厦門海底世界

Xiamen Underwater World is a large marine aquarium on Gulangyu Island, opened in the late 1990s and one of the island's longest-running family attractions. As a comprehensive aquarium combining tourism, entertainment, and popular science education, it offers an indoor, weather-proof alternative to the outdoor sights of Gulangyu, set in a building modeled on a classical Chinese pavilion. For families traveling with children, it is one of the most popular stops on the island.

Inside, the aquarium displays a wide range of marine life from the waters around Xiamen and beyond, including tanks of colorful reef fish, large predators, jellyfish, and other sea creatures. A signature feature is the underwater tunnel, which lets visitors walk through a transparent tube surrounded by swimming rays, sharks, and schools of fish, creating an immersive sense of being beneath the sea. Educational displays on local marine ecology, conservation, and the science of the ocean add depth to the visit, and feeding sessions and keeper talks provide memorable moments for younger visitors.

Because it is fully indoors, the aquarium is a particularly good option during the heat of a summer afternoon, on a rainy day, or when the outdoor lanes of Gulangyu feel crowded. Most visits last about an hour and a half to two hours, making it easy to combine with a walking tour of the island's heritage buildings, Shuzhuang Garden, or the climb up to Sunlight Rock. Weekends and Chinese public holidays draw the largest crowds, especially families, so a weekday morning tends to be calmer.

Xiamen Underwater World sits within the larger Gulangyu Island UNESCO World Heritage site, so it pairs naturally with a day exploring the island's architecture, gardens, and museums. For families with curious children, or travelers who want a break from the sun and the crowds, it offers an engaging, relaxed, and educational addition to a Gulangyu itinerary, and a reminder of the marine world that has shaped Xiamen's history and identity.