Xiamen in 2 days — island, garden and coast
Two days lets you do Gulangyu properly and still have a full day for the island core, the Botanical Garden and the coast road. Keep day one on the ferry and the old core, and day two on the greener, slower Xiamen rhythm.
Set up Alipay with an international card and passport verification for metro QR, DiDi and bikes. Book the Gulangyu ferry real-name ticket before you fly (up to 15 days ahead) on the "Yujian Xiamen" mini-program. The Xiamen University reservation is a separate online lottery — apply a few days ahead.
Day 1 — Gulangyu & the island core
The headline sights, anchored at Zhongshan Road.
- 08:00 Gulangyu Island by ferry 20 min crossing; book the ordinary cabin ($4.90) ahead.
- 09:00 Sunlight Rock 1 hr — the island's best 360° view; climb early.
- 10:30 Shuzhuang Garden & Piano Museum 1.5 hr — one $4.20 ticket covers both.
- 12:30 Lunch on the island lanes Snacks and seafood near Longtou Road.
- 14:00 Nanputuo Temple 1 hr — free, but book the real-name time slot ahead.
- 15:30 Xiamen University 1.5 hr — free, with an online reservation and lottery.
- 17:30 Zhongshan Road Dinner and the lit arcades to close day one.
Day 2 — Garden, fortress & the coast
The greener Xiamen: plants, a cannon and a sea breeze.
- 09:00 Xiamen Botanical Garden 2.5 hr — the misty rainforest greenhouse is the highlight.
- 12:00 Lunch near Nanputuo Vegetarian options by the temple gate.
- 13:30 Hulishan Fortress 1.5 hr — the Krupp cannon and the sea wall.
- 15:30 Island Ring Road 1.5 hr — flat coastal bike or walk to the Wind Roar Stone.
- 17:30 Shapowei Art Zone & Zengcuo’an Sunset, cafés and seafood to finish.
Practical notes
- Book the ferry first. It is the one thing with no reliable walk-up; everything else is flexible.
- Two reservations. The Gulangyu ferry and the Xiamen University lottery are separate — book both before you fly.
- Zhongshan Road is your hub. Metro line 1, the ferry tram and DiDi all gather near here.
Only one day? See the 1-day plan. Want a day trip? See the 3-day plan, or return to the Xiamen hub.
Itinerary last reviewed: 2026-10-18. Routes are written from established traveller itineraries and the city's own geography; adjust for weather and opening hours on the day.