Scenic Hotels in Xiamen

"We had a wonderful 5-day, 4-night stay at Haiyue Villa, and the experience was excellent – both the seniors and the kids were happy. We booked a package for a waterfront family room in the Aqua Villa area, which had direct access to the pool, making water play incredibly convenient. Traveling in late September, off-peak, meant very few people, and the Aqua Villa area was especially serene; having a whole section of the pool to ourselves was incredibly pleasant. With blue skies, white clouds, and lush greenery everywhere, it was picturesque and full of tropical charm. **Dining:** Our first meal was at the Xiangcha Palace restaurant. The Shacha Hot Pot had a rich flavor, and the taro rice was wonderfully smooth. We had the buffet lunch at the Mediterranean Restaurant in the main building, where we'd reserved a window seat overlooking the infinity pool. The food selection was quite extensive, with freshly sliced salmon, and I particularly enjoyed being able to customize my own 'Four Fruit Soup.' Breakfast was mostly at the Aqua Villa Cafe, which was quiet and less crowded. We did go to the main building's breakfast one day, which offered a wider variety. There's a complimentary afternoon tea every day, and we tried three different types: The floating afternoon tea, which you book a day in advance and is delivered to your room. The buffet afternoon tea at the Aqua Villa Cafe, which was themed like a surfboard. And the one at Tianyue Pavilion on the 6th floor of the main building, offering sea views and outdoor seating. **Activities:** We spent most of our water play time at the Aqua Villa. The nearby Little Egret Paradise had a very small slide, but we didn't go to the main building's pool. We participated in the 'Plant Mobilization' activity, where we found 9 types of plants to redeem prizes. We rode the garden mini-train and the rainbow pony cart; the latter is only available on weekends and is an outsourced, chargeable activity. We also experienced the indoor play area, the Little Dolphin Kids' Club, and the wooden boardwalk. We borrowed sand-digging tools and went through a small hotel gate to dig for sand at Huangcuo Beach opposite. **Service:** I especially want to praise the staff's service. The Aqua Villa butler, Xiao Lei, contacted us a day in advance, sending hotel information and activity introductions, and was very enthusiastic and thoughtful in answering our questions. She arranged for us to stay in Building 8, close to the Aqua Villa Cafe, which made getting around very convenient. Upon arrival, the room was already equipped with a bed rail, a step stool, a child's toilet seat, and a dehumidifier. They also upgraded our package's buffet lunch so we could enjoy it daily throughout our stay. The staff throughout the hotel were all very friendly and kind to children. There's a buggy service for transfers between the Aqua Villa, the main building, and other hotel areas, and requests for a buggy were responded to very quickly. One day, my child's sunglasses went missing. We thought they might have been left at the concierge. When we called, they said they hadn't found them, but promised to check with colleagues in other areas. They called back quickly to say they had found them. Although there was a sign on our room's balcony stating 'no lifeguard or staff on duty at the pool,' there was always a lifeguard patrolling the poolside, who even proactively helped us inflate our own swimming vests with an electric air pump."

"This hotel is right next to Xinglin Bay Hotel, by Xinglin Bridge. The environment is lovely, right by the sea. As soon as you enter the room and open the curtains, you get a beautiful sea view. It was stunning, and I even saw the sunrise in the morning! We went for a swim in the pool around 3 PM, and then enjoyed the hot springs in the evening, which were very comfortable. After the hot springs, you can even do a steam bath. In the evening, there's a complimentary late-night noodle supper, which tasted great. The next morning, after a buffet breakfast, we checked out and headed home. The breakfast had a good variety, including many Xiamen snacks. Overall, it was a fantastic experience with great value for money. I'll definitely be back for the hot springs next time."

"The room is small, the facilities are old, the service is slow, and the exterior is messy... As a ”fan” of Bai Xiang, this is the worst fake Bai Xiang I've ever stayed in 😅😅😅😅!! There is no indoor swimming pool, and the outdoor swimming pool will not open until the afternoon. I had to call three or four times in a row to order a bath towel. The breakfast has few categories and the style is average. The shacha noodles are served with vegetables 😡😡😡😡!! It subverted my perception of Bai Xiang."

"Marco Polo is a great hotel. We have stayed here on three separate occasions. The King Room is spacious. The breakfast selection is huge and delicious. The staff are friendly and helpful and most speaking English. It is situated in a good location on the south side of the main islan. An easy walk to the Ferry (to Gulangyu Island). Also close to the start of the Mountain to Sea Walk (22.5km). Will stay there again."

"The hotel's location is just perfect for a relaxing getaway ⛱️. The mountain-sea trail is right outside the hotel, about 30 meters to the left, which is fantastic for anyone who loves their morning run 🏃🏃♀️. The hotel's decor is fresh and elegant, and the rooms are fully automated. The moment you step in, you get that 'welcome home' feeling – it's warm and spotless, and the bedding is incredibly comfortable. They've thought of everything: a steam iron, ironing board, and a Dyson hairdryer. It's just too good! 👍👍👍 Breakfast is also nutritious and abundant, and the dragon fruit smoothie is delicious. A big thank you to the hotel for the complimentary suite upgrade. I absolutely love it! I'll be back in mid-October! Just a quick add-on: it's super friendly for road-trippers too, with a large parking lot right in front of the hotel. If you walk left from the hotel along the mountain-sea trail for a few hundred meters, you can clearly see the Twin Towers and Kinmen. A perfectly wonderful stay."

