4 Days 3 Nights in Xiamen!

Who says going to Xiamen means expensive homestays and crowded places? As a travel blogger who has traveled through eight markets on a bowl of satay noodles and spent a whole night listening to the rain in an old villa on Gulangyu Island, I completed the most romantic coastal trip of my life with a solid budget of 2,958 RMB — a 4-day, 3-night slow life in Xiamen. Here you’ll find: ✅ The World Cultural Heritage site Gulangyu Island ✅ China’s most beautiful campus, Xiamen University (entry by reservation) ✅ Cycling paradise along Huandao Road from Yefeng Village to Zengcuo’an ✅ Plus visits to Nanputuo Temple, climbing Sunlight Rock, and enjoying seafood street stalls! The key is — top-notch scenery, comfortable pace, smart spending, artistic stays, and picture-perfect moments! 3,000 RMB is not settling; it’s spending every penny on what’s “worth it.” 💰 Budget Overview (per person): ¥2958 Round-trip high-speed train/flight (e.g., Fuzhou → Xiamen train ¥70, transfers possible for other cities): ¥600 Accommodation (3 nights including 1 night in a century-old villa on Gulangyu): ¥850 (¥280/night) Daily meals ¥130: ¥520 (including specialty meals + popular snacks) Local transport + ferry: ¥350 (bus + taxi + ferry tickets) Attractions & experiences: ¥480 Souvenirs + photo mementos: ¥158 ✅ Suitable for: Students | Couples on vacation | Friends traveling together | Artistic youth | Those who love fresh vibes and local life! 🗺 Itinerary: 4 days 3 nights · Gulangyu + Huandao Road + Old Town Trilogy Day 1: Arrive in Xiamen | Step into Zhongshan Road, fall in love with the first bowl of satay noodles 🚄 Arrive at [Xiamen Station] or [Xiamen North Station], Xiamen Station is recommended for being closer to downtown 🏨 Recommended stays: “Gulangyu · Lijiazhuang Hotel” — a century-old English villa, elegant environment, ¥320 per person Or choose a boutique homestay near [Zhongshan Road] for convenient transport, ¥260 per person 🌆 In the afternoon, skip Gulangyu for now and start the trip leisurely: Walk to [Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street] to experience the Nanyang arcade style Check out [Bashi Seafood Market], a local food basket hiding countless treasure snacks! 🍜 Dinner must-try: [Yuehua Satay Noodles (Kaiyuan Road branch)] 🔥 Locals’ top secret Satay noodles ¥18 → rich, slightly spicy broth with customizable toppings: shrimp, squid, pork liver, tofu Add a bowl of [Peanut Soup] ¥6, sweet and smooth Plus a [Fried Five-Spice Roll] ¥5, crispy outside, tender inside, super satisfying 👉 Around ¥40 per person for authentic and fulfilling eats! 🌙 At dusk, climb up to [Twin Towers Observation Deck (Cloud Xiamen)] (ticket ¥108) View the city, Gulangyu, and the cross-sea bridge from 300 meters high The night lights sparkle like stars spreading across the cityscape 📸 Photo tip: Wear a simple white dress! Stand on the glass deck with a backdrop of thousands of lights, and your phone will capture stunning shots. Day 2: Full-day deep tour of Gulangyu Island | Explore international architecture, climb Sunlight Rock, get lost in alleys ⛴ Morning: Take a ferry from [Xiamen Cruise Center - Xiagou Pier] to [Gulangyu Sanqiutian Pier] Ferry ticket ¥35 (buy in advance via the official WeChat “Xiamen Ferry Co., Ltd.”! Avoid overpriced tourist tickets at ¥50) 🕌 Immerse yourself in Gulangyu all day (no entrance fee, some attractions offer a combined ticket for ¥90): 📍 Recommended route (avoid peak crowds): [Most Beautiful Corner & Shuzhuang Garden] (included in combined ticket) Shuzhuang Garden is nestled by the sea and mountain, featuring a piano museum and a labyrinth of twelve caves Arrive before 9 AM for the “most beautiful corner” photos with fewer people [Sunlight Rock] (included in combined ticket) climb to 92 meters for panoramic views of the island and Xiamen city Best climbed in the morning; afternoon backlight makes photos difficult [Haoyue Garden & Zheng Chenggong Statue] stand by the sea, majestic and grand [Organ Museum (Bagua Building)] the world’s only organ museum inside a bagua-shaped building [Longtou Road Commercial Street] for shopping and eating: [Lin’s Fish Balls] chewy and fresh ¥25 [Ye’s Mochi] freshly wrapped glutinous rice balls ¥10 [Su Xiaotang Nougat] top souvenir choice ¥38/box 🎨 In the afternoon, join the [Gulangyu Hand-drawn Map Check-in Activity] (free at the tourist center) Walk and draw, like a treasure hunt discovering hidden old houses 🍽 Dinner recommendation: [Seaside Garden Restaurant] for Minnan cuisine: Oyster omelet ¥48 / Earthworm jelly ¥22 / Red crab rice cake ¥68 → about ¥80 per person 🌙 Stay overnight on Gulangyu, fall asleep to the sound of waves — true poetic living. Day 3: Cycling Huandao Road + Zengcuo’an + Nanputuo Temple + Xiamen University outer check-in 🌅 Early morning ferry back to Xiamen Island, store luggage before checkout 🚴‍♀️ Morning: Rent a shared bike or electric scooter (¥30/day) and start cycling along [Huandao Road] Recommended route: Baicheng Beach → Hulishan Fortress → Zengcuo’an → Huangcuo Beach → Haiyuntai About 15 km, flat and easy to ride, with photo spots all along the way! 