Flight to Xiamen, Fujian (XMN)

Xiamen, once known to the West as Amoy, is a port city on China's south-east coast in Fujian Province, facing the Taiwan Strait. It is the heartland of the Minnan, or Hokkien, culture that so many Chinese Malaysians trace their roots to, which makes a flight to Xiamen feel like a homecoming for some travellers. Beyond family ties, the city draws visitors with colonial-era villas on Gulangyu, seaside promenades, temples on green hillsides and some of the best street snacks in southern China.

About the airport serving Xiamen

Flights to Xiamen use the airport code XMN. For decades that code has meant Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, one of the busiest airports in Fujian. A much larger replacement airport at Xiang'an, on the mainland across the water from Xiamen Island, is set to take over all passenger flights, and Gaoqi will then close to civil traffic.

Location

Gaoqi sits in the north of Xiamen Island in Huli District, close to the old city and the Gulangyu ferry piers. The new Xiang'an airport lies on the coast to the north-east of the island, in Xiang'an District, so the trip into town is longer from there. Always check the airport name printed on your e-ticket, especially for travel around the changeover.

Terminals

Domestic and international flights can use different terminal buildings at Xiamen's airport, and the layout changes with the move to Xiang'an. Your e-ticket and the airline's check-in notice will tell you which terminal to use, and it is worth checking again on the day.

Getting to and from the airport in Xiamen

Taxis from the signposted official queue are the simplest way to reach Siming District and the old town, and airport buses serve major hubs. Ride-hailing apps are widely used in China, though you will need one that works with a Chinese phone number or an international payment method. Many visitors also arrange a pick-up with their accommodation, which is handy if you land late.

Direct and connecting flights to Xiamen

Nonstop flights between Kuala Lumpur and Xiamen are available on many dates, so the quickest way to compare KUL to XMN flights is to search your travel dates and switch on the Direct filter. If a nonstop does not suit your schedule, one-stop routes via other Chinese or regional hubs are common, and the results page shows the layover city and total journey time for each.

Travellers from Penang, Kota Kinabalu or Kuching usually connect through Kuala Lumpur or another hub. It helps to keep bookings on a single itinerary so that connections are protected if the first flight is delayed.

When to fly to Xiamen

Xiamen has a mild, subtropical climate. Spring is pleasant but often misty and damp, while summer is hot, humid and the peak time for typhoons, which can disrupt flights and ferries. Autumn, from around October to early December, is generally the most comfortable season, with clear skies and calmer seas, and winter is cool rather than cold.

Chinese New Year is the biggest travel peak in both directions, as families from Malaysia visit relatives in Fujian and Chinese travellers head south. China's National Day Golden Week in early October and the summer holidays also fill flights and attractions. From Malaysia, school holidays add extra demand. Use the fare-by-month chart on this page to see how prices to Xiamen tend to move through the seasons.

Popular places in Xiamen

Gulangyu Island

A short ferry ride from the city, this car-free island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with old consulates, merchant villas and narrow lanes. It is nicknamed the piano island for its musical history, and it gets busy, so go early in the day.

Nanputuo Temple

This large Buddhist temple sits at the foot of Wulao Peak, with halls stepping up the hillside and trails behind it that lead to viewpoints over the city and the sea.

Xiamen University

Often called one of China's most beautiful campuses, it combines lakes, palm-lined paths and buildings in a distinctive local style. It was founded by the Southeast Asian Chinese philanthropist Tan Kah Kee, a figure well known in Malaysia and Singapore.

Zhongshan Road and Shapowei

Zhongshan Road is a pedestrian street of arcaded shophouses that will look familiar to anyone from George Town or Melaka. Nearby, the old harbour district of Shapowei has cafés, small galleries and fishing boats.

Huandao Road and Zengcuo'an

A coastal road loops around the south of the island with cycling paths and beaches. Along it, the former fishing village of Zengcuo'an is now a maze of snack shops and guesthouses.

Where to stay in Xiamen

Siming District is the most popular base, covering the old town around Zhongshan Road, the ferry piers for Gulangyu and the area near Xiamen University. Zengcuo'an and the Huandao Road coast suit travellers who want to be close to the sea. Huli District in the north of the island is home to business areas and quieter residential streets, and a night or two in a guesthouse on Gulangyu itself lets you enjoy the island after the day visitors leave.

Food to try in Xiamen

Shacha noodles

Noodles in a rich, savoury broth made with shacha sauce, a paste of dried seafood, garlic and spices, with toppings you pick yourself such as pork, tofu and squid.

Oyster omelette

Small, fresh oysters fried with egg and sweet potato starch until crisp at the edges, then served with a sweet chilli sauce. Malaysians will recognise it as a cousin of orh jian.

Peanut soup

Soft, slow-cooked peanuts in a light, sweet soup, a popular dessert or breakfast often paired with fried dough.

Tusun dong

A chilled jelly made from a small marine worm, served with vinegar, garlic and chilli. It sounds unusual, but it is one of Xiamen's signature snacks.

Popiah

Fresh spring rolls stuffed with braised vegetables, meat and peanut powder, a Hokkien classic that is also a hawker favourite back in Malaysia.

Whether you are tracing family roots or chasing the perfect bowl of shacha noodles, search your flight to Xiamen on Traveloka, compare KUL to XMN options and set a Price Alert for your dates.