Xiamen Transpotation

Xiamen has only one airport, which is Gaoqi International Airport. Located on Xiangyun Road in Huli District, it is a certain distance from Xiamen Railway Station, Gulangyu, and Zengcuo'an. Xiamen has three railway stations: Xiamen Station (on the island), Gaoqi Station (on the island), and Xiamen North Station (off the island). If you are coming to Xiamen from Shanghai, Zhejiang, or Guangdong, taking a high-speed bus is a great option. Currently, Xiamen Metro has one line, and within the city, you can also use the Xiamen BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) or regular buses. There is a BRT line connecting the city center to the airport. Xiamen Island is quite small, and taxi fares within the island typically range from 10 to 20 yuan.

Explore Gulangyu Island: A Guided Gulangyu Island Tour of Gardens, Temples, and History 2-Day Xiamen Tour: Discover Gulangyu Island and Coastal Charms

Xiamen Public Transport
Xiamen has an extensive public bus network, with over 200 bus routes currently operating in the city. The main bus terminals are located at Xiamen University, Xiamen Railway Station, and the Ferry Terminal. Both buses and double-decker buses are unstaffed, meaning passengers can either purchase an “E Card” or use loose change to board.

Most buses in Xiamen are air-conditioned. The main bus terminals are the Ferry Terminal, Xiamen University, and the Railway Station. Xiamen’s bus fleet has more than 3,800 vehicles, including regular bus routes, BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) express lines, and linking lines, totaling 314 routes. Public transport operates from 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM, and the average fare is around 1 RMB. There are also special tourist routes and sightseeing buses available.

Recommended Xiamen Public Transport App: Wireless City Palm Bus App

Beautiful Bus Routes in Xiamen:
Route 47: Starting from Software Park, passing through Yunding Mountain Tunnel, and along Huandao Road, ending at Xiamen University West Village.

Suburban and Near-suburban Buses
Buses to suburbs and nearby areas like Jimei, Tong’an, Xiang’an, and Haicang depart from the island, with fares based on the actual distance to the destination.
Bus Routes by Area:
Island Area Group: Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, etc.
Tong'an Group: Routes 600, 601, 602, 603, etc.
Xiang’an Group: Routes 700, 701, 703, 704, etc.
Haicang Group: Routes 801, 802, 805, 806, etc.
Jimei Group: Routes 900, 901, 902, 903, etc.

Fare Information
Regular Bus Fare: 1 RMB per ride.
Special Mini Buses, Suburban, and Near-suburban Buses: Fares are based on the actual distance traveled, with an additional 1 RMB charged for each section. The maximum fare is 3 RMB.
Peak Express Lines (Routes 953, 658, 750, and Tourist Route 5): 2 RMB per person per trip.

Operating Hours
City Bus Special Lines: 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM. The operating hours for specific routes may vary.

Additional Notes
Xiamen’s public transport is part of the nationwide “Unified Transport Card” system. Residents and tourists alike can use the “E Card” or “Traffic Union” cards to access all public transportation. Both regular buses and the BRT system support this interoperability.
You can purchase an E Card (bus card) from post offices or certain stores that sell bus cards, with a 30 RMB deposit. The card can be recharged. With the card, you can avoid waiting in line to buy BRT tickets.

Bicycle & Sightseeing Car Rentals
Like Hangzhou, Xiamen has a well-developed selection of transportation options, primarily bicycle and sightseeing car rentals.
Bicycles:
Xiamen boasts the country's first and longest "Sky Bike Lane," which starts at the BRT Hongwen Station and ends at the BRT Xianhou Station, spanning a total of 7.6 kilometers. The bike lane operates daily from 6:30 AM to 10:30 PM. Motor vehicles, e-bikes, and pedestrians are prohibited from entering the bike lane.

You can rent bicycles near Xiamen University, the area from Hulishan to Pearl Bay, and the Xiamen International Convention and Exhibition Center. Shared bicycles are also common in Xiamen. Cycling is one of the best ways to explore Huandao Road, where you can rent tandem or three-person bikes, although they tend to be more expensive compared to using shared bikes like Mobike or OFO.

