Tong'an

Tong'an (同安, Tâng-oaⁿ in Minnan, Tóng'ān in Mandarin) is a suburb of Xiamen.

Understand
Administratively, Tong'an is part of Xiamen but geographically, it is distinct; the local dialect even has noticeable differences from that of Xiamen island. It is on the most northerly of several mainland suburbs, the largest by land area, and the only one not connected directly by a bridge or tunnel to Xiamen Island where the center of the city is. There is a map in the Xiamen article.

Like the adjacent mainland suburb Jimei, Tong'an is on the Xiamen Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. See the get around section of the Xiamen article for details including a link to a map.

It the last few years, Tong'an has been growing quickly. There are quite a few new buildings, especially highrise apartment developments along the BRT line. Places out here are much cheaper than downtown Xiamen.

Get in
Go to Xiamen. If you are travelling by road, either cross a bridge to Jimei or take the tunnel to Xiang'an; both of those suburbs are adjacent to Tong'an and well connected to it.

From Xiamen Airport, city bus #105 goes to Tong'an. From downtown Xiamen, the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) goes to Tong'an.

Get around
There are taxis and buses.

See

 * The central parts of Tong'an (along the river bank north of the BRT terminus) are generally quite pleasant with some older houses and art murals remaining, although much of it is newer architecture as well.
 * The Northern and Western parts (out in the countryside) of Tong'an has some nice villages and hills with beautiful views and terraced farms. Buses run in varying frequency (not very often to some of the more remote villages) from the Tong'an main bus station.
 * The Northern and Western parts (out in the countryside) of Tong'an has some nice villages and hills with beautiful views and terraced farms. Buses run in varying frequency (not very often to some of the more remote villages) from the Tong'an main bus station.