At present, the contradiction between the rapid development of the economy and the ecological environment is becoming more obvious in China and is not conducive to sustainable urban development. An ecological footprint is generally accepted as an indicator of sustainable development. We aimed to find possible problems due to rapid urbanization in Xiamen City by selecting an improved ecological footprint method, the emergy ecological footprint model (EEF). We analyzed the change in the emergy ecological footprint from 1980 to 2010 and evaluated sustainable development. Over 30 years in Xiamen City, the per capita EEF demand increased from 8.6 ghm² in 1980 to 52.8 ghm² in 2010, while the per capita emergy bio-capacity decreased from 181.2 ghm² in 1980 to 47.5 ghm² in 2010. In 2009 and 2010, Xiamen's ecological reserve changed to an ecological deficit. At the same time, the ecological footprint of fossil fuels and the construction on land rapidly increased over 30 years. These two make the greatest contribution to the ecological footprint per capita in Xiamen City, which had the largest proportion after year 2000, and each of them accounted for more than 20%. The analysis showed that Xiamen city is increasing the pressure on the ecological environment, and it is important to focus on sustainable development. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust industrial structures and control urbanization in Xiamen. It is important to reduce the proportion of fossil fuels consumed by secondary industries, as well as to ensure the supply of resources and reduce the demand and consumption of resources, especially the demand for fossil energy. Xiamen should promote the development of tertiary industries and the modernization of primary industries.