Cycling is a great way to visit Huandao Road, and motor vehicles, carts, and electric bikes are prohibited on Gulangyu Island. If you have special needs, you must apply for a scenic area access pass.

Bicycle Rental Locations:
Near Xiamen University’s Baicheng area
From Hulishan to Pearl Bay
South Hua Road International Youth Hostel
Xiamen International Convention and Exhibition Center

Sightseeing Cars:
On Gulangyu Island, after exiting the Piano Pier, turn left to find the terminal for sightseeing cars. The route circles the island, covering a distance of 6 kilometers.

Route: Ferry Plaza——Yanping Road——Zhahe Road——Gusheng Road——Ganghou Road——Zhonghua Road——Zhangzhou Road——Lujiapo Road——Ferry Plaza

Operating Hours:
Bicycle Rental: No set hours, billed by time

Sightseeing Cars:
May 1 to September 30: 7:00 AM to 7:30 PM
October 1 to April 30: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Ticket Prices:
Bicycle Rental:
Regular single bikes: 5-10 RMB/hour
Tandem bikes: 15-20 RMB/hour
Shared bikes: 1 RMB/hou
Sightseeing Car: 50 RMB/person (unlimited boarding and alighting for the day)

Tourist Direct Buses
Xiamen has two direct tourist bus routes from the train station: Route 1 and Route 2.
Route 1 starts from the South Square of Xiamen Railway Station, passing through Zhannan Road, Dongpingshan Road, Xihe Road, Hubin West Road, Dongdu Road, and Donggang Road, and finally arrives at Dongdu Cruise Terminal.
Route 2 starts from the South Square of Xiamen Railway Station, traveling through Zhannan Road, Dongpu Road, Lianqian West Road, Jinshang Road, Xianyue Road, and Huandao East Road to Wutong Pier.

Operating Hours:
Route 1: South Square of Xiamen Railway Station: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Dongdu Cruise Terminal: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Route 2: South Square of Xiamen Railway Station: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wutong Pier: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Ticket Price: 10 RMB (one-way ticket)

Round-Island Tourist Sightseeing Bus
The Round-Island Tourist Sightseeing Bus departs from the Xiamen Tourism Distribution Center Station, passing through Hubin South Road, Lujing Road, Yanwu Bridge, University Road, South Huandao Road, East Huandao Road, Wuyuan Bridge, Fangzhong Road, Chenggong Avenue, Jiahe Road, Shigu Mountain Interchange, Xinghu Road, Chang'an Road, Dongdu Road, Hubin North Road, Jianxing Road, Yundang Road, Bailuzhou Road, and Hubin South Road, returning to the Xiamen Tourism Distribution Center Station.

Key transfer stops include Xiamen Tourism Distribution Center, Huli Mountain Fortress, Ye Feng Village, Guanyin Mountain, Wutong Pier, Airport, and Xiamen Tourism Distribution Center.

The total distance of the round-island sightseeing bus route is approximately 60 kilometers, and the total sightseeing time is about 1.5 hours.

Operating Hours: Except for the midday periods (12:00, 13:00, 14:00), when buses run every hour, the rest of the time buses depart every 30-40 minutes.

Ticket Price:
10 RMB for boarding
An additional 10 RMB for each transfer segment
The total fare does not exceed 60 RMB
20% discount with the E-Card.

Xiamen Metro
The Xiamen Metro Line 1 runs from Yan'nan to Zhenhai Road, covering 24 stations. The first and last trains are from 06:30 to 22:30, and the starting fare is 2 RMB, with the maximum fare not exceeding 7 RMB, making it a great value for money. Along the route, every station offers beautiful scenery, so you can hop on and off whenever you like to enjoy the fresh sea views and the artistic, nostalgic charm of old Xiamen.

