Gulangyu Island Tour: Hi Heaven Villa & Old Buildings

Walk Gulangyu's oldest streets, then step inside Hi Heaven Villa for a live performance

A private half-day tour from Xiamen to Gulangyu Island with hotel pickup and a professional guide who speaks your language. You'll stroll the island's historic buildings and monuments, then enter Hi Heaven Villa (the largest old villa on the island) to watch a traditional South Music performance and Puppet Show in its five-building complex that blends Chinese and Western architecture.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Gulangyu Island and Hi Heaven Villa

• Meet guide and driver at hotel
• Travel to ferry terminal
• Take ferry to Gulangyu Island
• Walk and admire old buildings
• Visit Hi Heaven Villa
• Enjoy South Music and Puppet Show
• Return to main island
• Drive back to hotel

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your hotel between 7:00–9:00 am or 1:00–2:00 pm, then your guide and driver take you to the ferry terminal for the crossing to Gulangyu Island. Once there, you walk at a relaxed pace through the island's oldest quarters, passing various heritage buildings and monuments that mark centuries of settlement. The island itself is the draw: no rushing between stops, just time to absorb the quieter side of Xiamen away from the city's pace.

Hi Heaven Villa (Hai Tian Tang Gou) anchors the second half of the tour. It's the largest old villa on Gulangyu and the only central-axis symmetrical building complex on the island, made up of five connected structures that mix Chinese and Western design. Inside, you watch a live South Music performance and a traditional Puppet Show: both performed in the villa itself, so you're seeing the art in the space it was built for. Bottled water is provided throughout.

After the villa, your driver returns you to your hotel. The whole outing runs about four hours, which leaves room to explore Xiamen's other neighborhoods before or after. Your guide is a professional who speaks English, French, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, or Japanese depending on which option you choose at checkout.

What’s included

• Your private driver and car.
• hotel pickup and drop-off at your chosen time.
• a professional guide in your selected language.
• bottled water.
• admission tickets to Hi Heaven Villa.

Options for this experience

4 options

Mandarin Chinese Guide15 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 15:00Pickup is included.

A Korean-speaking guide or a Japanese-speaking guide.15 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 15:00Pickup is included.

English Guide15 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 15:00Pickup is included.

French Guide15 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 day15 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 15:00

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Child (3 to 5 years): free · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French, Chinese, Japanese and Korean

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Elephant Tour

Is this one for you?Book the morning departure (7:00–9:00 am) if you want to explore Gulangyu's quieter streets before the afternoon crowds arrive, or choose the afternoon slot (1:00–2:00 pm) to spend your morning elsewhere in Xiamen.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, Korean, Chinese and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 5 years): free. Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is Hi Heaven Villa and why is it special on Gulangyu Island?

Hi Heaven Villa is the largest old villa on Gulangyu and the only building complex on the island built with a central-axis symmetrical design. It consists of five connected buildings that blend Chinese and Western architectural styles, and it's where the South Music performance and Puppet Show take place during the tour.

How do I get to Gulangyu Island from Xiamen?

Your guide and driver take you from your hotel to the ferry terminal in Xiamen, where you board the ferry to cross to Gulangyu Island. The ferry ride is part of the tour experience.

What's included in the price and what do I need to pay for separately?

The tour includes your private driver and car, hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional guide, bottled water, and admission tickets to Hi Heaven Villa. Lunch is not included, so you can eat on the island or back in the city on your own schedule.