The quieter route: Shihu port in Quanzhou to Kinmen

Most people take the Xiamen boat, and most of the time they should: twelve crossings a day against two, and half the time at sea. The Quanzhou route earns its place on the days when Wutong is full, which happens often enough that it is worth knowing about before you need it.

Shihu port, Quanzhou

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How the two routes compare

Wutong to Kinmen: 30 minutes, twelve sailings a day, CNY 159
Shihu to Kinmen: 60 minutes, two sailings a day, CNY 159
Cabins at Shihu: Standard only, no business class
Lands at: Shuitou pier, the same as the Xiamen boat

The fare is the same and the pier on Kinmen is the same. What you trade is flexibility: with two sailings a day, missing one costs you the day rather than an hour. Build in more time than you would at Wutong.

One more reason to look north

The Quanzhou timetable is published further ahead than the Xiamen one. If you are planning a trip several weeks out, Shihu sailings are often bookable when Wutong sailings for the same date have not been published yet.

Waitlists, explained: why sold out usually is not

Almost every full sailing on the Xiamen to Kinmen route keeps a waitlist open. What that means, and what to do when the boat you wanted says zero seats.

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Tue 8 Sep · 5 min read

Getting to Wutong ferry terminal in Xiamen

Where the Xiamen ferry to Kinmen leaves from, how early to be there, and the map links to show a taxi driver. Wutong is on the northeast shore of Xiamen island.