Xiamen 5 Days 4 Nights In-Depth Travel Guide

Xiamen In-Depth Tour｜5 Days 4 Nights Family Free Travel, Slow Experience of Mountain, Sea, City, and Island

As an experienced travel blogger, when traveling with family in Fujian and focusing on Xiamen, I recommend this comfortable and culturally distinctive route: Gulangyu Island → Zhongshan Road → Shapowei → Nanputuo Temple → Xiamen University → Huandao Road → Zengcuoan → Jimei School Village. The attractions progress from near to far, with a relaxed pace, purely for enjoyment without shopping, highlighting the Minnan style of the "Mountain and Sea City."

📍Day 1-2: Gulangyu Island｜International Architecture and Slow Time on the Piano Island
✅ Must-visit: Arrive on the island before 8 AM (ferry from Sanqiutian Pier, round trip ¥35), check in at the most beautiful corner, Shuzhuang Garden (¥30), and Sunlight Rock (¥50).
✅ In-depth: Walk through the old villa area on Zhangzhou Road, visit Lin Yutang’s former residence, eat shacha noodles and tubeworm jelly on Longtou Road (recommend “Sili” shacha noodles, about ¥15 per person).
❗Avoid pitfalls: Reject “free photo” sales pitches; ask prices first at seafood stalls to avoid being overcharged.

📍Day 3: City Cultural Line｜Old Town Life and Academic Elegance
Morning: Nanputuo Temple (free, freshly baked vegetarian cakes ¥10/pack) for blessings, adjacent to Xiamen University (advance reservation required! The red walls and green tiles are stunning).
Afternoon: Stroll through Shapowei Art West District, see fishing boats and graffiti coexist, enjoy a cup of local coffee; evening visit Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street, the arcade night view is charming, snacks are concentrated but slightly pricey, recommended to sample lightly.

📍Day 4: Huandao Road｜Coastal Romantic Belt
✅ Recommended cycling route: Baicheng Beach → Music Square → Huangcuo Beach → Yefengzhai, along the way coconut groves, reefs, and sunsets are breathtaking.
✅ Family option: Zengcuoan for browsing creative shops (commercialized, not recommended to stay long).

📍Day 5: Jimei School Village｜Jiageng Architecture and Academic Heritage
30 minutes by car. Visit Jimei Middle School, Guilai Hall, Aoyuan (all free), the Nanyang-style red brick buildings are magnificent, and the seaside promenade is pleasant for a quiet stroll with few people.

💰 Budget Control (5 days 4 nights for 3 family members):
Accommodation: Homestay + budget hotel ¥300/night ×4 = ¥1200
Meals: Snacks + home-style dishes ¥80/person/day ×3×5 = ¥1200
Tickets + ferry ≈ ¥600 (most attractions are free)
City transportation (BRT + taxi) ≈ ¥400
👉 Total cost about ¥3400, about ¥1130 per person, friendly for general consumers!

💡 Is self-driving suitable? Partially recommended!
Parking is difficult in the city, and cars are banned on Gulangyu Island. It is recommended to park at the cruise center or hotel, and use BRT, ferry, and taxis within the city for easier travel.

In Xiamen,
the most beautiful scenery is not in the tourist spots,
but in the piano sounds on Gulangyu Island in the early morning,
in a bowl of fish ball soup drifting from the old fishing port of Shapowei.
Slow down, and with your family,
walk through the mountains and sea, and encounter the gentle years of a city.