Xiamen Island Leisure & Minnan Culture Family Tour (5 Days & 4 Nights)

Description

Core Scenic Features

Daily Itinerary Details (Family-Exclusive Experiences)

Day 1: Arrive in Xiamen · First Encounter with the Coast (Easy Adaptation Day)

• Morning: Arrive in Xiamen → Check into a Parent-Child Homestay near Huandao Road
  • Itinerary: After the whole family arrives in Xiamen, check into a parent-child homestay with a courtyard near Huandao Road. Prioritize rooms with elevators and barrier-free facilities for the elderly. The homestay has a children’s play area and a resting area for the elderly. Upon check-in, receive a “Family Island Task Card” (Day 1 Task: Take a “family photo by the sea” together). After dropping off luggage, have a tea break in the homestay courtyard—prepare warm traditional Minnan tea for the elderly and small snacks for the children to ease travel fatigue.
  • Family Highlights: There are hammocks and rattan chairs in the courtyard. The elderly can sit and chat in the sun; parents can play “Minnan Nursery Rhyme Solitaire” with the children (e.g., teaching them to sing A Little Bird). Take photos to record the warm moments of the three-generation family. Prepare a “family travel journal” and let everyone write down their expectations for the trip and paste them in the journal.
• Afternoon: Xiamen Botanical Garden · Leisurely Stroll
  • Itinerary: Visit the Xiamen Botanical Garden (focus on exploring the “Rainforest World” and “Succulent Plant Area”). Take a sightseeing bus in the garden to reduce walking for the elderly. In the “Rainforest World,” enjoy the misty landscape—the elderly can admire tropical plants while children observe butterflies and birds. In the “Succulent Plant Area,” take photos of the various succulents together. Parents can explain the growth habits of succulents to the children, and the elderly can share their experience of growing plants.
  • Family Highlights: Take a “family silhouette photo” on the wooden plank road in the “Rainforest World” (with mist and green plants as the background). Let the children and the elderly work together to record 3 of their favorite plants with a mobile phone to complete the “plant check-in task,” and organize the photos together back at the homestay in the evening.
• Evening: Zengcuo’an · First Taste of Minnan Cuisine
  • Itinerary: Walk or take a taxi to Zengcuo’an, choosing a time with moderate foot traffic to avoid crowds. Treat the whole family to Minnan-style snacks: order “peanut soup” and “sea worm jelly” for the elderly (confirm the taste in advance), buy “oyster omelette” and “fried five-spice rolls” for the children, and let the parents try “satay noodles.” Find a small shop with outdoor seating, chat while eating—the elderly can tell the children stories of their past travels in a relaxed atmosphere.
  • Family Highlights: Let the children hold a “food check-in card” and get a stamp after trying each snack, and finally exchange it for a small souvenir (e.g., a Minnan-style keychain). When encountering street performers singing Minnan songs, the whole family can hum along to feel the local cultural atmosphere.

Day 2: Gulangyu Island · Island Culture Tour (Slow Exploration Day)

