Discover also: Hainan and Hong Kong Islands, Macao.
⚠️ Timetables, prices and access conditions may change without notice, for reasons beyond our control (season, weather, decisions by operators, venues or local authorities). Before every trip, check the information with the relevant authorities and service providers. Entry requirements and local rules (reserves, quotas) are subject to the same caveat.
On the Fujian coast, facing the Taiwan Strait, Xiamen (formerly Amoy) is a green, sea-facing city built on an island. Ten minutes away by ferry, the small island of Gulangyu (Kulangsu) is a world apart: free of cars and bikes, covered in villas from the 1900s–1930s, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017 and is nicknamed “piano island”.
An island city and its listed gem
Xiamen spreads across an island linked to the mainland by bridges and tunnels: a pleasant modern city with beaches and a long coastal road, Huandao Road, to the south and east. A former treaty port opened to foreign trade in the 19th century, it has kept a strong Minnan (southern Fujian) culture, shared with Taiwan, and close ties with the overseas Chinese.
Across the water, Gulangyu (1.88 km²) became an international settlement in 1903: consulates, churches, schools and villas built by wealthy families returning from Southeast Asia gave rise to the “Amoy Deco” style. UNESCO lists 931 historic buildings; about 12,500 people still live on the island.
Villas, pianos, temples and the coastal road
On Gulangyu, climb Sunlight Rock (92 m), the island’s highest point, visit Shuzhuang Garden (1913) and its Piano Museum, the Organ Museum and the Palace Museum’s gallery of foreign objects, then get lost in the villa-lined lanes. In Xiamen, Nanputuo Temple, Xiamen University (visits by reservation), the artists’ village of Zengcuo’an and a bike ride along Huandao Road are musts, as is Hulishan Fortress and its Krupp cannon.
Two to four hours’ drive away, the Fujian tulou, the large round or square communal houses of the Hakka, have been a World Heritage Site since 2008: a very popular day trip.
Direct flight from Paris, then metro and ferry
Xiamen Airlines flies non-stop from Paris to Xiamen (about 11 h 40, several flights a week). From Hong Kong, come by plane or high-speed train (about 3 h 30). Note: the new Xiang’an airport is due to replace the current Gaoqi airport at the end of 2026. In town, the metro, BRT and taxis (DiDi app) are all you need; Gulangyu is reached only by ferry, with your original passport and preferably a booking.
Spring and autumn
The best periods are mid-October to November and March to April: 20 to 28 °C, little rain. Winter is mild but grey, summer hot (over 30 °C) and humid, with typhoons mostly from July to September. Gulangyu is overrun during Chinese holidays: a daily quota (about 50,000 visitors) then limits ferry places.
Xiamen and Gulangyu at a glance
| Location | South-east China (Fujian), facing the Taiwan Strait |
|---|---|
| Gulangyu | 1.88 km², no cars or bikes; UNESCO World Heritage (2017) |
| Population | ≈ 5 million (Xiamen); ≈ 12,500 (Gulangyu) |
| Languages | Mandarin and Minnan (Hokkien) |
| Time difference | UTC+8 (no daylight saving) |
| Currency | Yuan (CNY); payment mostly via Alipay or WeChat Pay |
| Access | Direct Paris–Xiamen flight (Xiamen Airlines); train from Hong Kong |
| Entry | 30 days visa-free for many European nationals until 31/12/2026 (check for 2027) |
| Electricity | 220 V, plug types A, C and I |
Your questions answered
Do I need a visa?
Citizens of France and many other European countries can currently enter China visa-free for up to 30 days, until 31 December 2026 (no extension announced yet for 2027). The 240-hour visa-free transit also lets you stay in Fujian if you fly on to a third country. Check the latest rules for your nationality before booking.
How do I get to Gulangyu?
By ferry from Xiamen: during the day from the Dongdu international cruise terminal (CNY 35 return to Sanqiutian, CNY 50 to Neicuo’ao); in the evening from Lundu pier. Your original passport is required, and tickets can be booked up to 15 days ahead on the official ferry website: in peak season, sailings often sell out.
How long should I stay?
One day is enough for Gulangyu, but a night on the island lets you enjoy it without the crowds, early in the morning and in the evening. Allow two to three days for Xiamen (Huandao Road, Nanputuo, Zengcuo’an) and one more day for the Fujian tulou.
When is the best time to go?
From mid-October to November, then from March to April: mild, dry weather. Summer is hot and humid, with typhoons mostly from July to September. Avoid the 1 October week and Chinese holidays, when Gulangyu ferries are fully booked.
Header photo: Gulangyu from Sunlight Rock — Jimmy Xue, CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
← Discover all the islands