Independent travel guide
Kulangsu Historic International Settlement
鼓浪屿历史国际社区Kulangsu Historic International Settlement
Kulangsu Historic International Settlement is a cultural or heritage stop in Xiamen; use the Chinese name and listed district for the final approach. Give the site Allow 4-6 hours (half to a full day); about 2-3 hours for a quick look at Longtou Road and Sunlight Rock only if you do not want to rush. Check the gate before setting off, especially when the map pin covers a broad area.
Paid admission · Checked 2026-08-02
Verified ticket prices
Official pricesOfficial current adult price not confirmed
Adult admission
Official current adult price not confirmed- This record intentionally does not infer a current price from a guide or third-party listing.
Reservation required
How to book
Use the official Kulangsu mini-program or official visitor-service page; the official reply expressly records passport online/offline purchase for inbound visitors.
Choose the sailing and core-scenic-area product before fixing the island day; the official page gives no universal release interval.
Booking steps
- 1
Open the official Kulangsu page and select the island sailing and the exact core-scenic-area product.
- 2
Enter the passport details exactly as shown on the travel document and check the selected terminal and time.
- 3
Save the order and bring the same passport for ferry and scenic-area verification.
- 4
If the online page fails, use the official staffed channel; do not replace it with an unofficial reseller.
Passport used in the order; passport support is explicitly recorded for inbound visitors.
If the mini-program cannot complete a foreign-passport order, show the official page and passport at the official staffed service point and ask about the same sailing/product.
Imported official reservation note
Ferry tickets must be real-name booked; the official channels are the WeChat mini-programs '屿见厦门' and '厦门轮渡', bookable about 10 days ahead—holiday tickets need early grabbing. Core-attraction combos/single tickets buy on site or online (official mini-programs '鼓浪屿' / '屿见厦门'); official replies confirm inbound visitors can buy core-attraction tickets with a passport, online or offline.
Research checked 2026-08-12Allow 4-6 hours (half to a full day); about 2-3 hours for a quick look at Longtou Road and Sunlight Rock only
How to visit
Recommended: take the ferry from Dongdu Passenger Terminal (Cruise Centre Xiagu Wharf; Metro Line 2 Cruise Centre Station) to Sanqiutian Pier—the most frequent service (every 20 min) and closest to Longtou Road's commercial street, so you can start walking immediately. Neicuo'ao Pier is quieter but less frequent (hourly).
Finish Kulangsu Historic International Settlement on the side closest to the booked boat, next meal or return transport; do not cross the whole water town at the last minute.
- 1Stop 1Sanqiutian Pier
After disembarking, walk toward Longtou Road, passing the Boat House and the exterior of Bagua Tower.
- 2Stop 2Longtou Road commercial street
Snacks and pie gifts; old brands like Ye's Mazi and Huangjinhui pork floss.
- 3Stop 3Sunlight Rock (Riguangyan)
Ticket ¥50; climb to 92.7 m for an island panorama, passing Sunlight Rock Temple, cliff carvings, Longtou Stockade and the old summer cave. About 15–20 minutes to the top.
- 4Stop 4Shuzhuang Garden + Piano Museum
¥30 for the Canghai Park/Bushan Garden landscape plus the Piano Museum (China's first, in two buildings).
- 5Stop 5Haoyue Garden
¥30; the 15.7-m granite statue of Zheng Chenggong, with the Fuding Rock viewing platform framing the statue and the Twin Towers together.
- 6Stop 6Bagua Building · Organ Museum
China's only (and the world's largest) organ museum, covered by the combined ticket.
- 7Stop 7International Carving Arts Gallery
(covered by the combo) or return from Neicuo'ao / Sanqiutian Pier.
Best time
Take an early weekday ferry (7:30–9:00) to the island to avoid the post-10:00 tour-group rush; spring and autumn are best; the summer typhoon season (August) carries weather risk.
Imported official opening note
The island's public areas are open all day with no unified gate hours. Ferry operations: Dongdu passenger terminal (Cruise Centre Xiagu Pier) to Sanqiutian Pier 07:10–17:30 (extended to 18:30 Jun–Sep; ~20-min intervals, ~20-min crossing); to Neicuo'ao Pier 08:10–17:10 (extended to 18:10 Jul–Aug). Core-attraction hours: Sunlight Rock summer (Jun–Sep) 08:00–18:00, winter 08:00–17:30; Haoyue Garden summer 08:00–18:00, winter 08:00–17:30. In typhoon/storm weather ferries suspend fully or partly (multiple suspensions Jul–Aug 2026).
Research checked 2026-08-12Foreigner notes
Officially confirmed: ferry tickets require valid documents such as a mainland ID or passport, and ticket/ID must match to board (per the Xiamen Ferry official reminder). The Gulangyu Committee's March 2025 reply confirms that inbound tourists can buy core-attraction tickets online or offline with a passport.
unknown (official materials don't specify whether online mini-program tickets need a mainland China phone number; keep the on-site window as backup)
The Gulangyu Committee's official reply notes Gulangyu is among Fujian's first scenic areas to support overseas bank-card payments; methods include mobile payment, cash and international cards, which are officially supported within the island.
The official reply confirms foreign-language tour services exist. Gulangyu is a World Heritage site with bilingual signs at major sights, though English tour coverage isn't fully confirmed.
Search 鼓浪屿风景名胜区 with its address rather than relying on a city-level result; the entrance is the useful destination.
Avoid these mistakes
In typhoons/heavy rain the ferry stops, so you can't reach the island or get stranded. Check the Xiamen Ferry official notices (xmferry.com latest) and weather forecast before leaving—especially in the summer typhoon season; confirm the last return ferry when buying tickets.