Operating Distance: 30.3 km (as of the end of 2017)

Announcements: Mandarin, English, and Minnan dialect

Operating Hours:
Operating hours: 06:30 – 22:30 daily
During peak hours:
Morning rush (07:30-09:30) and evening rush (17:30-19:30), trains run every 6 minutes and 4 seconds
From 20:30 to 22:30, the interval is 9 minutes and 35 seconds
Other times, trains run every 8 minutes and 35 seconds

Ticket Price: The fare is based on distance, starting at 2 RMB for the first 4 kilometers, and the fare increases with the distance traveled.

Golden Xiamen Sea Tour
The highlight of the Golden Xiamen Sea Tour is the opportunity to view the Jinmen Islands from the sea. Passengers can board the ferry at the Cining Palace Xiamen Ferry Terminal (located at Lijiang Road, Siming District, Xiamen). The sailing route includes the following stops: Heping Pier——Zheng Chenggong Statue——Yanwu Bridge——Twin Towers——Gulangyu Island—— Lijiang Road——International Cruise Center——Haishao Island——Haicang Bridge——Dongdu Container Terminal——Shipyard—— Return to Heping Pier. The entire journey lasts approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Ticket Booking: 0592-2023493; 0592-2104896

Operating Hours: 08:30 – 23:00

Ticket Price: 130 RMB per person

Car Rental and Self-Driving
Xiamen's attractions are concentrated on Xiamen Island, and the distance between the main sights is relatively short. Naturally, one of the most convenient ways to get around is by self-driving. Xiamen has many car rental brands, including Shenzhou, Taicheng, Ying Shi, Dong Shun Fa, Xin Nan, and more than 20 other rental companies. These companies offer various services tailored to the needs of tourists.

There are three main options for car rental in Xiamen:
Self-Driving Car: Tourists only need to cover the cost of fuel; the car rental company takes care of everything else.
Car with Driver: Tourists can choose an experienced driver to take them around, making sightseeing more convenient.
Short-Term Rentals: Options include daily rentals, half-month rentals, hourly rentals, etc.
Operating Hours: 00:00 – 24:00, billed based on the rental duration.
Ticket Price: Pricing depends on the model and seating capacity of the car rented.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
BRT, also known as the Xiamen Rapid Transit System, was officially launched in 2008 and is often referred to as the "subway system on the ground." Currently, Xiamen's BRT system consists of 6 fast lines (Fast 1, Fast 2, Fast 3, Fast 5, Fast 6, Fast 7) and 1 airport line.

Fast Line 1: From Pier 1 to Xiamen North Station (Color: Green)
Fast Line 2: From Pier 1 to Tong'an Hub Station (Color: Yellow)
Fast Line 3: From Pier 1 to Qianpu Hub Station (Color: Red)
Fast Line 5: From Qianpu Hub Station to Tong'an Hub Station (Colors: Red, Yellow)
Fast Line 6: From Qianpu Hub Station to Xiamen North Station (Colors: Red, Green)
Fast Line 7: From Hongwen to Kaihe Road Junction (Color: Red)

Airport Line: From Pier 1 to Gaoqi T4 Terminal
Operating Hours
Fast Line 1: 05:45 - 22:15
Fast Line 2 (Pier 1 - Tong'an Hub): 06:10 - 21:15
Fast Line 3 (Pier 1 - Qianpu Hub): 06:10 - 22:30
Fast Line 5 (Qianpu Hub - Tong'an Hub): 06:10 - 21:15
Fast Line 6 (Qianpu Hub - Xiamen North Station): 06:10 - 21:15
Fast Line 7: Morning Peak 07:00 - 09:00; Evening Peak 17:00 - 19:00 (every 5 minutes)
Airport Line: 07:10 - 19:00

Ticket Price
Fast Line 1A: 3 RMB per person
Fast Line 1B: 3.5 RMB per person
Fast Line 2: 4.5 RMB per person
Fast Line 3: 1 RMB per person
Airport Line (Former Fast Line 4 Island Route): 1 RMB per person
There are also 11 link lines starting with "L," with a fare of 0.5 RMB for the entire route.

