Guangzhou to Xiamen Train 2026: Time, Price & Fastest Route

Fastest option first: the quickest Guangzhou to Xiamen trains cover the roughly 550 km between the two cities in about 3 hours 50 minutes, and most departures fall between 4 and 5.5 hours. Around 19 to 21 high-speed trains run this route daily, split between G-series (300 km/h) and D-series (250 km/h) sets, so you rarely wait more than an hour between departures during the day.

If you'd rather book directly with China Railway at no markup, the official channel is 12306 (website or the "铁路12306" app). Foreign passport holders can register, verify identity, and pay by Visa, Mastercard, or PayPal without a Chinese phone number. Tickets release 15 days before travel at 8:00 AM Beijing time, so book early for weekends and national holidays when Xiamen-bound seats sell out fast.

For step-by-step guidance on registering, choosing between 12306 and Trip.com, and boarding with only your passport, see our complete guide to booking China's high-speed trains.

How long is the Guangzhou to Xiamen train ride?

Journey time depends on the train type and how many stops it makes:

The distance varies by exact routing (roughly 538 to 618 km), which is why duration spreads out even among direct trains. If your schedule is flexible, filter by duration on 12306 or your booking app rather than picking the first listed departure, since a 4-hour train and a 5-hour train can cost close to the same.

Which stations do Guangzhou and Xiamen trains use?

Guangzhou side: most high-speed departures leave from Guangzhou South Railway Station, the city's main HSR hub with metro Line 2 and Line 7 access. A smaller number of trains use Guangzhou East Station, which sits closer to downtown and is more convenient if you're staying near Tianhe.

Xiamen side: nearly all bullet trains arrive at Xiamen North Railway Station, about 15 km from the old city center and Gulangyu ferry pier. Budget 30 to 40 minutes and CNY 20 to 40 by taxi, or take metro Line 1 or Line 4 downtown for a few yuan. A handful of slower trains use Xiamen Railway Station itself, which sits much closer to the city center and the ferry terminal, so check your ticket's arrival station carefully before booking a hotel.

How much does a ticket cost?

Second-class fares for the full route run roughly CNY 229 to 339 depending on train speed and how far ahead you book. Expect these approximate bands:

• Second class: CNY 229 to 339
• First class: CNY 360 to 420
• Business class (G-trains only): CNY 700 and up

Prices don't fluctuate with demand the way flights do, but the cheapest seats on popular departures (Friday evening, Sunday, holiday week) go first. Booking a week or more ahead gives you the best pick of times, not necessarily a lower price.

Is it a direct train, or do you have to transfer?

Most daily departures are true through-trains: you board in Guangzhou and get off in Xiamen without changing seats. The route runs on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Railway, then joins the Xiamen-Shenzhen Railway (厦深铁路), which was upgraded to 250 km/h operation in 2021. That's the corridor that carries you into Xiamen.

Worth clearing up: the Fuzhou-Xiamen Railway (福厦铁路) sits north of Xiamen and connects onward to Fuzhou, Ningde, and eventually Wenzhou and Hangzhou. It only matters if your train continues past Xiamen toward Fuzhou, not for a Guangzhou-to-Xiamen trip that ends at Xiamen North. If a booking site or agent tells you this route "requires" the Fuzhou-Xiamen line, that's inaccurate for a straight Guangzhou-Xiamen ticket. Some slower services also route through the Guangzhou East-Chaoshan corridor via Shantou; those still count as direct, they just make more stops.

Can you stop at Fujian Tulou on the way?

Not really, and this is worth knowing before you plan around it. The famous Hakka roundhouses (Tianluokeng cluster in Nanjing County, Chengqi Lou in Yongding) aren't on the Guangzhou-Xiamen rail corridor at all, so there's no version of this trip where you get off partway and see them as a stopover.

What works instead: treat Tulou as a separate side trip from Xiamen, either before you head home or after you arrive. From Xiamen North, a short bullet train (roughly 30 to 60 minutes) takes you to Nanjing County or Longyan, followed by a 1 to 1.5 hour bus or car transfer to the Tulou clusters. Doing this as a same-day round trip is tight; a one-night stay near the clusters is more realistic if you want to see Tianluokeng at sunrise or sunset, when the terraced views are best.

Is the train faster than flying?

For most travelers, yes, once you count the full door-to-door time. A Guangzhou to Xiamen flight takes about 1 hour 20 minutes in the air, but add airport transfers, check-in, and security on both ends and the total is often close to 4 hours anyway, similar to a mid-speed train. High-speed rail also drops you closer to the city (Xiamen North is 15 km out versus Xiamen airport's own transfer time) and skips the risk of weather delays that ground flights along this coastal corridor during typhoon season (roughly June to October). Flying only pulls ahead if you're doing the trip in a single day and need every spare hour, or if you catch a rare deep-discount fare.

Direct high-speed vs. a slower, cheaper train

There's no overnight sleeper service on this specific route. All Guangzhou-Xiamen high-speed trains run as daytime seat services, so plan for a same-day arrival rather than booking a berth.

Getting around once you're in Xiamen

Xiamen North Station connects to the city by metro (Line 1 or Line 4) and taxi. If your trip includes Gulangyu Island, note that ferries leave from the Xiamen Passenger Ferry Terminal near the old downtown, not from Xiamen North, so factor in the extra 30-minute transfer when you plan your first day.

Booking checklist

• Compare G-series (faster, pricier, business class available) against D-series (slightly slower, cheaper) for your travel dates.
• Check whether your ticket arrives at Xiamen North or Xiamen Railway Station before booking accommodation.
• Book through 12306 directly if you want the official price with no service fee, or use a booking platform if you'd rather book in English with customer support.
• If Fujian Tulou is on your list, budget it as a separate 1 to 2 day add-on from Xiamen, not a stopover.
• Buy tickets as soon as they release (15 days out) for Friday, Sunday, and holiday-week departures.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the train from Guangzhou to Xiamen take? Between about 3 hours 50 minutes on the fastest D-series trains and just over 5 hours on slower services with more stops. Most trains fall in the 4 to 4.5 hour range.

Which station do I arrive at in Xiamen, Xiamen North or Xiamen Railway Station? Check your ticket. The large majority of high-speed trains arrive at Xiamen North, about 15 km from downtown. A smaller number of slower trains use Xiamen Railway Station, which is closer to the city center and Gulangyu ferry pier.

Can foreigners buy Guangzhou to Xiamen train tickets online? Yes. Register on 12306 with a passport, no Chinese phone number required, and pay by Visa, Mastercard, or PayPal. English-language booking platforms also sell this route if you prefer a simpler interface.

Is there a night train or sleeper option between Guangzhou and Xiamen? No. Every high-speed service on this route runs as a daytime seat train. If an overnight schedule matters to you, you'd need to break the trip in a city like Shenzhen or Chaozhou and continue the next day.

Can I visit Fujian Tulou as a stopover between Guangzhou and Xiamen? Not directly. The Tulou clusters aren't on this rail corridor. Visit them as a separate side trip from Xiamen, using a connecting bullet train to Nanjing County or Longyan plus a bus or car transfer.