Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport( IATA：XMN / ICAO：ZSAM )is an important regional aviation hub along the southeastern coast of China. This airport is located on the northeast coast of Xiamen Island, about 15 km from the ferry terminal, where you can take a ferry to Kulangsu (one of the World Cultural Heritage).

Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport is the first airport constructed by foreign capital in China, and is also the first airport operated by local government in China. This airport was officially opened in October 1983. After the airport completed the reclamation extension in April 1987 and the second period extension project in January 2000, the total length of the runway is 3400 meters. Since December 2014, XMN has operated with Terminal 3 and Terminal 4 at the same time. Passenger throughput in 2018 was about 26.6 million, cargo throughput reached 345,500 tons, and the total number of flight in the whole year was about 193,300. XMN continues to be the busiest Single-Runway airport in China.

According to the data of the airport official website, 40 companies operated regular passenger and cargo flights at XMN, routes reached 109 cities, including 83 cities in China and 26 cities in international and regional areas. Xiamen Airlines, founded in 1984, is the main airline of Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and is a member of the SKYTEAM. Xiamen Airlines operates about 170 all Boeing aircraft and has won the Boeing 737NG Fleet Global Reliability Award. In addition, Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Company Limited is located near the Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, it was registered in July 1993 and put into operation in March 1996. TAECO has six hangars, which can accommodate 12 wide-body aircraft and 5 narrow-body aircraft at the same time. The overhaul, route maintenance and modification capability of TAECO cover main aircraft types of Boeing and Airbus, also MD-11. TAECO is the first company in the world to convert 747-400 passenger aircraft into cargo aircraft. As one of the largest and most capable maintenance centers in the world, you can photograph a lot of non-scheduled flights coming XMN for regular checks in TAECO.

Flight information can be accessed on the airport official website.

General tips for China

many foreign websites and apps are blocked and don’t work in China. Below you will find some helpful apps:

• WeChat: every Chinese use this app, it also has a good translation function that helps really a lot because the language is the main barrier. You can translate from Chinese writings and they can translate your English into Chinese characters. This is a must have. The common western messenger services like Facebook, WhatsApp etc. don not work in China!
• Alipay: it is a major Chinese App that can be registered abroad and almost all shops/stores/hotels etc. support it as an official payment. You can add your western credit card like Amex, VISA or Mastercard to Alipay in advance. Furthermore you can also book and pay flights, hotels, restaurants, didi etc. with the app. This app is a must have!
• Didi: the Chinese “Uber”. Very helpful to reach the spots which are not connected to the public transport.
• Baidu Maps or Gaode Maps: this is the chinese google/apple maps.

We recommend to buy a chinese eSIM in advance from airalo for example. It is cheap and simple to install.

Written by Qiao Zheng. Updated: May 2025 – Spot 1 removed

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
05/23	3.400m
Terminals
Terminal 3	Domestic: CZ\MF\NS\KA\NX
Terminal 4	Domestic: CA\SC\ZH\KY\3U\HO\EU\MU\FM\KN\HU\JD\GS\PN\8L\BK\G5\9C
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not necessary.
Car/Public Transport	Car is recommended. If there is no car, you need to take the bus and walk to the spots. It’s also a good choice to ride a shared bicycle from the terminal to some spots.
Restrooms	At some spots, restrooms are nearby.
Drinks/Food	Convenience stores can be found around the terminal buildings, or hotel supplies market and tea market all around the airport.
Hotels	Xiamen Fliport Garden Hotel and Xiamen Airport are both managed by Xiamen Xiangye Group Co., Ltd. about 2 km away from Terminal 3 and 5 km away from Terminal 4. It offers free shuttle service. Other nearby hotels include Hampton by Hilton Xiamen City Plaza, Xianglu Grand Hotel, etc.
Season	More rain from May to September every year than from October to April.
Runway Usage
05/23	XMN is the busiest Single-Runway airport in China. Northeast wind is the dominant wind direction all the year round, so the probability of using RWY 05 is higher.

Due to national security concerns, the use of geographic information in China is restricted and the layers in google maps don´t fit. The satellite images are correct but the street layers are displaced! 
Please click on the link at each location (WHERE) to get to the chinese website baidu where you find an exact map with satellite and street view images. If you use a smartphone please download the Baidu App.

