Haikou Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 海口 (hǎi kǒu)
Population: 2,327,900
Area: Land Area: 2,289 square kilometers (884 square miles); Sea Area: 830 square kilometers (320 square miles)
Location: in the north of Hainan Province, southern China
Administrative Division: 4 districts (Xiuying, Longhua, Qiongshan, Meilan)
Area Code: 0898
Zip Code: 570000
GDP (2019): CNY 167.193 billion (USD 24.234 billion) 
 

Haikou, also known as the "Coconut City", is the capital city of Hainan Province, the strategic city of the Belt and Road. It is the north end of Hainan Island and adjacent to Wenchang to the east, Chengmai to the west, Ding’an to the north and Qiongzhou Strait to the north. Situated in the tropics, Haikou is a coastal city featuring beautiful coastal scenery and a comfortable climate. The coastline of Haikou is 136.23 km (272.46 miles) long. Most of the coasts are vast and continuous, with fine white sand. There are many coastal swimming areas in the offshore where the water is clear and the waves are flat all year round. Haikou has evolved from a simple sightseeing city to an attractive seaside resort and business center. The services for visitors to the city are being extended with the aim of establishing the city as Southern China's key center for tourism.

October to May is the best time for Haikou traveling when sea is tranquil and weather is pleasant. Hainan also has the Coconut Festival on the third day of March in the lunar calendar. It is worth noting that May to October is the rainy season in Haikou, and there are many typhoons. Tourists should avoid visiting during the period and pay attention to the typhoon warning issued by the meteorological department.
 

Hainan visa-free policy with a validity of 30 days is applicable for travelers holding ordinary passports issued by the 59 qualifying countries, but the aliens should be received by a travel agency in Hainan.

With the sea on three sides, Haikou enjoys a long coastline that features excellent bathing beaches and sea side resorts. Holiday Beach is the most popular of these, while Xixiu Beach is where the national sailing and windsurfing teams train and hold competitions. Dongzhai Port Nature Reserve in the northeast of Haikou is a typical tropical jungle and a heaven for birds.

Besides its natural resources, Haikou has a number of important sites of historical interest. The Temple of Five Lords (Five Official's Temple), the Tomb of Hai Rui and the Xiuying Emplacement each serve as reminders of the historical importance of the city.

Beach Travel in Haikou & Sanya: 5 days to the beautiful beach resorts

 Haikou Tours           More China Tour Packages

 

City Scenery

City street lined with coconut palms

As for transportation, don't worry! Hainan Meilan Airport, railway station, ship and expressway links cities of China and the whole world. The downtown area of Haikou has an excellent environment with streets lined with coconut palms. Here there are modern and convenient public transport facilities and all that is best in a tropical seaside city that is pollution free and that meets the needs of the tourist in a friendly and welcoming way.

 No trip is complete without the opportunity to savor tempting local food and shopping opportunities. It goes without saying that for anyone coming to Haikou, seafood is definitely a must. However, the city is also famous for its other prized dishes. There are four to delight the gourmet and should not be missed. They are Wenchang Chicken, Dongshan Mutton, Jiaji Duck and Hele Crab. The climate means there is an abundance of fresh local fruits such as mangos, pineapples, jackfruits, coconuts and carambola, betelnuts, pawpaw, longan and lichee, loquat, naseberry and passion fruit. Maybe some of these will be new to you but we are sure that if you try them you will want to take come home!