Buying the wrong departure dock. By day, tourists can only board at Dongdu (Cruise Centre Xiagu Wharf); the Luntou ferry dock (near Zhongshan Road) has no daytime tourist route. Confirm the departure dock when buying; board at Dongdu by day and, at night (after about 17:30), from Hall 2 at the Luntou dock. Search 'Cruise Centre Xiagu Wharf' in a map app.
The combined ticket is valid two days but the sites are scattered—one day of rushing can't cover them or causes backtracking. The combined ticket covers Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden, Haoyue Park, Bagua Tower and the International Carving Art Gallery; visit in the order 'Sanqiutian → Sunlight Rock → Shuzhuang → Haoyue → Bagua' to avoid backtracking. With only half a day, buy Sunlight Rock + Shuzhuang Garden separately.
Ferry and attraction tickets are tight on holidays and can't be bought at the last minute. Book ferry tickets about 10 days ahead via the 'Yujian Xiamen'/'Xiamen Ferry' mini-programs—earlier on holidays. Ferry tickets are real-name; carry the document matching your booking.
Passport online purchase can fail (the mini-program may require a mainland ID or phone). The official reply confirms passports can buy core-attraction tickets online or offline and overseas cards are supported. If the mini-program fails, show your passport at the terminal visitor-centre manual window, or contact the Gulangyu Administration Committee (0592-2065659).
Continue nearby
Zhongshan Road Historic District1–2 hoursShapowei Art Zone1–2 hoursOverseas Chinese Museum1–2 hours (including all permanent exhibitions)Xiamen seasonal itinerary guideXiamen itinerary and seasonal travel guide for a 3 days first visit.Xiamen food guideIncludes spice, ingredient, allergen and ordering notes for independent travelers.Xiamen Travel Guide & MapXiamen travel guide and interactive map for independent travelers.
Sources and evidence
Published by China Trip Primer · Read the editorial and verification methodology
Items to reconfirm
- Sunlight Rock single-ticket price conflicts: ¥50 (zhunaqu 2026-08-11) vs ¥60 (cncn 2026-07-14); it may have been adjusted. — Before travelling, confirm the same-day price via the 'Yujian Xiamen' mini-program or the official Gulangyu ticket page.
- The ¥90 combined-ticket price comes mainly from 2020–2025 platform sources; whether 2026 prices changed isn't confirmed on the latest official page, and the official ticketing mini-program can't be scraped directly. — Check the real-time combined-ticket price in the 'Yujian Xiamen'/'Gulangyu' mini-programs.
- Official materials don't state whether online mini-program ticket purchase requires a mainland China phone number. — Ask Xiamen Ferry customer service or the Gulangyu visitor centre (0592-2065659).
- The Xiamen tourism site (visitxm.com) 2020-07-02 official notice confirms a ¥90 combined ticket, but the full URL wasn't kept—circumstantial evidence only. — Visit visitxm.com and search '鼓浪屿五大核心景点联票' to check the official wording.
Official
OfficialKulangsu visitor-service and international-tourism replyPublisher · Kulangsu Administrative Committee
Used forNames the piano museum, organ museum and core-scenic-area ticket route, and states that inbound visitors can use a passport to buy core-scenic-area tickets online or offline.
Verified 2026-08-02Official东渡客运码头往返鼓浪屿三丘田码头-航线Publisher · Official or venue publisherUsed forOfficial visitor context or venue information; confirm that the page names this venue before relying on it for booking
Verified 2026-08-02Official游客航线列表(购票规定温馨提示:护照购票、票证人一致)Publisher · Official or venue publisherUsed forOfficial visitor context or venue information; confirm that the page names this venue before relying on it for booking
Verified 2026-08-02Official厦门市鼓浪屿文化旅游发展中心官网(核心景点名单:日光岩、菽庄花园、皓月园、八卦楼、国际刻字艺术馆等)Publisher · Official or venue publisherUsed forOfficial visitor context or venue information; confirm that the page names this venue before relying on it for booking
Verified 2026-08-02OfficialOfficial or venue referencePublisher · Official or venue publisherUsed forOfficial visitor context or venue information; confirm that the page names this venue before relying on it for booking
Verified 2026-08-02OfficialGulangyu Committee reply on the handling of Recommendation No.0257 of the 16th Session of the Municipal People's Congress (status of inbound travel)Publisher · Gulangyu–Wanshi Mountain Scenic Area Management Committee, XiamenUsed forUsed to verify the imported ticketing, booking, opening-hours or visitor-guidance fields.
Verified 2026-08-12OfficialDongdu Passenger Terminal to Sanqiutian Pier (Gulangyu) routePublisher · Xiamen Ferry Co., Ltd.Used forUsed to verify the imported ticketing, booking, opening-hours or visitor-guidance fields.
Verified 2026-08-12OfficialTourist route list (booking reminder: passport tickets, ticket-and-ID match)Publisher · Xiamen Ferry Co., Ltd.Used forUsed to verify the imported ticketing, booking, opening-hours or visitor-guidance fields.
Verified 2026-08-12OfficialXiamen Gulangyu Culture & Tourism Development Centre official site (core-sight list: Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden, Haoyue Park, Bagua Tower, International Carving Art Gallery, etc.)Publisher · Xiamen Gulangyu Culture & Tourism Development CentreUsed forUsed to verify the imported ticketing, booking, opening-hours or visitor-guidance fields.
Verified 2026-08-12Professional guide
Community experience
Venue-specific official pages are used where available. City-level official references provide context and are not booking confirmation; editorial and community sources are used only for route choices, pacing and first-hand experience.
鼓浪屿风景名胜区晃岩路35-6号