Discover Fujian

Fujian has two major international airports: Fuzhou Changle International Airport (FOC) and Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN). Xiamen has more international connections including flights from Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Korea and the USA.

High-speed rail (HSR) links Fuzhou and Xiamen to Shanghai (~3–4 hrs), Guangzhou (~2.5 hrs) and Shenzhen (~2 hrs).

High-speed rail is the backbone for inter-city travel. The Fuzhou–Xiamen HSR corridor is fast and frequent. Within cities, metro systems operate in Fuzhou and Xiamen.

For Tulou villages and Wuyi Mountain, hire a car or join a guided tour — public transport is limited. DiDi (ride-hailing) works in all major cities.

China uses WeChat Pay and Alipay for almost all transactions. International visitors should link a foreign card to WeChat Pay before arrival. ATMs accept foreign cards in cities.

Fujian is mid-range in cost. Budget travellers can manage on ¥200–300/day; comfortable travel runs ¥500–800/day. Xiamen tends to be pricier than inland areas.

Mobile data is fast (4G/5G) and cheap with a Chinese SIM. Foreign visitors can get a tourist SIM at airports. WhatsApp, Google, and most Western apps are blocked — download a VPN before entering China.

Wi-Fi is widely available in hotels and cafés, though may require a Chinese phone number to log in.

China offers visa-free entry to citizens of 38+ countries for up to 30 days (2024–2025 policy). Check the latest official list as this expands regularly. Most Western passport holders are now eligible.

Apply for an L (tourist) visa via Chinese embassies/consulates if your country is not on the visa-free list. Processing takes ~3–5 business days.

Mandarin (Putonghua) is the universal language; English is limited outside major hotels and tourist sites in Xiamen. Download Pleco (dictionary) and Google Translate (offline Chinese pack) before you go.

Local Min Nan (Hokkien) dialect is heard widely — it's the origin of the Hokkien spoken across Southeast Asia. Hakka is common in western Fujian.

Fujian cuisine (Min Cai) is one of China's 8 great cuisines. Hallmarks include light, umami-rich broths (佛跳墙 Buddha Jumps Over the Wall), oyster omelettes, Sha Cha sauce, and an extraordinary variety of fresh seafood.

In Xiamen: try the night market on Zhongshan Road. In Fuzhou: San坊Qixiang food street. In Quanzhou: Muslim Quarter for beef soup.

Fujian is generally very safe for tourists. Tap water is not drinkable — buy bottled water. Summers can be extremely hot and humid (35°C+); carry sunscreen and stay hydrated.

Typhoon season runs June–October; check forecasts if visiting the coast. Travel insurance with medical coverage is strongly recommended.