Considering that our family has an elderly person (an 80-year-old grandma) and a child (a five-year-old kid), the itinerary is not very packed. Since it was a last-minute decision to travel, I found a trip planner on Ctrip. The hotel and tickets for paid attractions were booked through them. On the first day, we also hired a car to accompany us. For the next four days, it was a free and independent trip. The ferry tickets to Gulangyu and tickets for free attractions were booked by ourselves. For attractions and ferries, you can directly enter by swiping your ID card and it is not necessary to pick up physical tickets.
Day1: Arrive at the airport, the driver picks us up → Nanjing Ancient Buildings (we went to Shuiyunyao and Tianluokeng, plus an unknown small village) → Hotel (We booked a hotel in Huangcuo area. It is a bit far from all the attractions, but it is convenient for children to play with sand).
Tianluokeng is worth seeing. We just took a quick look at Shuiyunyao and then left. Maybe because of the rain, the experience was not very good. I told the driver sister who picked us up. On the way back, she took us to an undeveloped ancient village building to take a look. It’s free and you can also go upstairs. It is recommended to find one or two small villages that are not so commercialized to take a look and feel the local architectural and cultural characteristics.
Tianluokeng is worth seeing. We just took a quick look at Shuiyunyao and then left. Maybe because of the rain, the experience was not very good. I told the driver sister who picked us up. On the way back, she took us to an undeveloped ancient village building to take a look. It’s free and you can also go upstairs. It is recommended to find one or two small villages that are not so commercialized to take a look and feel the local architectural and cultural characteristics.
Day2: Guxia Wharf → Gulangyu → Xiamen Ferry Terminal (Buy tickets on the WeChat mini-program “#Meeting Xiamen”. 35 yuan for a round trip. It only takes about twenty minutes from Guxia Wharf. When returning, we arrive at the ferry terminal, which only takes 5 minutes by ship).
We got on and off the island at Sanqiutian. For lunch, we had snacks. Taking pictures anywhere on the island is very photogenic. It is recommended to buy a ticket after getting off the ship. It can only be bought at the ferry terminal and cannot be bought at intermediate stops. The elderly are not recommended to go up to Sunlight Rock. The section to the highest point is a bit steep. The island’s specialties are basically sold on the pedestrian street and the prices are a bit cheaper. In the evening, we tried Minnan cuisine: Linjia Minnan Cuisine (Huan Dao Road branch). The environment is good and the dishes are also good. After eating, you can take a walk along the seaside or go to Zengcuo’an opposite to stroll around.
We got on and off the island at Sanqiutian. For lunch, we had snacks. Taking pictures anywhere on the island is very photogenic. It is recommended to buy a ticket after getting off the ship. It can only be bought at the ferry terminal and cannot be bought at intermediate stops. The elderly are not recommended to go up to Sunlight Rock. The section to the highest point is a bit steep. The island’s specialties are basically sold on the pedestrian street and the prices are a bit cheaper. In the evening, we tried Minnan cuisine: Linjia Minnan Cuisine (Huan Dao Road branch). The environment is good and the dishes are also good. After eating, you can take a walk along the seaside or go to Zengcuo’an opposite to stroll around.
Day3: Nanputuo (enter from the east and exit from the west) → Xiamen University → Pedestrian Street.
Nanputuo and Xiamen University are both free, but reservations are required in advance. Use “#Reservation Service Platform for Nanputuo Temple” and “#Visit Xiamen University”. It is best to make reservations three to four days in advance. Especially for Xiamen University, there are limited numbers of tickets released at specific times. At noon, we had snacks at the school. The Xiamen University cafeteria is not open to the public. You can eat at the tourist passage. Fridge magnets and Wind Lion Gods are recommended to be bought at a cultural and creative store on the fifth floor of Xinhua Bookstore on the pedestrian street. It is said to be recommended on Xiaohongshu. Ordinary fridge magnets are 5 yuan. In the evening, we also went to a Crayon Shin-chan dessert shop “#Tangguan Zhitian Dessert Shop”.
Nanputuo and Xiamen University are both free, but reservations are required in advance. Use “#Reservation Service Platform for Nanputuo Temple” and “#Visit Xiamen University”. It is best to make reservations three to four days in advance. Especially for Xiamen University, there are limited numbers of tickets released at specific times. At noon, we had snacks at the school. The Xiamen University cafeteria is not open to the public. You can eat at the tourist passage. Fridge magnets and Wind Lion Gods are recommended to be bought at a cultural and creative store on the fifth floor of Xinhua Bookstore on the pedestrian street. It is said to be recommended on Xiaohongshu. Ordinary fridge magnets are 5 yuan. In the evening, we also went to a Crayon Shin-chan dessert shop “#Tangguan Zhitian Dessert Shop”.
Day4: Jimei University → Shigu Road → Jiageng Park → Ten-mile Long Embankment.
Young people can go for a walk, eat and look around. It is not recommended for family outings. The food is mainly on Shigu Road. There is a Chen Jiageng Museum inside Jiageng Park. Ten-mile Long Embankment is not recommended. We took the sea train, but it didn’t feel special. For dinner, “#Haiyujia Ten Years Classic”. Strongly recommend their seaweed rice.
Young people can go for a walk, eat and look around. It is not recommended for family outings. The food is mainly on Shigu Road. There is a Chen Jiageng Museum inside Jiageng Park. Ten-mile Long Embankment is not recommended. We took the sea train, but it didn’t feel special. For dinner, “#Haiyujia Ten Years Classic”. Strongly recommend their seaweed rice.
Day5: Xiamen Botanical Garden (enter from the west and exit from the south) → Zengcuo’an → Hulishan Cannon Fort → Baicheng Beach → SM Plaza → Airport.
As soon as we entered, we bought a round-trip full-ticket (you must buy it. The road is relatively steep). There are more mosquitoes and insects inside. Remember to apply mosquito repellent. The cannon fort and Baicheng Beach are very close.
As soon as we entered, we bought a round-trip full-ticket (you must buy it. The road is relatively steep). There are more mosquitoes and insects inside. Remember to apply mosquito repellent. The cannon fort and Baicheng Beach are very close.