Haicang (海沧; Hái-chhng in Minnan, Hǎicāng in Mandarin) is a suburb of Xiamen.

Understand

Administratively, Haicang is part of Xiamen but geographically, it is distinct. It is west of downtown on the mainland, connected to Xiamen island by a bridge. There is a map in the Xiamen article. However, unlike some other mainland suburbs, Haicang is not yet on the Xiamen BRT (bus rapid transit) system.

It the last few years, Haicang has been growing quickly. There are many new buildings, many of them highrise and some quite luxurious.

Get in

The usual route to Haicang is to go to Xiamen and cross a bridge.

Haicang Bridge connecting Haicang on the left (West) to Xiamen Island.

By metro

Haicang can now be reached via Line 2 of the Xiamen Metro.

By bus

Busses from the South, e.g. from Guangdong or Zhangzhou, often have a stop in Haicang en route to Xiamen.

By boat

The main ferry terminal is at Songyu Wharf (嵩屿码头). Ferries depart from Xiamen Wharf No. 1 (厦门第一码头) on the west coast of Xiamen Island.

Get around

There are taxis and busses.

See

Qingjiao Ciji Gong

• 1 Qingjiao Ciji Palace (青礁慈济宫, 慈济东宫 Ciji East Palace), Maqing Road (马青路) (Bus routes 801, 831, 832, 853 and Jiaomei (角美) 709.), ☏ +86 592-6082638, +86 592 6881186. 05:00-19:30. Built under the Southern Song Dynasty in 1151 for the great doctor Wu Ben; he and several generations of his disciples taught there. Free. (updated Feb 2019)
• 2 Tianzhu Mountains National Water Conservation Park (天竺山国家水利风景区, 天竺山国家森林公园, Tianzhushan National Forest Park), 1 Tianzhushan Road, Hongtang Village, Dongfu Town (东孚镇红塘村天竺山路1号) (take a metro train to Tianzhushan Station, the final stop on Line 2 of the Xiamen Metro; alternatively, take bus no. 805 from Songyu Wharf. The bus stops outside the park's eastern entrance), ☏ +86 592 6311965. 08:30-17:30. Free. (updated Feb 2019)

Sleep

• 1 Riyuegu Hot Springs Resort (日月谷温泉渡假村), No.1888 Fulian Road (孚莲路1888号) (1.6 km southwest of Dongfu Metro Station on Line 2; public bus nos. 805, 821, 822, 830, 835, 837 and 849. There is also a special shuttle bus run by the hotel, which departs from the Xiamen Ferry Pier (厦门轮渡码头) on Xiamen Island), ☏ +86 592 6312222. One of the most beautiful resorts in Xiamen. Besides the regular accommodation, the resort also contains an exotic hot spring park. They have all sorts of flavors (like milk, rose, tea, etc.) mixed into their natural hot spring water. They also have a fantastic spa. It is worth a trip. Rooms start from ¥798. For those not staying at the resort, bathing in the hot springs will cost ¥468 (which includes the bus fare), though much cheaper tickets can be purchased online via third party travel websites. 

Go next

Haicang is on the main highway between Xiamen and Zhangzhou, so either of those is an obvious next stop.