Understanding Lecheng's Setting
Lecheng, in this guide, refers to the Hainan Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, which sits on the banks of the Wanquan River in Qionghai, Hainan. The zone lies between Jiaji Town's urban area and the core area of the Boao Forum for Asia, so visitors generally treat it as part of the wider Qionghai–Boao area rather than as a standalone city with its own dense urban transport grid.
That geography shapes how you get around. The zone is compact enough to cover on foot once you are inside it, but the surrounding region is served by a mix of high-speed rail, local buses, taxis and ride-hailing, and a shuttle service operated by the zone itself.
Getting Around the Zone
Within the pilot zone, walking is the most practical way to move between its facilities. The area is laid out along the riverbank and is small enough that a visitor can reasonably expect to cover the core on foot rather than needing a vehicle for every trip.
For longer hops inside the zone or between the zone and nearby points, the pilot zone runs its own shuttle bus service. This is the most visitor-friendly option because it is tied directly to the zone's own traffic rather than to the wider city network.
Rail: High-Speed Trains
High-speed rail is the main long-distance option for reaching Lecheng and for connecting onward within Hainan. The nearest station is Boao High-speed Railway Station, which puts the zone within a short drive of the rail network.
From Boao station, high-speed trains run to Haikou Meilan International Airport, making rail a viable way to link the zone with the island's main international gateway. If you are arriving by air at Meilan and heading to Lecheng, the train is a sensible alternative to a long road transfer.
Buses and Public Transport
Local bus service reaches the zone. Buses No. 81, No. 82 and No. 83 all serve the area, which gives visitors a low-cost way to travel between the zone and surrounding parts of Qionghai.
In practice, the bus network is best thought of as your link to the nearby town areas rather than as a way to move around inside the zone itself. For the last stretch into the zone, combine a bus with a short walk or a taxi.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
That makes a car the default choice for reaching the zone from the airport, the rail station or the expressway exit, and for any trip where you are carrying luggage or travelling outside bus hours.
Because the zone sits between Jiaji Town and the Boao Forum core area, a taxi or ride-hailing car is also the simplest way to move between those points without depending on a fixed schedule.
Arriving by Air
Two airports serve Lecheng, and they are very different propositions.
- Qionghai Boao Airport is the close option, a short car ride from the zone. It handles flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Wuhan and other major cities, so if your itinerary starts from one of those, this is the convenient arrival point.
- Haikou Meilan International Airport is much further away by road, but it is also connected to the zone by high-speed rail via Boao High-speed Railway Station. If you land at Meilan, you can either take the train or arrange a car transfer.
Whichever airport you use, plan on a car or train for the final leg — there is no direct rail or bus link from the terminal to the zone's doorstep.
Arriving by Road
If you are driving, the zone is reached from the Zhongyuan exit of the G98 Hainan Island Ring Expressway, followed by a short drive. This is the natural route for anyone self-driving around Hainan or arriving by coach from elsewhere on the island.
Practical Tips
- Use the zone's own shuttle bus for trips within and around the pilot zone — it is the service designed for visitors here.
- Rely on taxis or ride-hailing for airport, rail station and expressway transfers, where car travel is the norm.
- Take the high-speed train between Boao station and Haikou Meilan International Airport if you want to avoid a long road journey.
- Use Buses No. 81, No. 82 and No. 83 to connect with the surrounding Qionghai area.
- Expect to walk once you are inside the zone; it is compact and riverfront-oriented.