodation (prices vary 3x+ by season)
1. Siming District (convenient)
Budget: Jinjiang Inn (Zhongshan Road, ¥400-600/night)
Boutique: Gulangyu Lijiazhuang Hotel (republic-era villa, ¥800-1500)
Hostel: Zengcuoan Lufei International Youth Hostel (¥80-120/bed)

2. Huli District (near airport/business)
Value: Langham Place Xiamen (¥500-800, with pool)
Design: NOA Hotel (¥600-1000, industrial style + café)

3. Gulangyu (immersive)
B&Bs: Lijiazhuang Hotel or Bishan Mansion (¥600-1200, historic buildings)
Tip: Book 1 month ahead, choose places with luggage service

7. Sample Itinerary (3D2N Classic)
Day1: Old Town & Sunset
AM: Nanputuo Temple → XMU (Furong Tunnel)
Noon: Shapowei Art Zone (lunch at Liangfang, ¥50)
PM: Huandao Road cycling (Huangcuo→Yefengzhai)
Night: Zhongshan Road (dinner: Haoxiang skewers + Bapopo herbal jelly)

Day2: Gulangyu
AM: Sanqiutian Pier → Most Beautiful Corner → Organ Museum
Noon: Longtou Road snacks (Lin's fish balls, Ye's mochi)
PM: Shuzhuang Garden → Gangzaihou Beach → Sunlight Rock (panoramic view)
Night: Gulangyu Concert Hall (free shows, book ahead)

Day3: Culture & Nature
AM: Jimei School Village (Dragon Boat Pool → Aoyuan)
Noon: Shigu Road snacks (Benshui duck noodles, Senshan herbal jelly)
PM: Shili Long Embankment camping → Metro Line 1 sea section
Night: Wuyuan Bay Wetland Park (free light show)

8. Practical Tips
Clothing: Summer: Sun protection + shorts + sandals
Winter: Light down + scarf (windproof jacket needed)
Shoes: Comfortable sneakers (Gulangyu requires 20k+ steps)
Essentials: Mosquito repellent (aggressive beach mosquitos)
Foldable umbrella (frequent showers)
Power bank (few rental spots at attractions)
Safety: Skip overpriced Gulangyu attractions like Shell Museum
Beware taxi drivers pushing "Huangdao sailing" commissions
Local customs: Don't step on temple thresholds or point at Buddha statues

Xiamen is a romantic poem woven from sea breezes and piano melodies. From Gulangyu's international architecture to Shapowei's fishing port vibes, from Huandao Road's coconut-lined shores to Jimei School Village's Tan Kah Kee spirit—this city embraces all with its artistic charm. Take this guide and visit when the phoenix flowers bloom, for a gentle rendezvous with Xiamen.