Private Day Tour to Explore the Quanzhou Old City from Xiamen 1

Private Day Tour to Explore the Quanzhou Old City from Xiamen

Xiamen, China
Sightseeing Tours
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About this activity

Journey into Quanzhou, a pivotal ancient harbour city where Chinese maritime exploration began, exploring over 1,000 years of history through temples, bridges, and museums on a full-day private tour from Xiamen. This UNESCO-recognised port reveals layers of religious tolerance, architectural innovation, and seafaring heritage rarely seen elsewhere in China.

Quanzhou is an old harbour city where the Chinese started to sail to other countries since ancient time. There are old temples, old town, old bridge, and the earliest mosque in China, and the museum that are worth visiting. This private day tour will let you travel from Xiamen with a local guide to explore the Tianyuan Monastery, Luoyang Bridge, Guandi Temple, and Maritime Museum etc. Centrally located Xiamen hotel pickup and drop-off are included. Pickup time is 8:30am. 

At 8:30am, you will be picked up from your centrally located Xiamen hotel and take one-hour private car ride to Quanzhou, an old city. Firstly you will visit Kaiyuan Monastery that was built in 686AD in Tang Dynasty. There are halls, pagoda, exhibition museum in the monastery. Particularly the east and west pagodas are renown for the carvings.

Then, you will move to visit the old town of Quanzhou, where there is a living temple for the Guandi god. It is a old temple with colorful painting located in the center of the old town.

Afterwards, you will visit the oldest mosque in China, the Qingjing Mosque, which was first built in 1009 in Song Dynasty (960-1279). There are ruins in the mosque to display the long history here.

Enjoy the nice walk on the China's earliest stone bridge, Luoyang Bridge, which was built in 1053AD. Marco Polo described it in his book.

After lunch, you will visit the Maritime Museum displaying the long history and antiques about the Chinese people to explore the oversea.

Highlights

  • ✓Kaiyuan Monastery (686 AD) with its iconic twin pagodas and intricate stone carvings
  • ✓Qingjing Mosque (1009 AD)—China's oldest mosque with historical ruins and artefacts
  • ✓Luoyang Bridge (1053 AD)—the nation's earliest stone bridge, documented by Marco Polo
  • ✓Guandi Temple in the old town with traditional deity worship and vibrant decorations
  • ✓Maritime Museum showcasing artefacts from China's overseas exploration era
  • ✓Guided exploration of Quanzhou's atmospheric old town and heritage streets

Insider tips

  • ★Visit the pagodas at Kaiyuan Monastery in early morning light for the best photography of their detailed carvings
  • ★The old town around Guandi Temple is best explored on foot—wear comfortable shoes and allow time to wander hidden alleyways
  • ★Ask your guide about the multicultural history of Quanzhou; the presence of a mosque, temples, and Christian sites reflects its role as a cosmopolitan trading hub
  • ★Lunch is built into the itinerary—sample local seafood specialities near the harbour area

Good to know

  • •Hotel pickup at 8:30 AM from centrally located Xiamen accommodation; approximately 1 hour private car transfer to Quanzhou
  • •8-hour tour includes entrance fees to major sites; comfortable walking shoes essential as you'll cover temple grounds, old streets, and bridge
  • •English-speaking local guide provided; some sites have minimal English signage—guide commentary is valuable for context
  • •Dress modestly when entering temples and mosques (covered shoulders and knees recommended)
  • •Return hotel drop-off included; tour concludes late afternoon

Who it's for

History and culture enthusiasts interested in Chinese maritime heritage and religious architecturePhotographers seeking ancient temples, bridges, and atmospheric old town scenesTravellers based in Xiamen wanting a deep-dive day excursion beyond the cityCouples and small groups preferring private, personalised guided experiences

Best time to visit

Visit October to November or March to April when temperatures are mild (18–25°C) and humidity is lower, making the walking portions comfortable. Avoid summer (June–August) when heat and humidity peak, and winter (December–February) can be damp and cool.

Frequently asked questions

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Available
From€376
per person