• Morning: Take a Ferry to the Island → Stroll Along Gulangyu’s Streets
  • Itinerary: After breakfast, the whole family takes a ferry to Gulangyu Island (book tickets in advance and choose a comfortable flight). After landing, wander slowly along “Longtou Road.” When passing by century-old foreign-style houses, the elderly can admire the architectural style, and parents can tell the children about Gulangyu’s history. Check in at the “Most Beautiful Corner” and take a family photo together. The children can play the “spot the difference” game at the corner (observing the details of the surrounding buildings).
  • Family Highlights: Rent a multi-person bicycle (with a sunshade, suitable for the whole family). The elderly sit in the back row, parents ride the bike, and the children sit in the middle. Ride slowly along Gulangyu’s coastal road, enjoying the sea breeze and sea view. When passing a shop selling “Gulangyu pastries,” buy a box for the whole family to share. The elderly can comment on the taste of the pastries and recall the flavors of their childhood.
• Afternoon: Shu Zhuang Garden · Family Interaction Time
  • Itinerary: Visit Shu Zhuang Garden. The “hidden sea” landscape in the garden surprises the whole family. The elderly can walk and enjoy the view on the “Forty-Four Bridge” and breathe in the fresh air. Parents can take the children to play the “treasure hunt game” in the “Twelve Caves” (prepare small stickers in advance and hide them in the caves for the children to find). The whole family picks up seashells on the coastal reefs together, and the children give their favorite seashells to the elderly as gifts.
  • Family Highlights: Order a pot of Minnan kung fu tea at the tea house in the garden. The elderly teach the younger generation tea-making skills (e.g., “Guan Gong Patrols the City” and “Han Xin Dispatches Troops”). The children try to pour tea for their grandparents to cultivate filial piety. Make a “family memory painting” together with the collected seashells and paste it in the travel journal.
• Evening: Gulangyu Night View · Warm Gathering
  • Itinerary: Take the ferry back to Xiamen Island in the evening. For dinner, choose a Minnan restaurant (e.g., Linjia Minnan Cuisine) and order dishes suitable for the whole family’s taste: steamed fish, lychee meat, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and seafood tofu soup—catering to the elderly’s light taste and the children’s nutritional needs. After dinner, take the whole family for a walk along Huandao Road to enjoy the sea night view. The children play with beach toys, the elderly sit on benches and chat, and parents take photos to record the moments.
  • Family Highlights: Release “blessing lanterns” (eco-friendly ones) by the sea. The whole family makes wishes together—the elderly wish the younger generation good health, and the younger generation wish the elderly longevity, creating a warm atmosphere. Back at the homestay, the whole family sits together to look at the photos taken that day and share their favorite moments.

Day 3: In-Depth Minnan Culture Experience + Parent-Child Interaction (Cultural Immersion Day)

• Morning: Nanputuo Temple · Zen Blessing
  • Itinerary: Visit Nanputuo Temple. The temple has a quiet environment. The elderly can burn incense and pray to feel the Zen atmosphere. Take the children to visit the “Buddhist Culture Exhibition” in the temple and tell the children simple Buddhist stories in easy-to-understand language. Have breakfast at the temple’s vegetarian restaurant (e.g., vegetarian buns, mung bean soup, peanut soup)—light and healthy, suitable for the whole family.
  • Family Highlights: The whole family pastes blessing cards on the “blessing wall” of the temple and writes down blessings for the family. Let the children hand incense to the elderly and help them go up and down the steps to cultivate a sense of gratitude. Take a “family blessing photo” to preserve the beautiful wishes.
• Afternoon: Minnan Ancient Town · Handicraft Interaction
  • Itinerary: Visit Minnan Ancient Town to experience traditional Minnan handicrafts. The elderly can try “Minnan paper-cutting” (with teacher guidance, moderate difficulty). Parents and children make a “tulou model” together, and the whole family collaborates to complete a handicraft. Visit the “Minnan Folk Custom Museum” in the ancient town to see traditional Minnan costumes and farm tools. The elderly explain the past living scenes to the younger generation.
  • Family Highlights: After completing the handicraft, write each family member’s name and the date on the work as an exclusive souvenir of the trip. Watch a short Minnan Gezai Opera performance in front of the “Minnan Stage” of the ancient town. The children imitate the actors’ movements, and the elderly hum along—filling the air with the family’s laughter and interaction.
• Evening: Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street · Shopping & Leisure
  • Itinerary: Visit Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street and 逛 Minnan-style shops. Buy a pair of comfortable cloth shoes and a silk scarf for the elderly, a Minnan-style doll for the children (e.g., a doll in the image of Zheng Chenggong), and some Minnan specialties for the parents (e.g., Kinmen sorghum wine, Gulangyu beef jerky). When tired, find a milk tea shop, order a cup of warm milk tea (order tea-free ones for the children), and rest while chatting.
  • Family Highlights: Take a “retro family photo” (wearing traditional Minnan costumes) at the “Old Xiamen Photo Studio” on the pedestrian street to feel the style of old Xiamen. Let the children be “little shopping guides” to help the elderly choose products and exercise their communication skills.

