Gulangyu Island & Shuzhuang Garden Private Half-Day Tour

Four hours on a car-free island with a guide who knows where the cafés are

A private half-day tour of Gulangyu Island departing from downtown Xiamen, with hotel pickup, ferry crossing, and an English-speaking guide (or Mandarin, Japanese, Korean). You walk the island's colonial architecture and leafy streets, stop at a café, tour Shuzhuang Garden (a 1931 private villa turned public garden), and return to port. Admission tickets are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Gulangyu Island and Shuzhuang Garden

• Meet guide and driver at residence
• Transfer to ferry terminal
• Take ferry to Gulangyu Island
• Stroll around island and see architecture
• Visit cafés and boutiques
• Visit Shuzhuang Garden
• Return to main island by ferry
• Transfer back to residence

The experience

Your guide and driver pick you up at your Xiamen residence and drive you to the ferry terminal. The ferry ride itself is short, but it marks the crossing into a different world: Gulangyu Island runs on electric vehicles only, which means the streets stay quiet and the air stays clear. Once you arrive, the walk begins: no itinerary, no rushing between checkpoints, just a leisurely stroll through the island's colonial European architecture, the churches and villas that give it its distinctive look, and the small cafés and boutiques scattered throughout.

Shuzhuang Garden is the structured stop. Built as a private villa in 1931 and opened to the public in 1955, it sits on the island's quieter edge and combines traditional Chinese garden design with the villa's original rooms and furnishings. Your guide will walk you through it and explain what you're seeing, then you have time to sit or wander on your own before heading back to the ferry.

The return journey retraces the ferry crossing and the drive back to your residence. The whole experience runs four hours from pickup to dropoff, which is long enough to feel unhurried but short enough to fit around a cruise schedule or a single afternoon in Xiamen.

What’s included

• Private guide in your chosen language.
• round-trip transfer between your Xiamen residence and the ferry terminal.
• ferry crossing to and from Gulangyu Island.
• admission to Shuzhuang Garden.

Options for this experience

4 options

Mandarin Chinese Guide12 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 15:00Pickup is included

English Guide17 departure times: the first at 01:00, the last at 15:00Pickup is included

Korean Guide12 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 15:00Pickup is included

Japanese Guide12 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 15:00Pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day17 departure times: the first at 01:00, the last at 15:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Chinese, Japanese and Korean

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 28 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by China Memory Trip

Is this one for you?Book the English guide if you want detailed commentary on the island's history and architecture. Choose Mandarin, Japanese or Korean if you prefer to travel in your native language. The half-day length suits cruise passengers and visitors with limited time in Xiamen, while the private format means your guide adjusts the pace to your interests instead of keeping to a group schedule.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Korean, Chinese and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): free.

How do I get to Gulangyu Island from Xiamen?

A short ferry ride takes you from the mainland to Gulangyu Island. Your guide accompanies you, and the crossing is part of the tour experience.

What is Shuzhuang Garden?

Shuzhuang Garden is a former private villa built in 1931 that opened to the public in 1955. It combines traditional Chinese garden design with the original villa rooms and is one of the main stops on the island.

Does the tour include transportation from my hotel?

Yes, round-trip transfer between your downtown Xiamen residence and the ferry terminal is included in the tour price.

Can I eat or drink during the tour?

The tour includes a stop at one of the island's many cafés where you can order a drink or snack. Meals are not included, but you'll have time to purchase food if you wish.