Liu Haiguang started his youth career with the Shanghai Team and would soon break into the Chinese U-20 team where he took part in the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship where he scored one goal as China were knocked-out in the group stages. He would soon become a regular for Shanghai and also be promoted to the Chinese senior team where he was included in the squad for the 1984 AFC Asian Cup, which saw China finish runners-up. After establishing himself as a regular for the national team he along with fellow international team mate Jia Xiuquan would join Yugoslav club FK Partizan and together be one of the earliest Chinese footballers to play in a European club. Liu stayed for two seasons playing in the Yugoslav First League where he won the 1988–89 Yugoslav Cup before soon returning to Shanghai.