	Spot #1 – Hotel Supplies Market – 05 Arrivals
WHERE	This spot is located on the roof of the Zhongdian Hongji Hotel Supplies Market. In this market, choose the building on the northwest side, and then ask the manager for permission to go upstairs to the roof. Take the bus No. 27 or No. 81 from Terminal 3 to Dianqian North Community Station, then walk about 1200 meters to this market. If you start from Terminal 4, take the bus No. 755 to Dianqian Station, then walk about 900 meters to this market.It’s also a good choice to ride a shared bicycle from the terminal to this spot. Navigation software can be used to select “Zhongdian Hongji Hotel Supplies Market”  (“中典宏基酒店用品市场”） as the target location. LINK TO EXACT POSITION ON BAIDU MAPS UPDATE MAY 2025: Building has been demolished. Location is no longer available.
WHAT	You can photograph all arrivals on RWY 05 and the aircraft waiting to take off outside RWY 05.
TIME	Best light from sunrise till 1 pm in summer, and from sunrise till 3 pm in winter.
MISC.	There is restroom in the building, and small shop in the market. The managers may not understand English. When you take out your camera and telephoto lens, they should understand what you’re here for.
FOCAL LENGTH	120-400mm (Arrival: 120-400mm, Taxiway: 200-400mm)

	Spot #2 – Approach Lighting – 05 Arrivals
WHERE	This spot is on Xiangyun 1st Road. It’s near the airport boundary and very close to the starting point of RWY 05. You can shoot on an abandoned road there, and rest in the nearby grassland. Take the bus No. 27 or No. 81 from Terminal 3 to Dianqian North Community Station,  then walk about 400 meters to the airport boundary. If you start from Terminal 4, take the bus No. 84 to Dianqian North Community Station, then walk about 400 meters to this spot.It’s also a good choice to ride a shared bicycle from the terminal to this spot. The nearest target in navigation software is “Octagon Building”(“八角楼”), then walk or ride northward along Xiangyun 1st Road to the airport boundary. LINK TO EXACT POSITION ON BAIDU MAPS
WHAT	You can photograph all arrivals on RWY 05. Close enough to the aircraft is the advantage of this spot, but only the sky as the background.
TIME	Best light from sunrise till 1 pm in summer, and from sunrise till 3 pm in winter.
MISC.	There is no food, no water, no restroom. You need to take everything with yourself.
FOCAL LENGTH	24-105mm

Spot#2-1_RWY05_Cathay-Dragon-Airways_B-HLL

Spot#2-2_RWY05_Sichuan-Airlines_B-2341

Spot#2-3_RWY05_Xiamen-Airlines_B-5630

Spot#2-4_RWY05_Air-China_B-5390

Spot#2-5_RWY05_Shandong-Airlines_B-5207

Spot#2-6_RWY05_Xiamen-Airlines_B-1707

	Spot #3 – Tea Market – 05 Arrivals
WHERE	Tea Market is located on Aoshan Road, which is in the northwest direction of the airport. Ask the manager if you could go upstairs to the roof of Tea Market to take pictures. If the roof is locked you can go to the street and photograph from the fence but a ladder would be helpful. To get there by public tranpsort take the bus No. 81 from Terminal 3 to Gaoqi Railway Station, then walk about 450 meters to Tea Market. If you start from Terminal 4, take the bus No. 959 to Gaoqi Railway Station, then walk about 450 meters to this spot.It’s also a good choice to ride a shared bicycle from the terminal to this spot. The nearest target in navigation software is ” Biming Tea Factory “(“璧茗茶厂”） or ” Jinchun Restaurant “(“金春饭店”. LINK TO EXACT POSITION ON BAIDU MAPS+++ OCT 2019: Spotters were asked to please don’t spot here. +++
WHAT	You can photograph all arrivals on RWY 05 and the aircraft waiting to take off outside RWY 05.
TIME	Best light from 3 pm till sunset.
MISC.	There’s a gas station near the Tea Market where you can go to the toilet or buy water and food. The managers may not understand English. When you take out your camera and telephoto lens, they should understand what you’re here for.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm (Arrival: 70-300mm, Taxiway: 100-300mm)

Spot#3-1_RWY05_Xiamen-Airlines_B-2862

Spot#3-2_RWY05_Air-Guilin_B-1039

Spot#3-3_RWY05_All-Nippon-Airways_JA627A

Spot#3-4_RWY05_Shanghai-Airlines_B-5132

Spot#3-5_RWY05_Xiamen-Airlines_B-5028

Spot#3-6_RWY05_Xiamen-Airlines_B-1964

	Spot #4 – Overpass on Jiahe Road – 05 Arrivals
WHERE	The Overpass is located in the northwest direction of the airport and stretch across Jiahe Road. Take the bus No. 81 from Terminal 3 to Gaoqi Railway Station, then walk about 200 meters to the overpass. If you start from Terminal 4, take the bus No. 959 to Gaoqi Railway Station, then walk about 200 meters to this spot. It’s also a good choice to ride a shared bicycle from the terminal to this spot. The nearest target in navigation software is “RECHT Wine Company “(“雷司酒业”), the overpass is in front of the company. LINK TO EXACT POSITION ON BAIDU MAPS
WHAT	You can photograph all arrivals on RWY 05.
TIME	Best light from 3 pm till sunset.
MISC.	There’s a gas station near the overpass where you can go to the toilet or buy water and food.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-300mm

