Short answer
Gulangyu (also spelled Kulangsu) is the car-free island in Xiamen harbour, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. There is no bridge and no car ferry for visitors, so everyone arrives by passenger boat — but the island itself charges no admission. The ferry ticket is the only thing you have to book, and it is also the only thing that regularly sells out.
By day, tourists must sail from the Xiamen International Cruise Center — called the Xiagu or Dongdu terminal on maps. Lundu, the terminal in the old town, is the residents' wharf during the day. Boats land at Sanqiutian (closest to Longtou Road and the main sights) or Neicuo'ao (the quiet west side). From the early evening — about 17:50 in winter, 18:50 in summer — tourist service shifts to Lundu, which is also where the evening sailings back to Xiamen go.
Book on the ferry company's own channels: its website, its official WeChat account or its Alipay account. The advance-sale window is 15 days including the day of travel, with each day's tickets released at 9am. The standard round trip is ¥35 and stays valid for the return for 20 days, so you do not pick a return sailing. Foreign passports can register online through a real-name-verified Alipay account by choosing "other document type" and entering the passport number.
Which terminal, and which wharf
There are two wharfs on Gulangyu and several on the Xiamen side, and only some of them are open to visitors. Getting this wrong is the most common way to lose an hour.
| Board at (Xiamen side) | Arrive at (Gulangyu) | When it runs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiamen International Cruise Center (Xiagu / Dongdu) | Sanqiutian | Daytime, from the first sailings | The main tourist route. Sanqiutian is a few minutes' walk from Longtou Road |
| Xiamen International Cruise Center | Neicuo'ao | Daytime | Quieter west side; a longer walk to the centre of the island |
| Lundu terminal (Hall 2) | Sanqiutian | From about 17:50 winter / 18:50 summer | Night tourist service, next to Zhongshan Road and Line 1 at Zhenhai Road |
| Sanqiutian (returning) | Lundu | From 18:00 Oct–May, 19:00 Jun–Sep, until midnight | The convenient return — it drops you in the old town, not at the cruise centre |
| Piano Wharf on Gulangyu (returning) | Lundu | Hourly, roughly 00:00–05:00 | Overnight sailings; buy at the self-service machines in the terminal hall |
The other Xiamen-side wharfs you will see on a map, Songyu and Diyi, are resident routes, not tourist ones. If a route is not on the ferry company's own site, treat it as unavailable to you.
How to book with a foreign passport
- Start from the official channelsThe ferry company's website, its official WeChat account, or its official Alipay account (search for the Xiamen ferry mini program). Tickets bought from anyone else are not covered by the operator.
- Register with a real-name-verified Alipay accountThis is the published route for foreign visitors and for Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan travellers. Scan to log in and register rather than creating a fresh account.
- Add a passenger and pick "other document type"Enter your passport number exactly as printed. Buying for a group means adding each traveller as a passenger.
- Choose terminal, wharf and sailingDay sailings from the cruise centre; Sanqiutian if you want the sights, Neicuo'ao if you want the quiet side.
- Expect to verify some passport numbers at the counterThe operator notes that certain passport or permit numbers cannot be validated automatically, and those passengers must confirm the booking at the manual ticket window before boarding. Leave slack in your morning for this.
- Keep the passport with youIf online booking fails entirely, the ticket counters and self-service machines at the cruise centre are the fallback, but they take Chinese cards or cash, and same-day sailings are often gone.
Booking and boarding rules at a glance
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Advance sale | 15 days including the day of travel; each day's tickets open at 9am |
| Online sales hours | Mini programs sell from roughly 05:30 to 23:59; the website is under maintenance between 23:00 and 05:00 |
| Standard round trip | ¥35 for the standard route; some routes and boat classes cost more |
| Return validity | Your return leg is open for 20 days, so you choose your sailing when you leave |
| Check-in window | Opens 20 minutes before departure and closes 10 minutes before |
| ID at the gate | Physical passport. Copies and phone photos are not accepted |
| Island admission | None. Gulangyu has no entrance fee and no island-wide reservation |
At the terminal
- Arrive with time to spareThe cruise centre is an airport-style building with security screening, and the walk from the entrance to the gate is not short. Ninety minutes before your target sailing is not excessive on a busy day.
