4-Day Tour in Xiamen, Slow Down and Enjoy the Sea Breeze in the Backyard Garden

Xiamen feels more like a backyard garden, hard to describe simply as fun or useful. It’s the kind of place you suddenly want to escape to for some fresh air. Taking a stroll on Gulangyu Island and feeling the sea breeze as night falls is incredibly relaxing. Xiamen can get quite frustrating when crowded because it’s a small place and the traffic can be a heavy burden. Visiting outside peak season makes for a much more pleasant and relaxing experience. 1️⃣ Suggested Itinerary (Xiamen’s attractions are concentrated, 3-4 days for an in-depth visit): Day❶: Huangcuo Beach - Shanhai Trail - Zhongshan Road Day❷: Gulangyu Island - Nanputuo Temple - Qingshui Palace Day❸: Jimei School Village - Ten-Mile Long Embankment Day❹: Botanical Garden - Xiamen University (depending on reservation) - Shapowei 2️⃣ Must-Experience Attractions 【Gulangyu Island】 As a classic popular spot, Gulangyu’s reviews have dipped in recent years, but it’s still worth a visit when in Xiamen. Use the “Yu Jian Xiamen” mini app 🍊 to buy ferry tickets (round trip 35 RMB/person) and take the boat from Dongdu Pier. Many attractions on the island, like Sunlight Rock and Shuzhuang Garden, require tickets. 【Qingshui Palace】 Plane spotters must not miss this place! Planes pass about every 10 minutes (once Xiamen Airport moves to Xiang’an, this view will likely disappear). Take Metro Line 1 to “Dianqian” Station, Exit 1, then navigate to Qingshui Palace to capture shots of the temple with planes in the frame. 【Chaotian Palace】 Near Qingshui Palace is the Minnan-style Chaotian Palace, a Mazu temple with great plane-spotting opportunities. The entrance is in an alley and easy to miss—look for the “Sanchuanmen” archway. 【Xiamen Botanical Garden】 Buy the sightseeing bus pass at the entrance to save a lot of time. If you start early on a sunny day, head straight to the Tropical Rainforest area first (arrive before 10 AM to see the beautiful Tyndall effect), then the Cactus area for photos with giant cacti, and finally the Shanhai Trail elevator (explore more if time allows). 3️⃣ Food Recommendations Xiamen Satay Noodles Ginger Duck Oyster Omelette Peanut Soup Tong’an Braised Pork Tong’an Fragrant Chicken Drumstick Manjian Cake (many flavors) Taro Paste Crispy Duck Seafood Hotpot 4️⃣ Accommodation Suggestions Prioritize Siming District (near Zhongshan Road/Xiamen University) for convenient transport and abundant nearby food; Huangcuo guesthouses offer great value but watch out for noise issues; Zengcuoan guesthouses are stylish but farther from the old town with fewer food options nearby.