Taxis are cheap, starting at ¥8 for the first 3 kilometers. You can go anywhere on Xiamen island, including the airport, for under ¥40. But be wary that some taxi drivers might take advantage of you if they know that you are not a local and might take the longer route to your destination.
The local bus system is very good, but the bus routes are listed in Chinese and do not have English on them. The BRT is Bus Rapid Transit, on elevated bus-only roads; very fast and comfortable but of course it does not go everywhere. Fare is usually �1 per person.
There is a frequent ferry service to/from Gulangyu. The ferry terminal is just north of the Liujiang Waterfront Hotel. No charge for the journey out; buy tickets near the pier on Gulangyu for the return trip, �8. More comfortable seating on the upper deck for an extra �1 going either direction; you pay for that on the ferry.
To go around by bike is a great way to explore this gifted Island. Try the Seaside Road (Huandao Lu) which has an extra path for bicycles in most of its parts. Start at Xiamen University Beach and go up until the International Exhibition Center. There are various rental stations on the Huandao Road, starting at CNY 3o per day. Enjoy the sunshine while cruising next to the sea. If you are leaving the path for bicycles, execute caution of the traffic.
Exploring Xiamen by motorbike is a great way as well, although it is forbidden on the whole island! Enforcement is strict in the vivid areas (e.g. Yuandang Lake, Zhongshan Road, etc.). If caught, be prepared to pay a fine, or even to get your motorbike taken into custody. Elsewhere in Xiamen, the enforcement of the motorbike law is more easy. Riding a motorbike outside the island (e.g. Jimei Area, Tongan Area, Haicang Area) is allowed.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Xiamen
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Xiamen - updated May 2024
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Xiamen Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
