Comparison · China
Xiamen vs Hangzhou: Which Should You Choose?
Seaside Xiamen with Gulangyu, or Hangzhou with West Lake, tea and the Grand Canal? Who each suits, airport to city, sights, how many days and when to go.
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The short answer
Xiamen is a seaside city on China's south-east coast. It is an island-and-sea trip: you walk Gulangyu (Kulangsu), about 5 minutes away by ferry, take a harbour cruise and stroll a wetland park. Gulangyu was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017.
Hangzhou is the capital of Zhejiang province and was the seat of the Southern Song dynasty. It is a lake-and-tea trip: walks around West Lake, Longjing tea gardens and a tea museum, and the Grand Canal. It has three UNESCO World Heritage sites: West Lake, the Grand Canal and the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City.
Best for: Xiamen suits travelers who like historic architecture, gardens, sea views and museums on overseas Chinese history. Hangzhou suits lovers of lakeside walks, tea culture, old streets, canals and historic sites.
From the airport to the city
Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN) has two terminals, T3 and T4. Airport express bus ticket counters are open 05:30–23:00 (times as posted at the counter), with lines towards the Ferry Terminal and towards Wucun Bus Station. BRT lines Kuai 1 and Kuai 2 stop at the T4 station, and taxis queue by automatic Door 7 in the T3 arrivals hall or Door 3 in the T4 arrivals hall. Check official information for routes and fares.
At Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH), Xiaoshan International Airport station is served by Metro Lines 1, 7 and 19. The station opens at 05:50 and closes at 00:27. If you arrive late at night, use the late-night airport buses: to Wulinmen about 60 minutes for CNY 20, or the Hangzhou East Railway Station line about 80 minutes for CNY 28. Tickets are sold under your real name, so you need your passport. Standard taxis charge CNY 13 for the first 3 km.
A new airport, Xiamen Xiang'an International Airport, is being built. Check whether your ticket shows Gaoqi (T3/T4).
Xiamen: Gulangyu and the sea
Gulangyu is a small island that gained international settlement status in 1903. 931 historic buildings mixing Chinese and international styles survive, along with roads and gardens. Sunlight Rock and Shuzhuang Garden are its best-known sights, and there are also the Piano Museum and the Zheng Chenggong Memorial Hall. With so many pianos, it is known as the 'Island of Music'.
Ferry tickets are sold under your real name, so bring your passport. Return sailings off the island are busiest from 15:00 to 18:30, so head back a little earlier. From 12 October 2026, the approach bridge at the Xiamen Ferry Terminal is being rebuilt for about 40 days, so walking routes change. Work may run longer in bad weather; follow the signs and staff on site.
In the evening, walk Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street and take a 90- to 120-minute harbour cruise with views of Gulangyu and Kinmen and the light show at Heping Wharf. There are also the Overseas Chinese Museum and Xiamen Museum (both closed on Mondays except national holidays) and Wuyuan Bay Wetland Park, a resting place for migratory birds. For food, try Xiamen dishes such as oyster vermicelli, peanut soup, fried five-spice rolls and taro buns.
Hangzhou: West Lake, tea and the Grand Canal
West Lake is a shallow lake 15 km around, and the West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011. Loop buses 51 and 52 circle the lake, handy for hopping off near Su Causeway, Leifeng Pagoda and other spots. By the lake you'll also find the West Lake Museum and the Su Dongpo Memorial Hall at the southern end of Su Causeway.
Tea lovers should visit the China National Tea Museum, which has two sites: the Longjing site, surrounded by tea gardens near Longjing village, and the Shuangfeng site. Tea is picked in spring. A Grand Canal cruise from Wulinmen Wharf takes you to the Gongchen Bridge area, with the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Museum and the bridge lit up at night. The Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City, a rice-growing civilisation from about 3300 to 2300 BC, were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019.
Stroll Qinghefang historic street and try Hangzhou dishes such as Dongpo pork and West Lake fish in vinegar gravy. Metro fares are distance-based, and 1-, 3-, 5- and 7-day electronic passes are sold in the official app.
How many days, and what about budget?
The guides suggest 2 to 3 days for Xiamen and 3 to 4 days for Hangzhou. In Xiamen, give one day to Gulangyu and the evening waterfront and one to museums and the wetland park. In Hangzhou, give one day to West Lake and one to the tea museum and the Grand Canal.
Hotel and food costs vary a lot by date, so check booking sites. So we don't say which is cheaper. Here is the budget advice for each city per tier:
- Xiamen (budget): ferries, BRT and city buses keep transport costs low (check official fares)
- Xiamen (mid-range): adding taxis and a harbour cruise (check official prices)
- Hangzhou (budget): metro and West Lake loop buses; Yu Qian's Former Residence is free; late-night airport bus to Wulinmen CNY 20
- Hangzhou (mid-range): with taxis, CNY 13 for the first 3 km plus distance
- Both (high-end): accommodation is most of the budget
When to go
Hangzhou is best for walking in spring (April-May) and autumn (October-November). Average highs are about 22°C in April, 27°C in May, 24°C in October and 18°C in November. October-November get less rain, about 74-75 mm a month. June is the wettest month of the year (about 258 mm). July-August are hot, with average highs of about 33-34°C, and January's average low is about 2°C (Hangzhou station, 1991–2020 normals; source: China Meteorological Administration submission · WMO normals collection (NOAA NCEI)).
For Xiamen we go by the local seasonal advice rather than monthly normals. According to the Fujian provincial government, the city is without extreme heat or cold. Typhoons can halt all Gulangyu ferry routes, so check official forecasts and ferry notices before you go.
For both cities, check official weather and typhoon forecasts before you travel. In Hangzhou, lotus blooms on West Lake in summer.
How to choose
If you want sea views, an island and historic architecture, choose Xiamen. If you want lakeside walks, tea culture and historic sites such as the Grand Canal, choose Hangzhou.
Xiamen Museum and the Overseas Chinese Museum close on Mondays, so check the day when you plan. In 2026 Hangzhou was chosen as a pilot city for digital services for inbound visitors, and Xiamen airport has a one-stop service centre for foreign visitors that helps with currency exchange, ATMs and setting up mobile payment (airport notice, February 2026). Set up a payment method before you travel.
Visa rules, including visa-free entry, change often. Check the latest rules with the Chinese embassy's official information before you travel.
Plan your Xiamen trip
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Plan your Hangzhou trip
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FAQ
Xiamen or Hangzhou for a first visit?
Choose Xiamen for the sea, an island and historic architecture, and Hangzhou for a lake, tea and historic sites. The guides suggest 2 to 3 days for Xiamen and 3 to 4 days for Hangzhou.
What should I know about the Gulangyu ferry?
Tickets are sold under your real name, so bring your passport. Return sailings are busiest from 15:00 to 18:30, and from 12 October 2026 walking routes at the Xiamen Ferry Terminal change for about 40 days while the approach bridge is rebuilt.
What if I land in Hangzhou late at night?
The airport metro station closes at 00:27. After that, take a late-night airport bus (to Wulinmen about 60 minutes, CNY 20). Tickets are sold under your real name, so you need your passport.
What is the weather like in Xiamen?
According to the Fujian provincial government, the city is without extreme heat or cold. Typhoons can halt Gulangyu ferries, so check official forecasts and ferry notices.
Related reading
ⓘ Photo credits
- Kulangsu (Gulangyu) seen from the sea · Siyuwj / CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leifeng Pagoda and West Lake · Windmemories / CC BY-SA 4.0