Private Xiamen Market Tour: Food, Shopping & Local Guide

Four to five hours shopping, eating and walking through Xiamen's two oldest markets with a local guide

A private guided tour of Xiamen's Eighth Sea Food Market and Zhongshan Road Shopping Street, where you shop for fresh seafood, have it cooked to your order at a local restaurant, and walk the old alleys and commercial streets with a guide who translates and explains the local food and shopping culture. Hotel pickup is included. A live guide speaks English, Chinese or Japanese, and departure times are flexible to fit your schedule.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Xiamen markets and local food

• Visit Eighth Sea Food Market
• Shop fresh seafood from vendors
• Have seafood cooked at local restaurant
• Walk through old city alleys
• Explore Zhongshan Road Shopping Street
• Enjoy local food and seaside views
• Return to hotel or downtown area

The experience

The tour starts at Eighth Sea Food Market in the old quarter, one of the city's oldest and largest fresh food markets. You walk through stalls of seafood, wet goods and dried items, pick out what appeals to you, then take your bag to a local restaurant where the kitchen cooks it to your dietary requests. You eat there with other local dishes, so the meal is part of the experience, not a separate stop.

After eating, you walk the old alleys toward Zhongshan Road Shopping Street, the city's oldest commercial street and largest shopping area. Your guide leads you through different stalls and shops, points out the local food scene and explains the shopping culture as you go. The walk takes in charming seaside views and gives you time to watch how the street actually works, not a rushed highlight reel. The tour ends with drop-off at your hotel or another downtown location you choose.

Transport depends on group size: groups of five or more travel in a private minivan or bus. Smaller groups of one to four use a private premium Uber. A live guide in English, Chinese or Japanese is included, and you can pick a morning or afternoon departure to fit the rest of your day.

What’s included

• Private transport (Uber for groups of one to four, minivan or bus for five or more).
• local guide in English, Chinese or Japanese.
• food tasting and drinks during the tour, including the seafood meal cooked to your order at the local restaurant.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Xiamen.

Options for this experience

2 options

Morning DepartureGuide in English, Chinese or Japanese · 6 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 12:00The guide, local transport and food tasting are all included. Your tour leaves in the morning, and pickup is included.

Afternoon DepartureGuide in English, Chinese or Japanese · 8 departure times: the first at 12:30, the last at 16:00The guide, local transport and food tasting are all included. Your tour leaves in the afternoon, and includes pickup.

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 day14 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 16:00

AgesAdult (8 to 88 years) · Child (3 to 7 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Chinese and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sunny Private Tours

Is this one for you?Book the morning departure if you want to shop and eat early in the day when the markets are most active. The afternoon option works better if you prefer to start later and explore the streets as they wind down toward evening.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Chinese and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 7 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly is Eighth Sea Food Market like when I arrive?

Eighth Sea Food Market is one of Xiamen's oldest and largest fresh food markets, located in the old quarter. It features a wide range of seafood, wet goods and dried items sold by local vendors. You shop for what you want, then take your selections to a nearby local restaurant where the kitchen cooks them to your specifications, and you eat there with other local dishes included.

Can I choose what time the tour starts?

Yes, the tour offers flexible departure times. You can book either a morning or afternoon departure to fit your own travel schedule, and hotel pickup is included.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs four to five hours total, starting at Eighth Sea Food Market, moving through the old alleys, and ending at Zhongshan Road Shopping Street with drop-off at your hotel or downtown location.

What happens if I'm traveling alone or with just one or two other people?

Groups of one to four passengers travel in a private premium Uber. Groups of five or more use a private minivan or bus. Either way, the transport is private to your group.