Spot#4-3_RWY05_Xiamen-Airlines_B-2862

Spot#4-2_RWY05_All-Nippon-Airways_JA604F

Spot#4-1_RWY05_Thai-Airways_HS-TJR

	Spot #5 – Construction Site on Airport North Road – 23 Arrivals
WHERE	There is a construction site on North Airport Road and near the Jimei Bridge. You can choose a suitable position in the field to take pictures. Sometimes the security at the site will come to dissuade you. Take the bus No. 81 or No. 424 from Terminal 3 to Wanxiang International Business Center Station, then walk northeastward along North Airport Road for about 1400 meters to the site entrance. If you start from Terminal 4, take the bus No. 424 to Wanxiang International Business Center Station, then walk about 1400 meters to the site entrance.It’s better to drive to this spot. The nearest target in navigation software is ” Biguiyuan International Coast “(“碧桂园国际海岸”), which is located on Airport North Road, and just opposite the site.LINK TO EXACT POSITION ON BAIDU MAPS
WHAT	You can photograph all arrivals on RWY 23.
TIME	Best light from 3 pm till sunset.
MISC.	There is no food, no water, no restroom. You need to take everything with yourself. If you have a ladder will be better, because some of the bamboo poles in bird nets are relatively high, will block the aircraft tyres.
FOCAL LENGTH	200-400mm

Spot#5-6_RWY23_China-Southern-Airlines_B-3216

Spot#5-5_RWY23_Shandong-Airlines_B-5782

Spot#5-4_RWY23_China-Cargo_B-2079

Spot#5-3_RWY23_Xiamen-Airlines_B-5633

Spot#5-2_RWY23_Philippine-Airlines_RP-C9907

Spot#5-1_RWY23_Xiamen-Airlines_B-1356

	Spot #6 – Terminal 4 West Departure Bridge – Taxiway & TAECO
WHERE	This is a relatively easy spot to reach and it is on the departure platform of Terminal 4. Walk westward along the lane to the downhill ramp, you can stay there and take photos carefully.
WHAT	Aircraft at Terminal 4 and arrivals on RWY 23 can be photographed. You can also photograph aircraft parked in TAECO.
TIME	Best light from sunrise till 1 pm.
MISC.	All things you need are in the terminal building. Pay attention to passing vehicles in this position, and maybe the staff will come to dissuade you.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-200mm (Taxiway: 100-200mm, TAECO: 50-100mm)

XMN-Spot6

XMN-Spot6

XMN-Spot6

XMN-Spot6

XMN-Spot6

XMN-Spot6

	Spot #7 – Terminal 4 Departure Hall – Taxiway & 23 Arrivals
WHERE	Enter the departure hall of the Terminal 4 and proceed to the far right, you can see the parking apron through the glass. AeroJones Aviation has an exhibition room here as well. +++ OCT 2019: Spotters were asked to leave the spot here once the guard saw them spotting. So stop taking pictures while guards pass by. +++
WHAT	Aircraft at Terminal 4, on taxiway or arrivals on RWY 23 can be photographed.
TIME	Best light from sunrise till 1 pm.
MISC.	All things you need are in the terminal building. There will be some reflections of glass and geothermal effects.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-200mm

XMN-Spot7

XMN-Spot7

XMN-Spot7

XMN-Spot7

XMN-Spot7

XMN-Spot7

	Spot #8 – Dormitory Building – RWY 05 & Taxiway
WHERE	This spot is very close to Spot #2 – from Spot #2, walk southward along the Xiangyun 1st Road for about 200 meters, where you can see a path with iron gates on your left. Then turn left into the path, there are two grey dormitory buildings and a white operation building. These three buildings have been out of service in the past few years. You can choose a suitable position in the high-rise staircase of the dormitory building to take pictures, or go upstairs to the roof of the operation building for the best spot.LINK TO EXACT POSITION ON BAIDU MAPS+++ OCT 2019: Spotters were asked regularly to leave this spot so it is no longer usable! +++
WHAT	You can photograph all arrivals and departures on RWY 05, and you can also photograph the aircraft on Taxiway. Close enough to the aircraft is the advantage of this spot.
TIME	Best light from sunrise till 1 pm in summer, and from sunrise till 3 pm in winter.
MISC.	In addition, I think this is the best spot at XMN. There is no food, no water, no restroom. You need to take everything with yourself.
FOCAL LENGTH	24-200mm (Runway: 70-200mm, Taxiway: 24-105mm)

Spot#8-9_RWY05_Global-6000_Private_N66866

Spot#8-8_RWY05_Suparna-Airlines_B-2963

Spot#8-7_RWY05_Cathay-Pacific-Airways_B-KPB

Spot#8-6_Taxiway_Xiamen-Airlines_B-1356

Spot#8-5_Taxiway_Spring-Airlines_B-6902

Spot#8-4_Taxiway_China-West-Air_B-8643

Spot#8-3_Taxiway_KLM-Royal-Dutch-Airlines_PH-BHF

Spot#8-2_Taxiway_Xiamen-Airlines_B-1117

Spot#8-1_Taxiway_Xiamen-Airlines_BMW_0236