Home/China Attractions/Fujian/Gulangyu (Kulangsu) Island Tourism Area

5A Tourism Area

Designated 2007

Gulangyu (Kulangsu) Island Tourism Area

厦门市鼓浪屿风景名胜区

Fujian, Xiamen★ 4.5Designated 2007·24.4478°N, 118.0662°E

Ticket Price

island free (ferry CNY 35 from, combined ticket CNY 100)

Duration

3 to 5 hours

Rating

4.5 / 5.0

Designated

2007

About Gulangyu (Kulangsu) Island Tourism Area

Gulangyu, a UNESCO World Heritage island off Xiamen, is a car-free maze of colonial villas, winding lanes and piano music. Climb Sunlight Rock for sweeping views over the harbor, or wander its historic gardens and former consulates.

Highlights

A car-free colonial island with historic foreign consulates and villas; the Sunlight Rock summit; Shuzhuang Garden and the Piano Museum; Gothic churches.

Suggested Route

Take the ferry from Xiamen to the island, climb Sunlight Rock, tour Shuzhuang Garden and the Piano Museum, wander the lanes; allow a full day.

Food & Lodging

Try seafood and peanut soup on the island; stay in Xiamen city (Gulangyu has limited hotels).

Facilities

Ferry terminal, electric carts, restrooms and signage; hilly lanes, limited wheelchair access; book via xmferry.com.

Travel Tips

Check official website for current information. Respect local customs and regulations. Best visited during mild weather seasons.

How to Buy Tickets

Passport booking guide for Gulangyu Island (Xiamen) · verified 2026-08-16

⏰ When to book

FERRY tickets must be booked in advance — release up to 10 days ahead and sell out on weekends. No walk-up tickets.

🛂 Passport requirement

Passport number required for ferry booking.

🎟️ Where to book

OFFICIAL

Official ferry (厦门轮渡) ↗ — The ONLY official ferry booking.

OTA

Trip.com ↗ — Sometimes bundles island passes.

💡 Tip: Board from Dongdu terminal to the island's interior pier to skip the touristy stretch.

📅 Best Time & Crowds

Best season: November to March (dry season, pleasant temperatures)

🏮Golden Week alert: May 1-5 and Oct 1-7 are China's biggest travel peaks — top attractions sell out days ahead. Book tickets the moment they open.

⏰Many museums and palaces close on Mondays (e.g. Forbidden City, National Museum). Plan around it.

Location

View on interactive map →

View Trip →

💱

Book Tickets & Tours

Trip.com

Hotels, tickets & tours

Klook

Tickets & experiences

Buying tickets as a foreign visitor

• Most 5A/4A sites require real-name registration — bring your passport.

• Tickets often must be booked in advance online — peak season & holidays sell out quickly.

• Some remote or border-area sites have entry restrictions for foreign visitors — check before you travel.

External booking links. Prices may vary.

Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link to platforms travelers actually use.

Opening Hours

Peak season (April-October): 8:00-17:30; Off-season: 8:30-17:00.

Getting There

Ferry from Dongdu Cruise Terminal (Metro Line 2 to Cruise Center) to Sanqiutian / Neicuo'ao pier; HSR Xiamen Station / Xiamen North; ~15 km from Xiamen Gaoqi Airport.

Reservation

Ferry tickets bookable 7 days ahead via www.xmferry.com; some attractions free limited reservation via 'Xiamen Gulangyu Culture & Tourism Center' WeChat.

Ticket Price

island free (ferry CNY 35 (≈ $4.9) from, combined ticket CNY 100 (≈ $14))

Address

Fujian Province Xiamen City Siming District Gulangyu

📍 中文地址 / Chinese Address

厦门市鼓浪屿风景名胜区

福建省厦门市思明区鼓浪屿

Fujian Province Xiamen City Siming District Gulangyu

24.4478, 118.0662

Amap ↗Apple Maps ↗Google Maps ↗

Tip: Google Maps may be inaccurate in China — use Amap for navigation.