A foreign passport holder’s 7-day Fujian plan is four bases: three nights in Xiamen (with Gulangyu), one near the Tulou earthen towers, two in Quanzhou, and a night at Wuyishan if you want the mountains. High-speed rail links them, and each base has licensed hotels that register foreigners — but the Tulou village inns vary, so confirm the licence before you book.
Why four bases in a small province
Fujian packs variety into a short coast: Xiamen’s island port, the Hakka Tulou towers inland, the living old port of Quanzhou, and the river-mountain scenery at Wuyishan. Sleeping in each means you are inside the right landscape instead of commuting. The rail is fast and bilingual, and all four bases have foreigner-licensed hotels, yet the inventory thins at the Tulou and Wuyishan, so book ahead.
Hotels must register foreign guests with public security. Licensed Fujian hotels do this at check-in; small Tulou and mountain inns may not be licensed for foreigners. Confirm before paying — see can foreigners stay in Chinese hotels. For card acceptance by tier, see foreign credit card hotels in China.
Day 1–3 — Xiamen, Siming base
Fly into Xiamen Gaoqi (XMN). Settle in a Siming hotel near Zhongshan Road or the university. Gulangyu day, the beaches, and the food streets. Sleep in Siming three nights.
Day 4 — Tulou day and overnight
High-speed train or driver to the Nanjing/Chuxi Tulou cluster (2+ hours). Check in to a confirmed-foreigner inn near the towers. Evening in the earthen village. Sleep there one night. For booking tactics, see best OTA for foreigners, which shows the foreigner policy in listings.
Day 5–6 — Quanzhou, change base
Train to Quanzhou. Check in near the old town or the Kaiyuan Temple. Explore the living port — the mosque, the pagodas, the marionette theaters. Sleep in Quanzhou two nights.
Day 7 — Wuyishan or depart
Option A: train to Wuyishan for a night among the river gorges. Option B: return to Xiamen for your flight. Seven nights, four bases.
Night-by-night base plan
| Night | Base area | Why here | Transfer note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Xiamen (Siming) | Island, Gulangyu | Metro/taxi from XMN |
| 4 | Tulou (Nanjing) | Earthen towers | Train/driver |
| 5–6 | Quanzhou (old town) | Living port | HSR Xiamen–Quanzhou |
| 7 | Wuyishan or Xiamen | Mountain or exit | HSR, depart |
Picking each base
Xiamen’s Siming is the natural hub — dense with licensed hotels and ferries. The Tulou need a confirmed-foreigner inn; many village guesthouses are not licensed, so book carefully. Quanzhou’s old town is walkable and calm. Wuyishan’s resort strip near the river is the base for the gorges.
Payment and booking notes
International Xiamen and Quanzhou hotels take foreign cards; Tulou and Wuyishan inns often prefer cash or Alipay. Confirm via confirm hotel accepts foreign guest before paying. Book the Tulou room ahead in autumn, the peak season.
Frequently asked questions
Is seven days enough for Fujian?
For Xiamen, the Tulou, and Quanzhou, yes. Add the Wuyishan night if you love mountains; skip it for a slower coast trip.
Do Tulou inns take foreigners?
Licensed ones do; many small village ones don’t. Confirm, or day-trip the Tulou from Xiamen and sleep in the city.
Will my card work?
At international Xiamen/Quanzhou hotels, yes. Elsewhere, often no. Carry cash.
Is the rail easy for foreigners?
Yes — bilingual, passport-ID booking, frequent trains along the coast. Book ahead in peak season.
Is Quanzhou worth it?
Yes — it is a softer, real-deal old port with great food and almost no foreign tourists.
When is best to visit?
March–May and October–November are ideal. Summer is humid with typhoon risk.
Should I book now or on arrival?
Book before you fly; the Tulou and Wuyishan rooms are limited and fill in peak season.