📷 Must-stop photo spots: [Hulishan Fortress] (ticket ¥25) home to the largest surviving Krupp cannon [Zengcuo’an Cultural and Creative Village] once a fishing village, now full of artistic shops Recommended: [Axin Thick Toast] ¥28 / [Fishing Village Milk Tea] ¥18 [Huangcuo Beach] quiet and beautiful, perfect for daydreaming by the sea 🏯 Afternoon visit to [Nanputuo Temple] (free, reservation required) A famous thousand-year-old temple in Xiamen, bustling with incense Free vegetarian cakes available (2 per person), also for sale to take home ¥10/box Climb the back mountain [Wulao Peak] for views of Xiamen University and the sea junction 🎓 On the way, check out [Xiamen University outer area] (currently closed for visits but photo ops at the gate) The “most beautiful university in China” lives up to its name with red walls, green tiles, and phoenix flowers perfect for photos Recommended photo spots: South Gate + Coastal Walkway 🍽 Dinner recommendation: [Lin’s Minnan Cuisine (Lianyue branch)] authentic flavors: Homemade soy sauce fish ¥58 / Four-fruit soup ¥22 / Fried vinegar pork ¥36 → about ¥75 per person Day 4: Final moments of ceremony | Bring home a whole bag of Xiamen flavors 🛍 Morning free choice: Visit [Bashi Seafood Market] again for souvenirs: [Golden Fragrant Pork Floss] classic old brand ¥45/can [Huang Shengji Pork Jerky] freshly roasted ¥50/bag [Gulangyu Stuffed Pastry] half the price of tourist spots ¥25/box [Bashi Tofu Products] fermented bean curd, dried tofu, tofu skin ¥30 covers it all Or go to [Shapowei Art West District] for creative souvenirs: Handmade postcards ¥10 / Xiamen-themed canvas bags ¥68 ☕ Find a seaside café for a final farewell: Recommended “SACO COFFEE” or “Reverse Coffee” with terrace sea views A latte ¥30 paired with a slice of tiramisu, a perfect ending 🚄 Check out at noon, take your time heading to Xiamen Station/airport, concluding this gentle coastal journey. 💡 Practical tips (tested and effective): Buy ferry tickets officially: purchase via “Xiamen Ferry Co., Ltd.” WeChat, enter with ID card Book Gulangyu accommodation early: popular old villas are limited, book 1 month in advance during peak season Clothing advice: light summer clothes + sun protection + sun hat, strong UV by the sea Mosquito prevention: Gulangyu has lots of vegetation, carry mosquito repellent ⚠️ Absolutely avoid!!! 🚫 Don’t trust “free ticket giveaways” to lure customers! People at the pier shouting “green channel” are mostly agents trying to scam money 🚫 Avoid cycling under the midday sun! Huandao Road is exposed, sunglasses + sunscreen are must-haves 🚫 Don’t miss early morning on Gulangyu! Arrive before 8:00 AM to capture empty alleys and perfect light 🚫 Don’t feed animals or damage cultural relics! Respect historic districts, civilized tourism starts with you and me 🌊 Final honest words: 3,000 RMB might not get you to Santorini, Greece, but in Xiamen, you can: Stay in a century-old European villa, Chase a seaside sunset on a bike, Find happiness in the bustling Bashi Market… And finally understand — You don’t have to go abroad; China has such a gentle and romantic city. 🌴 Next time, plan a trip like this to Xiamen for yourself. No rushing, just feeling; no check-ins, just living. After all, the wind here has been blowing for a hundred years, just waiting for you to come and listen to its story. 🕊️🌊🎹 📌 Bonus tips: Type Recommendation ------ ----------- Top 5 must-eats Satay noodles, oyster omelet, earthworm jelly, peanut soup, fried five-spice roll Best seasons Spring and autumn (March-May / September-November), avoid typhoon season (July-August) Transport advice Mainly city buses + shared electric scooters, taxis or BRT for longer trips Photo style Artistic vintage | fresh and clean | cultural documentary | film filter Whether you want to escape the noise or find a city that breathes, Xiamen will always gently embrace your heart in its soft yet firm way. ❤️🏝️🌅