"My stay here exceeded my expectations from when I booked! The lobby immediately gave off an artistic vibe, and the paintings and decor in the hallways were also very stylish. The bedding in the room was excellent and so soft; I woke up feeling completely refreshed. The gym had a full range of equipment. It's less than a 25-minute drive to the Gulangyu ferry terminal, and they even offer free airport shuttle service. I also managed to explore the back garden, and the lush greenery was incredibly soothing."

"We believe that this hotel needs renovation and better maintenance. Our first disappointment was after an international trip, when we wanted to take a shower and there was not a drop of hot water. The hot water in the shower and sink had been completely cut off. We called reception and it took them 20 minutes to fix it. We left the hotel and when we came back someone had entered our room without permission to leave us a sheet referring to a new cut off of hot water the next day from 9am to 5pm. As for maintenance, the views from the breakfast room leave a lot to be desired. I'm also leaving a photo of the pool (it seems that it is only open in July and August). They have a few months to fix it, because it doesn't give a good image to see it like that. I would only highlight that the hotel staff is friendly and helpful, as the other reviews are superfluous."

"Qishang Rongshe·Twelve Hours Travel Notes 🍃First encounter·Peace of mind journey For my first solo trip in 2025, I chose Qishang Rongshe. Before departure, the hotel had arranged a three-day itinerary for me. The thoughtful details made me, a Taurus, feel at ease. When I arrived, the sun was shining and the air was fresh, as if I had stepped into another time and space. Butler Qi Chu took me to the trail in the back mountain, picking flowers and plants as materials for rubbings. The breath was full of natural breath, and I bid farewell to the hustle and bustle of the city for a short time and just enjoyed the present. 🏨Architecture·Watching the century-old banyan tree The building of Qishang Rongshe is an old building from 1920, which has been revitalized and renewed. The hotel's logo is a century-old banyan tree, with intertwined roots and symbiotic dependence with the building, which is also the origin of the hotel logo. There are only 9 guest rooms in the entire space, each of which is equipped with a bathtub and a meditation chair, which is very suitable for a person's healing journey. The morning light shines into the room through the wooden window lattices, and the air is filled with the warm scent of wood, which makes people unconsciously slow down their breathing and immerse themselves in it. 🍵 Time·Zen Tea In Qishang Rongshe, time seems to flow very slowly. Practice Baduanjin in the morning, copy scriptures at sunset, and stroll in the mountains when the weather is fine, breathing the smell of the mountains and forests. In addition to the natural experience, the local culture of the hotel is also full of charm. The hotel's refreshments are provided by Jinlan Bakery on Gulangyu Island, which is purchased daily to ensure freshness. Before leaving, I bought a few boxes as souvenirs to bring this ”Zen” back to daily life. [Color R] Taste buds·Surprise of shiso flavor The dual enjoyment of vision and taste is a highlight of Qishang Rongshe. For breakfast, the butler will deliver the meal to the dining table in the hotel corridor. The moment the curtains are opened, a new day officially begins. For dinner, I chose Haihai Restaurant. Every dish is embellished with shiso, and I even tasted the Fujian specialty lunch fish. At first I thought the price was a bit high, but after eating, I felt that this meal, both in terms of taste and experience, was the most unforgettable meal in my three days in Gulangyu. [Rainbow R] Accident·Stunning in Light and Shadow There is a small exhibition space hidden behind the bookstore in the hotel. This exhibition is called ”Fat”. During the day, I was attracted by the material and tension of the exhibits, but when I visited again at night, I was shocked by the unexpected beauty. The light was projected on the wall through the gaps in the works, and one of the shadows was similar to the whiskers of the banyan tree in front of the hotel. The ingenuity of the artist and curator made me resonate more deeply with this space at this moment. Conclusion·The journey is not over The three days in Qishang Rongshe are like a redefinition of time. Here, people and nature, history and the present, interweave a flowing poetry. On the way back, my body and mind were already relaxed. This journey is not only a journey, but also a healing. Looking forward to returning next time to continue the unfinished travel time."

"Centrally located in Xiamen, right next to Bailuzhou Park, with lake-view rooms offering stunning views of Yuandang Lake. I chose this hotel because it's close to my friend's place. The front desk lady was super enthusiastic and provided concierge service. All my questions during my stay were answered and resolved, and they even gave me a welcome gift, upgraded my room, and provided a late-night snack. Definitely a hotel with great value for money! 👍 (Realized I forgot to take pictures, so I can only show the luggage tag I received, some of the breakfast, and the lake view to give you an idea.)"

"Facilities: Very complete. Hygiene: Extremely clean. Environment: Cozy and comfortable. The kids loved the playground, and the breakfast waffles were delicious. Service: The front desk staff handling check-in seemed quite busy and tired. However, the person who helped with late check-out was very friendly and approachable. I think the front desk could use clearer signage; with four desks, it felt more like a concierge stand. It would be helpful to clearly mark where to check-in, check-out, and get parking QR codes, etc. When all four are occupied, you don't want to queue for nothing, so you have to ask if they handle check-ins. The room card is really nice and unique."