Gulangyu Island

Gulangyu Island is a popular attraction. Many sightseeing tours stop here from Xiamen, including half-day and full-day tours that include other Xiamen attractions such as South Putuo Temple and Hulishan Fortress. Exploring the island independently by taking a ferry from Xiamen is easy. The island has several hotels, and an overnight stay allows you more time to explore the island, including Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden, and Xiamen Piano Museum.

• The island is free to enter, though certain attractions charge an entrance fee. A multi-attraction pass is available.

• There are multiple ferry piers in Xiamen and two ferry piers on Gulangyu Island.

• Ferry tickets are round-trip, so don’t lose your ticket.

• Foreigners must show their passports when purchasing ferry tickets and taking the ferry to Gulangyu Island.

• There are no cars on the island. The only transport options are electric golf carts that run along the coast. You can also take a boat around the island once on Gulangyu.

• Wear comfortable shoes for walking around. There are hills on the island.

Gulangyu Island is located west of Xiamen. Ferries are the only way to reach the island. Ferry service from Xiamen runs 24 hours a day between three terminals/piers in Xiamen (Xiamen International Cruise Terminal, Songgu Port, and Lundu Port) and two on Gulangyu (Sanqiutian Port and Neicuoao Port), with different services in the day and overnight. Ferries can take between 7 and 20 minutes.

Although Gulangyu can be visited year-round, spring and fall offer the most pleasant weather. Ferries run 24 hours a day, though daytime ferries are popular, and long wait times can occur. Avoid traveling over the week-long Chinese national holidays in May and October, when crowds will be at their largest.

Gulangyu is home to several interesting and diverse museums. Two of the most popular are the Gulangyu Piano Museum and the Gulangyu Organ Museum, both of which house numerous musical instruments. Explore history at the Zheng Chenggong Memorial Hall or art at the Gulangyu International Calligraphic Carving Museum and the Imperial Palace Gulangyu Foreign Cultural Relics Museum.