Xiamen Island Hopping Guide | Healing Time on the Islands

Who says Xiamen only has Gulangyu? These hidden gem islands offer fewer crowds, stunning views, and perfect photo ops! 🚤 🌊 Serene Corners of Gulangyu Escape the main streets into alleys where old villas' walls draped with firecracker flowers make ideal backdrops 💐 Sit on the rocks at Gangzaihou Beach, watching fishing boats return with splashing waves. Around the corner, meet grannies selling coconut jelly—icy, sweet, and creamy, perfect with the sea breeze. At dusk, head to Meihua Beach to see the sunset gild church spires ✨ 🐚 Untouched Charm of Xiaodeng Island Reach this pristine island by a 20-minute boat ride. Dig for tiny crabs and shells in the tidal flats 🦀 Stroll along the red rocky coastline with crystal-clear water revealing pebbles below. Old houses dry fishing nets on their walls, while uncles smoke under banyan trees—time slows here. At night, listen to the waves under a sky full of stars 🌌 🦜 Seafood Memories of Dadeng Island Score great deals at duty-free shops, but the real treasures are the dockside seafood stalls 🦐 Watch live mantis shrimp jump before being boiled and dipped in garlic vinegar—so fresh you’ll lick your fingers. Munch on seafood by the breakwater, watching cargo ships pass as distant lighthouses flicker, all wrapped in the salty breeze of everyday life. 🍤 Island Food Checklist ✔️ Gulangyu’s fishball soup: bouncy and juicy with satay sauce ✔️ Xiaodeng’s seaweed rice: nori aroma meets sticky rice sweetness ✔️ Dadeng’s oyster omelet: only local oysters deliver the freshest taste 💡 Island Tips: Check ferry schedules for Xiaodeng—stay overnight for sunrise 🌅 Wear non-slip shoes for rocky areas. Don’t skimp on sunscreen; sea breezes make UV rays easy to forget. The islands’ romance lies in the tides’ ebb and flow, and the salty air’s warmth. Don’t miss these maritime secrets in Xiamen! 💌