Xiamen, Gulangyu & Nanjing Tulou Tour

Spend two days exploring the island and old town, followed by two days with an overnight stay in the Tulou area, avoiding the rush of a long-distance day trip.

Perfect for travelers with limited vacation time. Spend the first two days in Xiamen exploring university campuses, the Island Ring Road, and Gulangyu. For the next two days, charter a car to Nanjing, spend a night in Yunshuiyao, and visit Tianluokeng and Taxia Village the following day. Compared to the common Tulou day trips, this itinerary spreads out the driving time and allows you to experience the villages in the peaceful morning and evening hours. The trade-off is skipping the Yongding area; if traveling with seniors, you can choose just one Tulou area to visit.

Day by day

Day 1 · Xiamen University & Island Ring Road Coast

Xiamen（South Putuo Temple、Xiamen University、Island Ring Road、Zengcuoan）

Upon arrival, take a taxi to Shapowei to drop off your luggage. Cycle or take a public bus along the Island Ring Road.

Xiamen University requires advance reservations. If you arrive in the afternoon, you can focus solely on the Island Ring Road.

Stay: Shapowei · Xiamen University

Day 2 · Gulangyu & Eighth Market Old Town

Xiamen（Gulangyu Island、Sunlight Rock、Shuzhuang Garden、Xiamen No.8 Market）

Take a taxi to the Cruise Center Xiagu Terminal, take a 20-minute ferry ride, explore the island on foot, and wander around the Eighth Market (Bashi) after returning.

Ferry tickets should be purchased 1 to 7 days in advance via the official WeChat mini-program.

Stay: Shapowei · Xiamen University

Day 3 · Head into the Mountains & Stay in Yunshuiyao

Fujian Tulou (Yongding & Nanjing)（Yunshuiyao Ancient Town & Hegui Lou、Huaiyuan Lou）

Charter a car or drive to Yunshuiyao (approx. 2.5 to 3 hours). The latter half consists of mountain roads. Explore the scenic area on foot.

Stay: Yunshuiyao

Day 4 · Tianluokeng & Taxia, then Return to Xiamen

Fujian Tulou (Yongding & Nanjing)（Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster、Yuchang Lou、Taxia Village）

Drive from Yunshuiyao to Tianluokeng (approx. 30 minutes). Return to Xiamen in the afternoon (approx. 2.5 hours), or take a bullet train from Nanjing, China Railway Station.

Visiting Tianluokeng takes about 2 hours. Ticket policies are subject to the scenic area's official announcements.