- Go through securityBags are screened and passengers walk through a detector, as at a railway station.
- Scan or present your passportIf you booked with a passport and the system accepted the number, you tap through directly. If not, go to the manual window first.
- Board in the check-in windowBoarding starts 20 minutes before departure and stops 10 minutes before. Miss it and the ticket does not hold the boat.
- Ride, then walkThe crossing is short. On the island there are no cars, everything is on foot, and the streets are stone-paved and uneven.
Getting to the terminal
- Metro Line 2 to Cruise Center station, the daytime terminal is a short walk from the station exit.
- Line 1 to Zhenhai Road, the closest metro station to Lundu terminal and Zhongshan Road, for evening sailings.
- From Gaoqi Airport; there is no metro station in the terminal; take an airport bus (roughly ¥10–20) to the ferry terminal or a taxi, about 20–40 minutes.
- From Xiamen North Railway Station, Line 1 runs directly to Zhenhai Road; the cruise centre is then a taxi or Line 1 plus Line 2 ride away.
What to see once you are on the island
- Sunlight Rock (Riguangyan), the island's high point and the reason to arrive early. Seasonal hours, steep steps, no shade at the top.
- Shuzhuang Garden and the Piano Museum, a seaside garden on the south shore; the island's musical history is the theme.
- The Organ Museum, a collection of large pipe organs in a striking building, with short recitals at set times.
- Longtou Road, the food street: fish balls, satay noodles, oyster omelette, peanut soup, mochi.
- The western lanes and Bishan tunnel, the quiet half, with colonial-era villas, the tunnel's murals and the beach at Gangzaihou.
The main sights are sold as a combined ticket rather than individually, and prices are set by the island's operators. Check the official channel for the current price and for the opening hours, which change between summer and winter.
Practical rules for the island
- Motor vehicles are banned. Plan on walking, and wear shoes that handle stone lanes and stairs.
- It is a residential island, not only a sight. People live in the lanes and in many of the old buildings. Keep the noise down and do not walk into private courtyards.
- Weekdays are much calmer than weekends, and holiday weeks are the busiest of the year.
- Stay overnight if you can. The tour groups leave on the late-afternoon boats and the island becomes a different place.
- Check the weather. Sailings can be suspended in typhoon conditions, and refunds and rebooking follow the operator's rules.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a reservation to visit Gulangyu?
Not for the island itself; there is no entrance fee and no island-wide booking. What you must book is the ferry, which is real-name and released 15 days ahead.
Can tourists take the ferry from Lundu terminal?
Not during the day; Lundu is the residents' terminal then. From the early evening, about 17:50 in winter and 18:50 in summer, tourist sailings move there, and the evening boats from Sanqiutian also return to Lundu.
How much is the ferry?
The standard round trip is ¥35, valid for the return for 20 days. Some routes and boat classes cost more, and prices are set by the ferry company, check its official channel when you book.
Can I book with a foreign passport?
Yes, through the official channels using a real-name-verified Alipay account, adding yourself as a passenger and choosing "other document type". Some passport numbers have to be verified at the manual ticket window before boarding.
What if I miss my sailing?
Check-in opens 20 minutes before departure and closes 10 minutes before. If you miss it, ask at the counter about moving to a later sailing with space; any fee and availability rules are the operator's.
Do I need to print a ticket?
No. The passport used for the booking is what you present at the gate. Passengers whose documents cannot be read at the gate may be asked to print a boarding slip at the terminal.
Which wharf should I arrive at?
Sanqiutian for a first visit; it is closest to Longtou Road and the main sights. Neicuo'ao suits travellers who want the residential west side and quieter lanes.
How long should I spend on the island?
A full day covers the main sights, and staying one night is what makes the trip. A half-day visit is possible but means choosing between Sunlight Rock and the gardens.
Related reading
Terminals, wharfs, sailing windows, the 15-day advance-sale rule, the ¥35 standard round trip, the 20-day return validity, the check-in window and the passport booking route follow the Xiamen Ferry Company's published help pages. Metro stations and airport transfer options follow Xiamen Metro's and the airport's published information. Sailing times, prices, routes and passport handling are set by the operators and change, confirm them on the official channel before you travel.