Located on Hainan Island's northern shore, this subtropical port city serves as both provincial capital and education center, with Hainan University at its heart.
Haikou, the capital of Hainan province, sits on the northern coast of China's tropical island. You'll find Portuguese-style mansions with arched doorways in the old quarter, watch egrets and spoonbills at the Dongzhai Harbor mangroves, or swim in the warm waters of Holiday Beach. The city's modern side includes the glass-domed Hainan Centre for the Performing Arts, where you can attend traditional Chinese opera performances or international music concerts.
Getting Around Haikou
You can travel throughout the urban area on public buses for 1 yuan per ride. Electric motorbikes and taxis run at all hours, making it easy to reach any part of the city. The bus network uses a simple pay-as-you-board system without passes or transfer tickets. The city replaced its urban minibuses with the current system in 2009.
Parks and Natural Areas
Early morning visitors to Evergreen Park and Baishamen Park will see locals practicing tai chi and aerobics. At the Dongzhai Harbor Mangrove Nature Reserve, you can spot egrets, spoonbills, and kingfishers among China's largest mangrove forest. The walking trails at Haikou Volcanic Cluster Global Geopark wind through ancient craters and past lava formations, showing how volcanic activity shaped the island.
Exploring the Old Quarter
The streets of the old town contain buildings from the early 20th century, built by Chinese merchants returning from abroad. You'll walk past houses with Portuguese-style archways, French colonial buildings with wooden shutters, and structures with Southeast Asian-influenced curved rooflines. Current preservation work focuses on strengthening the buildings' interiors while keeping their original street facades intact.
Museums and Culture
The Hainan Provincial Museum on Guoxing Avenue presents the island's history through pottery, tools, and traditional crafts. You can watch Chinese opera, symphony concerts, and dance performances at the Hainan Centre for the Performing Arts. The Hainan Provincial Library contains books and manuscripts about the region, including documents about the Li and Miao indigenous peoples.
Local Food Scene
After dark, food stalls set up near Hainan University and People's Bridge. You can try Wenchang Chicken cooked with ginger and green onions, or sample Hele Crab caught in local waters. The morning markets open at dawn, selling mangos, jackfruits, and fresh coconuts from local farms.
Beaches and Coast
Holiday Beach stretches for 7 kilometers along Haikou's western edge, with marked swimming zones and coastal walking paths connecting multiple rest areas. At Xixiu Beach, you can watch China's national sailing teams practice in the clear waters, or attend one of the regular sailing competitions held throughout the year.
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