For residents of Haicang in Xiamen, the expansion of the public bicycle system from urban neighborhoods to the scenic countryside of Dongfu Town is nothing short of delightful. "Riding a bike while enjoying the rural scenery is simply wonderful," said Mr. Zhu, a resident of Dongfu Town, to the reporter on the 4th, his excitement palpable.
As the first demonstration project under the "Beautiful Xiamen, Jointly Created" initiative, Haicang District in Xiamen was the first in Fujian Province to launch a public bicycle system on September 1 of last year, greatly facilitating residents' travel and quickly gaining widespread popularity.
In response to strong public demand, the reach of Haicang’s public bicycle system has quietly expanded from Haicang Bay to the Dongfu and Xinyang areas. The network of bicycle stations continues to grow denser, with the first phase of the Dongfu area’s public bicycle system—featuring 12 stations including the Riyuegu Station, Dongfu Commercial Street Station, Tianzhu Mountain East Gate Station, and Xishan She Station—officially put into use on April 1.
Mr. Zhu, who has long looked forward to the development of a public bicycle system in the Dongfu area, shared that he had "been eagerly anticipating weekend rides along the scenic country paths." Now, with the completion of the first phase of the Dongfu public bicycle project, spanning 36.2 kilometers of bike lanes, his wish has come true. He can now freely cycle through the expansive Daxi Mountain Park, breathe in the fresh air of this natural “oxygen bar,” and enjoy the unique charm of leisurely farm stays.
"I never thought there’d be public bikes in our rural area," said Mr. Chen, a resident who, upon hearing about the new Dongfu bicycle stations, immediately went with his wife to the Dongfu Commercial Street station, tapped their card, picked up a bike, and pedaled through the countryside trails.
A spokesperson from the Haicang District Propaganda Department explained that the Dongfu public bicycle system connects the town’s agate industry, forest landscapes, ecological villages, and specialty commercial areas into a cohesive cycling tourism route—offering a healthy journey that combines pastoral scenery, natural ecology, and leisure experiences.
Leveraging the tourism resources of Daxi Mountain Park, the first phase of the Dongfu public bicycle project plans to establish 18 cycling stations. Currently, 12 stations—including the Riyuegu Station at the foot of Tianzhu Mountain—are already in operation, while construction of the remaining six stations within the Tianzhu Mountain Scenic Area is underway and expected to be completed this month.
The Haicang Tourism Group stated that to alleviate the commuting rush of "new Xiamen residents" in Xinyang Subdistrict, the district will also begin constructing a public bicycle system for the Xinyang area. According to reports, the first phase of the Xinyang public bicycle system will initially set up 11 stations, mainly located in factory zones and workers' dormitory areas. The second phase will extend westward to connect the Xinyang New District and the Biomedical Park. With these developments, the Haicang public bicycle system is on track to achieve full coverage across the entire district.
In July 2013, Xiamen unveiled the "Beautiful Xiamen Strategic Plan," with Siming District and Haicang District serving as the first pilot zones both on and off the island. Since the launch of the first phase of Haicang’s public bicycle system in September of that year, more than half a year has passed, during which both the number of individual bike card registrations and daily bike usage have continued to rise. Card registrations, which started at zero six months ago, surpassed 15,000 by March 23 of this year, with cumulative rides reaching 332,223 and an average daily ridership of 1,695—making it a beloved short-distance travel option among locals.
The Haicang public bicycle system adopts a collaborative model involving government, businesses, and the community, sparking enthusiasm among ordinary citizens. Officials from relevant Haicang District departments noted that bike donation campaigns to support public bicycle infrastructure have become a popular trend, with contributions coming from both companies and residents.
Statistics show that over the past six months, donations from Haicang-based enterprises and individuals for “love bikes” have reached 2.23 million yuan. All 1,000 bicycles currently in use have been donated by the public, and nine out of the 49 established stations have been named through social sponsorship.