4 people, 5 days and 4 nights in Xiamen, spending 2500 yuan per person to stay in a sea view room + eat all around Shapowei!

4 people, 5 days and 4 nights in Xiamen, spending 2500 yuan per person to stay in a sea view room + eat all around Shapowei! Spend less, play with a cinematic vibe Five days and four nights, four people, total budget 10,000 yuan — sounds tight? But we really did it: stayed in a sea view room, ate authentic snacks, visited Gulangyu Island, rode along Huandao Road, and even brought back a trunk full of souvenirs! 2500 yuan per person, not budget travel, not luxury, keep this guide, students can copy it too! 🏨【Accommodation | Zengcuoan Sea View Homestay, waves right outside the window】We booked a literary-style homestay near the sea in Zengcuoan, a twin room costs 420 yuan per night, 4 nights total 1680 yuan. The room has a balcony, open the curtains in the morning to see the blue sea and sky, fall asleep listening to the tide at night, full of atmosphere! Perfect location: 5 minutes walk to the beach, 10 minutes to Zengcuoan snack street, bus direct to major attractions. Four people shared two rooms, only 420 yuan per person for accommodation. 🚇【Transportation | Airfare + city buses, saving money and hassle-free】 Departing from Shanghai/Hangzhou, booked discounted tickets two weeks in advance, round-trip including tax 600 yuan per person (total 2400 yuan). After arrival, relied entirely on buses + BRT rapid transit + shared bikes, occasionally splitting taxi fares of just a dozen yuan. Four days of city transport cost 600 yuan total, 150 yuan per person, half the cost of taking taxis all the time! Tip: Download the “Xiamen Metro” app, scanning codes to ride buses and metro is super convenient; definitely rent a bike on Huandao Road, tandem bikes 20 yuan/hour, riding with the sea breeze is so healing. 🍜【Food | From snacks to full meals, eat like a local】Half of Xiamen’s charm is in the scenery, the other half on the tongue. Breakfast: Huang Zehe peanut soup with fried dough sticks, 15 yuan; or buy freshly cooked satay noodles at Ba Market, about 20 yuan per person. Lunch: Shapowei “Lianglang” restaurant, specializing in Minnan creative dishes, must order ginger duck and fried vinegar pork, about 70 yuan per person. Dinner: Sweep Ba Market night market! Ajie Five-Spice, Zhuji shredded chicken, and Yousheng flavored shrimp noodles, four people spent 300 yuan, so full we could barely walk. Snack stops: Zhongshan Road Jukou mixed noodles, Sibei peanut soup, Gulangyu Ye’s mochi, eating while strolling is the real Xiamen rhythm! Total food cost controlled within 3500 yuan, less than 900 yuan per person, authentic and no disappointments. 🌊【Itinerary | Relaxed pace, highlights every day】 Day 1: Arrive → check into homestay → evening stroll in Zengcuoan → eat seafood at a street stall Day 2: Full day at Gulangyu Island! Ferry ticket 35 yuan/person, visit Shuzhuang Garden, Sunlight Rock, the most beautiful corners, dinner at Longtou Road snacks Day 3: Bike ride on Huandao Road (Yefengzhai → Huangcuo Beach) → afternoon tea at Miss Zhao’s shop → photo shoot at Shapowei Art West District Day 4: Buy breakfast at Ba Market → pray at Nanputuo Temple → check out Xiamen University surroundings → stroll Cat Street Day 5: Supermarket shopping for souvenirs (pork floss, pies, dried fish), before leaving slurp a bowl of Tong’an Fengrou noodles 💰【Total bill, real and replicable】 Item Cost Transportation 3000 yuan (including airfare) Accommodation 1680 yuan Food 3500 yuan Tickets & fees 1200 yuan (including ferry, bike rental, etc.) Souvenirs 620 yuan Total ≈ 10,000 yuan What touched us most on this trip wasn’t the popular check-in spots, but a steaming bowl of satay noodles at Ba Market early morning, a sudden rainbow on Huandao Road, and four friends lying on the beach saying “Next time we must come together again.” Xiamen is a city that makes you slow down. Spending little, but every second is worth the price. What’s your top Xiamen food? Tell me in the comments, I’ll check it out next time!