Plan your Xiamen Tour? Walking along Zhongshan Pedestrian Street(中山路步行街) in Xiamen is worth your valuable time for your short trip to Xiamen.
Most visitors would come to Zhongshan Walking Street either before or after going to Gulangyu Island since the west starting point of Zhongshan Road is just across the ferry terminal to Gulangyu Island ( Kinder reminder: now the wharf is only for evening ferry; for daytime ferry you should go to Xiamen International Cruise Terminal).
Avoid going to the Zhongshan Walking Street on weekends or China holidays. Zhongshan Road is bright and alive at night with different colours. Zhongshan Road is teeming with shops and street vendors. Zhongshan Road is more than just a commercial street, it is a leisure, entertainment and food center in Xiamen.
Over 200 shops lines up the street with clear chain store outlets and trinket shops. Most of the buildings along the Zhongshan Road are a combination of Victoria-era and Chinese traditional architectures, a kind of two-storey buildings known as “Qi Lou” (riding across buildings). Qi Lou is designed both for commerce and living.
Try the local favor – seaworms in jellyfish, Huang Zehe Peanut Soup Restaurant easily found on the street. No traffic and no smoking for the whole street, which looks clean and tidy. Zhongshan Walking Street is a must see attraction after or before you visit Gulangyu Island.
Lujiang Harbourview Hotel is just opposite to Xiamen Ferry Terminal ( offering evening ferry to Gulangyu Island) and the west starting point of Zhongshan Road. Lujiang Hotel offers the dim sum and some nice food with excellent views of the city and Gulangyu Island.
The west starting point of Zhongshan Walking Street.
The connected 4-storey Qi Lou Buildings look clean and bright.
Zhongshan Road is full of snack carts.
Many food outlets placed outside the shops lined up on both sides of Zhongshan Road.
Some snacks imitating western food are sold in snack carts.
Open-air Cafe and coffee
You even could find the sugar-covered hawthorn. The Vistoria-era buildings along the Zhongshan Street.
The western-style Zhongshan Street resembles some streets in London or Paris.
The white 3-storey buildings extends your world.
Zhongshan Road is bright and alive at night
Tip：Xiamen Guided Tours
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself Xiamen tour and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Xiamen:
Xiament Tour
Xiamen Cruise Port Day Tour
Xiamen Highlight Day Tour
Xiamen One Day Side Trip to Yongding Hakka Tulou
Xiamen 4 Day Highlight Tour
Xiamen Wuyi Mountains 5 Day Tour
Further Readings
Top 10 Attractions in Xiamen
Xiamen Cruise Port
How to Visit Xiamen University
How to visit Island Ring Road in Xiamen
How to Visit Hulishan Fortress Xiamen
How to Visit South Putuo Temple Xiamen
How to Visit Zhongshan Road in Xiamen
How to visit Gulangyu Island
I m now at 夏门巿湖里区高殿村。我要怎样去zhong shan road if I m taking a bus?
Hello Chua Hweechin，
You may take two public buses from 湖里区高殿村 to Zhongshan Road ( 13km, 1 hour and 10 miniutes ).
First, you walk 90 meters to 高殿中心小学站 where you take Bus 133 and get off at the 14th stop of 梧村汽车站, where you take Bus 21 or 3 and get off at the 7th stop of 思东站 , then walk 290 meters to reach Zhongshan Road.
We will get off the cruise ship at 10am on June 19. We only have 6-7 hours to visit Xiamen.
We would like to visit Gulangyu Island, Nan Putuo temple, Hulishan Fortress and Zhongshan pedestrian street.
Could you tell us which scenery should visit in order sequencing so we can save more time.
Thanks.
Hi Virginia Huang,
All the sights you are going to visit are roughly on the same direction ( east of your cruise port). The correct order ( arranged from the closest ) should be Gulangyu Island, Zhongshan pedestrian street( north of Gulangyu Island and retrace), Nan Putuo temple, Hulishan Fortress.
http://www.tour-beijing.com/xiamen_tour ( see the map on the page )
Thanks for the info! Do you happen to know how late the market is open? I arrive for a 24 hour layover at 930 pm and was hoping to find an open night market and or fun night life. Also do you have any recommendations for a good dim sum restaurant in Xiamen?
Thanks!!!
Hi Rosie,
Most of the shops and restaurants on Zhongshan Street are close around 10 pm.
For night snack, you may find some food vendors and small eateries along Zhongshan Street are still open till midnight.
Hello,
I am planning a trip in January to Xiamen. Am planning to go to Gulangyu and ZhongShan Road. I am traveling with my elderly parents. May I know how is the weather and temperature like during January?
Hi Phyllis,
Xiamen’ average temperature in January is between 10℃ ~ 17℃. So still it is a bit cold. You need to wear jackets and thin sweaters.
hi,i m bob from malaysia,going to visit xiamen ,a group of 8,..1) march weather,cost of day tour to gulangyu ..we hv.2days in xiamen,seeking your advice
Dear Bob chuah,
Thanks for your inquiry! One of our trip advisors will contact you for the details. Much appreciated !
Hi I have a 12 hr layover and I wanted to know what time everything opens and how much I should exchange into CNY just for 1 meal and a few souvenirs:) also I was wondering how much a taxi cost to go to Zhongshan Road from the airport and how much a taxi is to go to Xiamen University from Zhongshan Road
Dear Mary,
1. what time everything opens: around 10:00 am
2. Money exchange: You may change money at Xiamen Airport
3. Airport to Zhongshan Road: 15 km, half hour and 50 yuan
4. Zhongshan Road to Xiamen University: 3.5km, 9 minutes and 12 yuan.