Tourist Special Line Dangdang Car
The Tourist Special Line Dangdang Car operates with Xiamen North Station and Dragon Boat Pool as the starting and ending points. It connects Xiamen North Station and Jimei School Village, passing through 15 stops over a 55-minute journey. The route links major scenic spots and tourist attractions in Jimei, allowing visitors to enjoy the unique experience of "sitting on the Dangdang car, with beautiful views coming into sight."

Operating Hours: 09:00 - 19:00

Ticket Price: 5 RMB per person

Xiamen Ferry
The Xiamen Ferry Terminal is located at 15 Lujing Road, Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian Province, just 600 meters away from Gulangyu Island across the Lujing River. This ferry terminal serves as the primary port for accessing Gulangyu Island, with a short 4.5-minute ferry ride. The ferry route operates between Xiamen and Gulangyu, making it the main mode of transport for tourists visiting Gulangyu Island, with an annual passenger volume of over 20 million people and 18 ferries in operation.

Ticket Purchase Options: In addition to purchasing tickets on-site or through the official website, you can also book tickets through the official WeChat account for more convenience. For more information and ticket reservations, visit the official Xiamen Ferry website at: www.xmferry.com

Operating Hours
Xiamen Station: 05:45 AM - 12:30 AM
Gulangyu Station: 05:30 AM - 12:00 AM
Ferries operate every 10 minutes between 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM; during other times, they run every 10-15 minutes.
Special schedules apply during holidays or special circumstances.

Ticket Prices
The Xiamen Ferry Terminal to Gulangyu Island has two main ferry routes:
To the Sanqiutian Pier and Neicuoao Pier, the normal ferry fare is 35 RMB per person (round trip) for a standard ferry and 50 RMB for a luxury ferry. Currently, only the ferry to Neicuoao Pier offers luxury service.
The Xiamen First Pier to Gulangyu is for local residents and has a separate route. The fare for the Sea Cang Songgu Pier to Gulangyu line is 2 RMB per person one-way as part of public transportation.

The Xiamen Ferry Terminal features two main piers:
Pier 1: The resident route, used for local commuters.
Pier 2: The main tourist ferry terminal, which operates day and night services for visitors to Gulangyu Island. From 5:50 PM to 6:30 AM, visitors can take the ferry from this terminal to the Sanqiutian Pier for 35 RMB per person (round trip).

The Sanqiutian Pier is located on the northeastern side of Gulangyu Island and is an important entry and exit point for tourists. Ferries operate back and forth between this pier and both Xiamen Ferry Terminal and Xiamen First Pier. The fare is included in the round-trip ticket price.

The Neicuoao Pier, located at 159 Kangtai Road, Gulangyu, is the tourist ferry route that connects to the Xiamen Cruise Center Pier, Sea Cang Songgu Pier, and the First Pier.

The Songgu Pier in Haicang District operates ferries that connect to Gulangyu's Neicuoao Pier and Xiamen Island's First Pier, serving as part of the city's maritime public transportation.

Tips
If you cannot purchase tickets at the Xiamen Cruise Center Ferry Terminal, consider taking the public ferry from the First Pier to the Songgu Pier for 2 RMB. From there, buy a ticket to Neicuoao Pier on Gulangyu Island for 30 RMB per person (round trip).

Xiamen to Gulangyu Ferry Routes
Xiamen Ferry Terminal (also known as the Cruise Center) – Neicuoao / Sanqiutian Pier
Upon arriving at Gulangyu, it is recommended to disembark at Neicuoao Pier. You can explore the island and return from Sanqiutian Pier (24-hour service).
The nighttime route (after 5:40 PM) operates between Sanqiutian Pier and the Xiamen Ferry Terminal.
Xiamen Ferry Terminal to Neicuoao Pier: Standard Ferry: 35 RMB per person round trip; Luxury Ferry: 50 RMB per person round trip.
Xiamen Ferry Terminal to Sanqiutian Pier: 35 RMB per person round trip.

