Xiamen is China’s most romantic city. Even if you are not a fan of romance, trust us visiting Xiamen will be a fantastic experience. There is something for everyone there. If you wonder how to get around Xiamen, we will help you and give you all the answers to your questions.
No, there is no Uber in Xiamen. But don’t worry, there are other transportation options to help you get around Xiamen.
From riding with a regular taxi to getting around on a train. Read on to know more.
How to Get Around Xiamen Without Uber?
Getting around Xiamen without Uber is not as hard as you think; Xiamen has an excellent public transportation system. Getting a taxi to get you where you need to go is also very easy. Keep on reading to find out everything you need to know about getting around Xiamen without Uber.
Alternative Ride Sharing (Grab/Lyft) in Xiamen
There are no Grab or Lyft services in Xiamen, but this won’t make your trip any worse, keep on reading to know what other options of getting around Xiamen are available.
Taxi in Xiamen
Getting around Xiamen with a taxi is easy; over 5000 vehicles are strolling around the city at all times, and you could hail one down whenever you need it. It is the option many locals and tourists choose to get around the city since it is not as expensive as in some other tourist areas.
The minimum fare for a taxi ride in Xiamen is $1.23; you will be charged $0.31 above 3 kilometers and $0.46 above 8 kilometers. The night rides are also more expensive; they can cost you around 20% more than when getting a taxi ride during the day.
Taxis in Xiamen, use a meter, and if your driver refuses to turn it on, you could issue a complaint with their customer service and get your ride for free. This happens rarely, but if it does, you should always report it.
Train in Xiamen
Getting on a train ride in Xiamen can be done from Xiamen Railway Station, and it is the right way of getting to other cities. If you don’t plan on staying only in Xiamen on your trip, then get on a train ride. Xiamen has over 100 trains that leave from the Xiamen Railway Station every day.
There are not only regular trains in Xiamen but fast trains too. Getting to Hong Kong from Xiamen has never been as easy with fast trains. Many locals who work outside Xiamen choose to ride with trains to work rather than taking taxies or a bus ride.
The prices for train rides will differ depending on the distance you will take, you can get all the information about train ride prices at the station itself.
Bus in Xiamen
Getting around Xiamen with a bus is a good idea if you are traveling on a budget. Xiamen has a good bus system and the tickets for bus services are very affordable. There are boxes in which you could
deposit your money to get a bus ticket.
The prices for a bus ride without air-conditioning will cost you only $0.15, and if you went for an air-conditioned bus ride, it would cost you $0.3. Some air-conditioned buses have conductors in them. Most buses run from 6 am to 11 pm, and they run every few minutes; there are also time tables than you could check to know when your bus will arrive.
Getting around Xiamen as a tourist is best done on a tourist bus, they are a bit pricier for Xiamen’s prices, but they also include lunch. The price of the tourist bus in Xiamen is $8.95, and the bus stops at all the tourist sites; the commentary is done in Chinese, so that might not be good for people who don’t speak Chinese.
Metro in Xiamen
Xiamen also has a metro system, but is not yet that developed, for now, it has only two lines, Line 1 and Line 2, but it has four more in the making.
Line 1 in Xiamen is a cross-sea line, and it goes from or to Xiamen island, and from or to Jimei. Line 2 connect the east and west part of the city. Line 3 and Line 4 are in the making, and Line 5 and Line 6 are in plans.
Ferry in Xiamen
Xiamen has an excellent ferry system running all day long. If you are interested in exploring Xiamen’s islands, this is the best way for you to do it. There is a Xiamen Ferry Dock where you will get on your ferry. There is no charge for the ride to
Gulang-Yu, however, you will be charged $1.23 on your way back, and if you wanted to have a sit at the dock, and extra $0.15.
The ferries run every 10 to 15 minutes from 5:45 am to 9 pm; after that, they run every 20 to 30 minutes until 12:30 am.
And if you wanted something fancier to get around the islands, our recommendation would be to rent one of those fancy boats, if you don’t mind spending some money. A two to three-hour cruise will cost you $15.34 per person, not a lot if you want to have a luxurious experience.
Bicycle in Xiamen
Getting around Xiamen with a bike is an excellent way of staying in shape during your vacation. It is also a great option if you want to enjoy the scenery while exploring this beautiful city. It is very affordable, and many bike rentals can be found around the Island Ring Road.
Apart from the regular bikes, there are also bikes for four people to ride available in Xiamen to rent. An hour rental prices will go from $0.77 to $2.31, depending on the type of bike you choose. You will also have to leave a deposit when renting a bike, and depending on where you get your rental, the amount of the deposit they ask for will warry.
