Is Xiamen really a budget Hawaii?

Ian and Jenny say that with careful planning and selective splurges, Xiamen can feel like budget Hawaii rather than a tourist trap.

What was included in the two-day cost?

Their total of $207 for two people includes the hotel, food, transport and a visit to the mega spa.

Which free or lower-cost stops did they visit?

Their route includes Nanputuo Temple, Shapowei Art District, Baicheng Beach and walking around Zhongshan Road, alongside paid choices such as the cable car and spa.

Budget-friendly Xiamen in 2 Days: Is It Worth It? A Real-Pos

Name: Is This China’s “Budget Hawaii”… Or a Tourist Trap? ($207 For 2 Days)
Uploaded: 2026-02-12
Duration: 20 min 28 s
Channel: Chasing the Chungs
Description: Is This China’s “Budget Hawaii”… Or a Tourist Trap? We spent $207 USD total for 2 days in Xiamen, China for two people. Hotel, food, transport, and a $30 mega spa with an unlimited seafood buffet. We tracked every cost and give a straight worth it verdict. Full Xiamen blog post with exact itinerary,...

Is This China’s “Budget Hawaii”… Or a Tourist Trap? ($207 For 2 Days)

Destination:ChinaCity:XiamenPopulation: 4.3 million

Chasing the Chungs2026-02-1220 min

China travel video

Is This China’s “Budget Hawaii”… Or a. This China travel video was filmed by Chasing the Chungs. Watch the full journey and explore the filming details and destinations on this page.

We spent two days in Xiamen as a mid-range couple, showing real prices and practical itineraries. The trip centers on a mix of free and paid experiences, including Nanputuo Temple, Shapowei Art District, Baicheng Beach, Zhongshan Road, and a Suke Hot Spring mega spa with an unlimited seafood buffet. The total comes to about $207 for two people, covering hotel, meals, transport, and the spa. It’s presented as a straightforward, value-focused city guide with a verdict on whether this budget setup truly feels worth it. The pacing emphasizes how to balance inexpensive local eats with occasional splurges, and it highlights how to get the most out of a short stay in Xiamen.

The video also teases a full blog post with exact itineraries, prices, and pins, inviting viewers to dive deeper into the cost breakdown and day-by-day plans. The overall message is clear: Xiamen can feel like a budget Hawaii if you pick the right days and places, but it can also become a tourist trap if you chase quantity over quality.

--- Chasing the Chungs

February 12, 2026, Winter in China

Travel Guides & Tips in this video

Ian and Jenny of Chasing The Chungs track costs during a two-day visit to Xiamen, asking whether the city feels like budget Hawaii or a tourist trap. They compare dumplings and peanut soup, ride the Zhonggu Cableway, visit free-entry Nanputuo Temple and walk through Shapowei, Baicheng Beach and Zhongshan Road. The second day centers on a Suke hot spring mega spa with baths, saunas, a buffet and a movie room. Their stated two-day total for two people is $207, including hotel, food, transport and the spa, and their verdict depends on choosing carefully when to splurge. They record their spending and judge each stop according to its cost and experience. Their first day includes separate food stops, the cable car, temple and university, an art district, a beach sunset and a busy shopping street. The spa changes the balance of the trip: access includes baths and saunas as well as buffet food and a movie room, while massages and private pools cost extra. They decide to look at the total package rather than paying for add-ons automatically. Their two-day budget comes to about $207 for two people, counting accommodation, meals, transport and spa access.

More about the current video:(Published on 2026-02-12)

Food, views and city walks

Ian and Jenny, known as Chasing The Chungs, spend two days in Xiamen as mid-range travelers who track their costs. They ask whether the city is a budget version of Hawaii or a tourist trap. They begin with inexpensive dumplings and peanut soup at two eateries, comparing portions, flavor and value. A cable car ride offers city views, though its value depends on the queue and timing. They visit Nanputuo Temple, which has free entry, and Xiamen University for scenic surroundings.

In Shapowei Art District, murals, cafes and street life become more active around dusk. At Baicheng Beach, they enjoy a sunset and a seaside feel that reminds them of Busan. Their evening continues along Zhongshan Road, where the busy pedestrian area has many snack options. The itinerary mixes free activities and paid stops rather than treating every attraction as a must.

A spa day and the budget verdict

The second day focuses on a Suke hot spring mega spa, a jjimjilbang-style complex with baths, saunas, a buffet and a movie room. The admission feels expensive at first, but the travelers decide that the food and facilities offer value over the course of the day. They compare the entry price with extras such as massages and private pools and suggest considering what is included before choosing add-ons.

Their final two-day total is about $207 for two people, including lodging, meals, transport and the spa. The video concludes that Xiamen can feel like budget Hawaii when visitors choose experiences deliberately, but it can feel like a tourist trap if they prioritize quantity over value. For food, they recommend trying two local spots to compare dishes, and they suggest visiting the cable car early or late to avoid long queues. The trip ends with a balanced verdict based on their own budget and preferences.

FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)

Q: Is Xiamen really a budget Hawaii?: A: Ian and Jenny say that with careful planning and selective splurges, Xiamen can feel like budget Hawaii rather than a tourist trap.

Q: What was included in the two-day cost?: A: Their total of $207 for two people includes the hotel, food, transport and a visit to the mega spa.

Q: Which free or lower-cost stops did they visit?: A: Their route includes Nanputuo Temple, Shapowei Art District, Baicheng Beach and walking around Zhongshan Road, alongside paid choices such as the cable car and spa.

Budget-friendly Xiamen in 2 Days: Is It Worth It? A Real-Pos

Is This China’s “Budget Hawaii”… Or a Tourist Trap? We spent $207 USD total for 2 days in Xiamen, China for two people. Hotel, food, transport, and a $30 mega spa with an unlimited seafood buffet. We tracked every cost and give a straight worth it verdict. Full Xiamen blog post with exact itinerary,...

Xiamen on a Budget: Is It China’s Budget Hawaii or a Tourist Trap? Two

I analyzed a travel vlog by Chasing the Chungs that tours Xiamen on a lean budget, presenting a clear, practical contrast between a sunny beach destination vibe and genuine travel costs. The creators lay out a two-day plan that includes a budget hotel, local eats, a megasp a spa experience, and several popular Xiamen spots like Zhongshan Road, Shapowei Art District, Nanputuo Temple, and Baicheng Beach. They break down costs carefully, totaling about $207 for two people, and offer a verdict on whether the experience feels worth the money. The tone is honest and approachable, aimed at mid-range travelers who want real prices and reliable pacing without cutting corners on experiences. The video balances sightseeing with downtime, showing both free attractions like Nanputuo Temple and paid indulgences like the Suke Hot Spring mega spa and unlimited seafood buffets. Overall, it presents Xiamen as a potential budget-friendly alternative to pricier tropical getaways, while acknowledging the t

Attractions in this video: Temple, Temple, Beach, Street, Spa