Route guide · High-speed rail
Hong Kong to Xiamen by High-Speed Train (2026)
554 km from Hong Kong to Xiamen — about 3h 29m on the fastest G-train, with around 4 departures a day.
China for Travelers EditorialUpdated Rail data refreshed monthly
- 2nd class
- ¥258 – ¥373
- what everyone buys
- Frequency
- 4/day
- 08:48–18:37
- Train types
- G
- G = fastest
- Flight
- 1h 20m
- compare below
The route at a glance
The Hong Kong to Xiamen corridor is 554 km of G-class high-speed rail. Trains run from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to Xiamen Railway Station, with the fastest service taking 3h 29m and most in the 3h 29m – 4h 29m range. Second-class seats start at ¥258 – ¥373. HKG→Xiamen (XMN) is a short ~1h20m hop, but once you add airport time it is roughly level with the direct train door-to-door — and the four daily direct G-trains (~3.5-4.5h) are one-seat and clear the border at West Kowloon rather than at an airport, so the train usually wins. Two of the four run to the central Xiamen Station (better for Gulangyu), two to Xiamen North.
Train vs flight
Both stations are in town, so the train is door-to-door; the flight adds airport transfers and security each end. Here is the trade on this corridor:
| High-speed train | Flight | |
|---|---|---|
| Fastest | 3h 29m | 1h 20m in the air |
| Door-to-door | ~4h 29m | ~4h 30m |
| Price | ¥258 – ¥373 | ¥600 – ¥1200 |
Editor: HKG→Xiamen (XMN) is a short ~1h20m hop, but once you add airport time it is roughly level with the direct train door-to-door — and the four daily direct G-trains (~3.5-4.5h) are one-seat and clear the border at West Kowloon rather than at an airport, so the train usually wins. Two of the four run to the central Xiamen Station (better for Gulangyu), two to Xiamen North.
Classes and price
Fares are dynamically priced — peak departures trend to the high end of each band, the cheapest seats go to off-peak mid-week trains. The seat is identical across trains in the same class.
| Class | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Second classmost buy | ¥258 – ¥373 | 3+2 seating, a tray table and power at every seat. |
| First class | ¥485 – ¥596 | 2+2 seating, wider and quieter — worth it on a longer ride. |
| Business class | ¥1269 | Lie-flat / deep-recline pods at the front of the train. |
Stations on this route
- Departing fromHong Kong West Kowloon StationHong Kong · G-class · ~5 min to city centre
Mainland + HK immigration under one roof ("co-location"). Arrive 60 min before departure.
- Arriving atXiamen Railway StationXiamen · D/G-class · ~10 min to city centre
On the island in Siming — the real city centre; Metro Line 3, ~10-20 min by taxi to Zhongshan Road and the Gulangyu ferry. Better than Xiamen North for Gulangyu and the old town.
How to book with a foreign passport
12306 English app — the official China Railway channel: face-value fares, no booking fee. The trade-off is hassle — passport registration must be approved before you can buy (often slow), and customer service is Chinese-first and limited if a booking goes wrong.
Trip.com ↗ — the same China Railway seats, booked in English with a foreign Visa or Mastercard, no verification wait and 24/7 multilingual support. Prices track 12306, and with new-customer promotions Trip often comes out level or cheaper. As China’s largest OTA you can also add hotels, attraction tickets and tours to the same trip. See the booking walkthrough.
Still deciding? Read the full 12306 vs Trip.com comparison. Tickets open exactly 15 days before departure, and the good daytime slots sell first.
Book on Trip.comNASDAQ: TCOM
One of the few platforms selling real China Railway tickets in English, to a foreign passport and card. (Is it legit? — 12306 vs Trip.com )
Booking through our Trip.com links costs you nothing extra and helps fund our independent research — we earn a small commission. How we’re funded.
Deep guide available. We have a full editorial write-up for this route — when to go, which class to pick, station tips, things to do at both ends. Read the Hong Kong ↔ Xiamen guide →
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Hong Kong to Xiamen train?
The fastest high-speed train covers the 554 km in 3h 29m, with most services in the 3h 29m–4h 29m range. Trains are G-class.
How much is a Hong Kong to Xiamen train ticket?
Second class is ¥258 – ¥373, first class ¥485 – ¥596, business class ¥1269. Fares are dynamically priced — peak departures trend to the high end of each band.
How many trains run from Hong Kong to Xiamen each day?
About 4 trains a day each way, with the first around 08:48 and the last around 18:37.
Is the train or the flight better for Hong Kong to Xiamen?
HKG→Xiamen (XMN) is a short ~1h20m hop, but once you add airport time it is roughly level with the direct train door-to-door — and the four daily direct G-trains (~3.5-4.5h) are one-seat and clear the border at West Kowloon rather than at an airport, so the train usually wins. Two of the four run to the central Xiamen Station (better for Gulangyu), two to Xiamen North. Door-to-door the train is ~4h 29m vs ~4h 30m flying.
How do I book Hong Kong to Xiamen tickets with a foreign passport?
Two ways: the official 12306 English app (face price, passport-bound account, no booking fee) or Trip.com (English UI, foreign cards accepted, 24/7 multilingual support; new-customer promos often bring the price level with or below 12306). Tickets open exactly 15 days before departure.
Verification scope
Route data — distance, journey time, fare bands and daily frequencies — is sampled from China’s national rail system and refreshed monthly. This is an auto-generated route record in our curated 25-city dataset.
Confirm before booking: exact schedules and fares vary by train and season under dynamic pricing. For the hand-written editorial guide, see the Hong Kong ↔ Xiamen guide.