Lujing Night Tour Route
The Lujing Night Tour departs from the He Ping Pier at the Xiamen Marine Tourism Distribution Center. The route starts at He Ping Pier and covers several scenic points, including the Zheng Chenggong Statue, Yanwu Bridge, Twin Towers, Gulangyu Island, Lujing Road, International Cruise Center, Huo Shao Island, Haicang Bridge, Dongdu Container Terminal, Shipyard, and then returns to He Ping Pier. The entire tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Ticket Reservation: 0592-2040118

Ticket Price:

Adult Ticket: 136 RMB per person

Child Ticket: 68 RMB per person

Xiamen Airport Express
Founded in July 2001, Xiamen Airport Express Transport Co., Ltd. adheres to the corporate mission of Xiamen Aviation Group to "dedicate wholeheartedly to society." The company has long provided "safe, comfortable, on-time, and convenient" passenger transport services for travelers, establishing a high-quality brand in the provincial passenger transport market. Taking the Airport Express bus between Xiamen and the airport has become the preferred choice for many passengers.

The company currently operates under the Xiamen Airport Express Transport Co., Ltd., the Fuzhou Airport Bus Maintenance Center, and the Fuzhou Airport Passenger Station, employing nearly 300 staff with a fleet of 118 vehicles (35 of which are in Xiamen).

Operating Hours
Ferry Route
Departure from Ferry (Huaxiangyuan)——Xiamen Airport Terminal
Fixed Departure Times: 05:20, 06:20, 07:00, 07:20, 08:00, 08:20, 08:40, 09:00.
Other departures based on flight schedules.
Departure from Xiamen Airport Terminal——Train Station——Ferry (Huaxiangyuan)
Departure Times: Operates according to flight schedules, with a 15-minute interval during peak periods.
Travel time: Approximately 30 minutes.

Train Station Route
Departure from Train Station (Southeast Asia Hotel Parking Lot)——Xiamen Airport Terminal
Departure Times: 09:10, 09:50, 10:40, 11:20, 11:45, 12:10, 12:50, 13:30, 14:10, 14:40, 15:10, 15:40, 16:15, 16:45, 18:50, 19:30
Departure from Xiamen Airport Terminal (Airport Express Waiting Area)——Train Station
Departure Times: From 09:00 until the last flight of the day, with 15-minute intervals during peak hours.
Travel time: Approximately 20 minutes.

Wutong Route
Departure from Wutong——Xiamen Airport Terminal
Departure Times: 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:00, 17:30, 18:30, 19:30
Departure from Xiamen Airport Terminal (Airport Express Waiting Area)——Wutong
Departure Times: 09:15, 10:15, 11:15, 13:15, 14:15, 15:15, 16:45
Travel time: Approximately 15 minutes.

Zhangzhou Route
Departure from Zhangzhou China Travel Bus Station (Next to Overseas Chinese Hotel)——Xiamen Airport Terminal
Departure Times: 07:00, 08:30, 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:30, 18:30
Departure from Xiamen Airport Terminal (Airport Express Waiting Area)——Zhangzhou China Travel Bus Station
Departure Times: 09:10, 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:30, 18:30, 20:30
Travel time: Approximately 60 minutes.

Jinjiang Route
Departure from Jinjiang Baixiang Century Hotel (No. 388, Century Avenue)——Xiamen Airport Terminal
Departure Times: 05:00, 09:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00
Departure from Xiamen Airport Terminal (Airport Express Waiting Area)——Jinjiang Baixiang Century HotelDeparture Times: 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:30, 20:30
Travel time: Approximately 75 minutes.

Ticket Prices
Ferry Route: 10 RMB
Train Station Route: 10 RMB
Wutong Route: 6 RMB
Zhangzhou Route: 20 RMB
Jinjiang Route: 35 RMB