Getting Around, Xiamen Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Xiamen, Fujian, China)

Most visitors arrive in Xiamen by air at the Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, which offers excellent travel connections with other Asian cities. If you are already in China, using the country's comprehensive rail transport network is an economical way of getting between cities, yet distances can be long, with Xiamen a 37-hour rail journey from Beijing.

The locals like to use bus transport to travel around within the city, while taxis are on hand for visitors who are less confident in finding their way around. Xiamen's main transport options are below.

Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN) / Arriving by Air

The base of Xiamen Airlines serves as a convenient gateway to the city, with the international airport features over six million passengers a year. Budget Asian airlines, such as AirAsia, operate within this air transport hub, as do many major international carriers. Serving only Asian destinations, direct flights travel between Xiamen and Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Beijing, from where long-haul connections can be made.

The International Departures Hall is located on the second floor of the single terminal building at Xiamen Gaoqi Airport, while Arrivals is situated on the first floor. Corresponding Domestic Departures and Arrivals gates are located on the same floors. The modern terminal serves passengers' needs adequately with an excellent range of shopping and dining facilities. Duty-free shops and food outlets, handicrafts and reading material as well as pharmaceuticals are all on hand. Financial needs are catered for with banks, ATMs and money exchange bureau.

Transfers into the city of Xiamen can be made by metered taxi transport, with a taxi rank located outside the Arrivals Hall. Alternatively, a more economical way to travel into Xiamen is to use the airport shuttle bus transport, also from outside the Arrivals Hall, for a fixed fare. An even cheaper option is to take a regular bus from the Airport Bus Station, with services travelling to the Ferry Station, Railway Station, Exhibition Centre and Lian Hua Er Cun.

Car Rental

All sorts of vehicles are available for rent in Xiamen and at the airport, but strict regulations stipulate that all drivers must have a Chinese licence, meaning most visitors will not be able to drive themselves. However, this problem is easily solved by hiring a driver, who can also act as your travel guide. The rate for hiring car transport with a driver is surprisingly inexpensive and can make for an extremely convenient way to travel to the city's sights. The roads in and around Xiamen are excellent and very modern, with the scenic Xiamen Island Ring Road being a great was to see the island's coast.

Book your Xiamen Car Rental here.

Bus and Coach

It is possible to travel from other major Chinese cities to Xiamen by bus or coach. However this form of transport is not recommended for long journeys, as it can be uncomfortable. Once in Xiamen, bus transport is a convenient means of travelling around the city and between its districts. Public buses run regularly to all parts of the city, including to the airport, and are easy to use. Journeys are inexpensive and most destinations can be reached within 30 minutes.

Trains

The city of Xiamen is directly connected by rail transport to neighbouring cities, while it is also possible to travel to Shanghai (26 hours), Beijing (37 hours) and Shenzhen (for access to Hong Kong) by rail. Chinese Railways operate most trains and tickets are available at all stations up to two days in advance, or alternatively, online up to 19 days in advance. Travelling by train is normally a comfortable and safe way to reach your destination, with sleeper cars available on longer routes. Timetables are available online.

Taxis

Travelling by taxi transport is affordable in Xiamen, as distances between attractions are not great. Not all taxi drivers speak English however, and visitors are recommended to have their destination written in Mandarin if they are not familiar with how to get there. Taxis can be hailed in the street, caught from taxi ranks around the city or pre-booked by telephone.