Landmark
Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport
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Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport is the main airport serving Xiamen, located on the north side of Xiamen Island, about 10 km from downtown. It is a hub for XiamenAir and handles both domestic and international flights. The airport has two terminals: Terminal 3 (for XiamenAir, China Southern, Hebei Airlines, and international flights) and Terminal 4 (for other domestic flights).
Don't miss
- Terminal 3 features a 2024 expansion with four new boarding gates and 552 seats, 92 with charging outlets, designed with traditional Minnan architecture elements.
- Terminal 4, opened in 2014, handles domestic flights for airlines other than XiamenAir, China Southern, and Hebei Airlines.
- The airport set a record in 2025 for annual passenger throughput for a single-runway airport in China, with over 29 million passengers.
- KLM launched the first intercontinental route from Xiamen to Amsterdam in 2011, and XiamenAir now flies to destinations like Sydney, Vancouver, and Paris.
- The airport is close to downtown, about 20 minutes by taxi.
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport
You can see Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport on your own. A tour is worth it for the story behind it, for transport, or for combining nearby sights into one day.
A bit of history
The airport was originally built by Imperial Japan in 1941 as a military airfield. After World War II, it was converted to civilian use, but later abandoned due to proximity to Kinmen Island. It reopened in 1983 with funding from the Kuwait Fund, becoming the first airport in China built with foreign funding. Terminal 3 opened in 1996, and Terminal 4 opened in 2014. The airport is expected to close in late 2026 when Xiamen Xiang'an International Airport opens.
Common questions
Which terminal should I go to for my flight?
If you are flying with XiamenAir, China Southern Airlines, or Hebei Airlines, or on an international flight, go to Terminal 3. For other domestic flights, go to Terminal 4.
Is the airport closing?
Yes, the airport is expected to cease all civilian operations in late 2026 once Xiamen Xiang'an International Airport opens.
Can I get a visa on arrival?
Some nationalities may qualify for a 144-hour visa-free transit if you are in transit to a third country and enter/exit through Xiamen Gaoqi Airport or Xiamen Port.
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