Day 4: Xiamen Aquarium · Parent-Child Exploration + Coastal Wellness (Fun & Wellness Day)

• Morning: Xiamen Underwater World · Marine Exploration
  • Itinerary: Visit Xiamen Underwater World. The whole family watches the “underwater tunnel” together, watching sharks, sea turtles, and tropical fish swim overhead. The children excitedly point out the marine creatures, parents explain marine knowledge to the children, and the elderly marvel at the magic of the ocean. Watch the “dolphin show” and the whole family claps for the dolphins. The children can participate in interactions (e.g., feeding the dolphins, advance reservation required).
  • Family Highlights: The whole family participates in the “marine protection class” and makes “marine-themed handicrafts” (e.g., seashell paintings) to learn about marine protection. Let the children explain the marine creatures they know to the elderly to exercise their expression skills, and the elderly give encouragement.
• Afternoon: Huangcuo Beach · Coastal Wellness
  • Itinerary: Visit Huangcuo Beach (less crowded and beautiful, suitable for family leisure). The elderly sit on beach chairs to sunbathe and listen to the sound of the waves. Parents and children play “beach frisbee” or “build sandcastles” together. The whole family can also take a walk along the beach, collect beautiful pebbles, and let the children decorate the pebbles with paint (prepare portable paint in advance).
  • Family Highlights: Have a “beach picnic” together (prepare light snacks like sandwiches, fruits, and yogurt). The elderly share stories of their youth by the sea, and the children listen with great interest. Take a group photo of the whole family with the beach and sea as the background—capturing the relaxed and happy moments.
• Evening: Homestay Dinner & Movie Night
  • Itinerary: Return to the homestay and have a simple dinner (order takeout of local seafood porridge or cook noodles together in the homestay’s shared kitchen). After dinner, organize a “family movie night” in the homestay’s public area. Choose a warm family movie (e.g., Coco or Inside Out). Prepare snacks like popcorn and nuts for the whole family to enjoy while watching the movie.
  • Family Highlights: After the movie, have a “small family discussion” and let each family member share their feelings about the movie. The elderly can also talk about the movies they watched when they were young, narrowing the generation gap.

Day 5: Souvenir Shopping & Departure (Warm Wrap-Up Day)

• Morning: Xiamen International Trade Shopping Mall · Souvenir Purchase
  • Itinerary: Visit Xiamen International Trade Shopping Mall to buy souvenirs for relatives and friends. For the elderly, choose practical health products (e.g., pearl powder, sea cucumber); for children, buy cute marine-themed toys; for parents, buy high-quality local tea (e.g., Tieguanyin) or seafood gifts. The whole family can discuss and choose souvenirs together, respecting everyone’s opinions.
  • Family Highlights: Let the children be “little accountants” and help calculate the cost of souvenirs (under the guidance of parents) to exercise their mathematical skills. Take a photo of the whole family with the souvenirs to record the harvest of the trip.
• Noon: Xiamen Seafood Restaurant · Farewell Lunch
  • Itinerary: Have lunch at a well-known local seafood restaurant (e.g., Haidilao Seafood Restaurant). Order fresh seafood dishes like “braised abalone,” “steamed crab,” and “stir-fried shrimp”—ensuring the ingredients are fresh and the taste is light to suit the elderly and children. During the meal, the whole family reviews the interesting things of the past few days and expresses their gratitude to each other.
  • Family Highlights: Toast together as a family to celebrate the successful end of the Xiamen trip and make a promise to travel together again next time. Let the children serve food to the elderly to show their care.
• Afternoon: Departure
  • Itinerary: Pack luggage together (let the children help fold their own clothes to cultivate self-care ability). Check out of the homestay and head to Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport/Train Station. On the way, the whole family looks back on the beautiful memories of the trip and discusses the destination of the next family trip.
  • Family Highlights: Before boarding, take a photo of the whole family at the airport/train station with the “Xiamen” sign in the background to bid farewell to this beautiful city.