Hainan Province travel guide
海南省 · 6 cities · 57 places
Mission Hills Huayi Feng Xiaogang Movie Commune, Haikou · AI illustration for China Trip
Cities and areas in Hainan
Central and Western Hainan
16 placesThe Central-Western Route borders Beibu Gulf and faces Vietnam across the sea. Most of the area is tropical rainforest that few people visit. Looking out over the endless sea of forest, it feels both mysterious and eerie compared with the bustle of the east coast. Perhaps because the natural conditions in the west are harsh, Han Chinese have rarely settled here since ancient times. Only the Li and Miao peoples live here, in their own distinctive ways, which gives the region a rich ethnic character.
SanyaThere is no question that Sanya is, and will surely remain, China's premier travel and resort destination. Almost every travel guide agrees that Sanya is a place spoiled by nature. It has almost everything China has to offer in its finest form: the most pleasant climate, the freshest air, the gentlest sunshine, the bluest sea, the softest beaches, captivating ethnic minority cultures, the most delicious seafood……
13 places · 4 day itinerary
Wanning10 places · 2 day itinerary
Haikou“Coconut City” is another name for Haikou. Haikou used to be a quiet little town, with clean streets you could walk down barefoot and coconut palms swaying in the breeze. That is how people remember Haikou. Although economic development has brought high-rises and bustling tourist crowds, coconut palms remain the constant theme of Haikou and still stand as a synonym for “romance”.
8 places · 1 day itinerary
WenchangWenchang has a large population and limited land, and its soil is somewhat poor. It has a long coastline and excellent fishing harbours, but these were not enough to sustain its people, so Wenchang's ancestors went far overseas to Southeast Asia in search of a living. More than 50 years ago, many overseas Chinese from Malaysia and Indonesia returned home and settled down, bringing a fresh touch to Wenchang. It is said that Wenchang's milk tea culture was brought from the South Seas by these returnees. Overseas Chinese also left their mark on the language: the volleyball term for 'out of bounds' (界外) has always been called 'outside' in the Wenchang dialect, which is proof of this.
5 places · 1 day itinerary
QionghaiThe Red Detachment of Women has given Qionghai a touch of legend, and the city’s landmark is the Red Detachment of Women sculpture. Picturing these spirited, heroic young women of years past inspires a deeper sense of respect for Qionghai.
5 places · 1 day itinerary
Overview
Hainan Province
Self-Guided Travel:
Premier Seaside Route
(Haikou) Holiday Beach → (Sanya) Dadonghai → (Sanya) Yalong Bay → Wuzhizhou Island
Visit the Hometown of Overseas Chinese
Wenchang (Dongjiao Coconut Groves, Tonggu Ridge) → Qionghai (Wanquan River, Boao) → Wanning (Xinglong Hot Springs, Dongshan Ridge)
In-Depth Tropical Rainforest Tour
Wuzhi Mountain → Limu Mountain → Bawangling → Jianfengling
East Ring High-Speed Rail Journey
Haikou → Wenchang → Qionghai → Wanning → Lingshui → Sanya
Self-Drive Tour:
Driving Along the East Coast
Haikou → Wenchang → Qionghai → Wanning → Lingshui → Sanya
Step into the Mysterious Li Minority
Sanya → Lingshui → Wuzhi Mountain → Qiongzhong → Changjiang → Ledong
Island Circuit
Haikou → Wenchang → Wanning → Sanya
Haikou → Qionghai → Wanning → Lingshui → Sanya
China's clearest seas, most beautiful bays, cleanest air, most pristine tropical rainforest and rich, distinctive ethnic cultures — Hainan's mysterious and romantic tropical charm will make your heart flutter.
A mountain range called Niuling, lying between Wanning City and Lingshui Li Autonomous County, forms a clear dividing line of climate and geography: its north lies in the subtropics, while its south is tropical. As a result, a striking climate phenomenon often occurs: in summer, it may be pouring with rain on the northern side while the sun shines brightly just a few hundred metres away on the southern side; in winter, the north is gloomy and overcast while the south is bright and sunny. Hainan has a tropical area that is rare anywhere else in China (a place where you can take a dip in the sea even in winter), so you can imagine how much it weighs on your travel and wish-list map.
Heading north from the thoroughly developed Sanya coastline, past Yalong Bay you reach another newly developed national-level bay, Haitang Bay, followed by Qingshui Bay with over 10 km of coastline, then Fuli Bay, Xiangshui Bay and other bays with beautiful names. Beyond the tropical boundary, continuing north, you pass Shimei Bay, Shenzhou Peninsula, Boao and other new seaside areas built on the “tourism + real estate” model. Without exception, they have or plan several luxury resort hotels plus large clusters of seaside apartments and villas. These property developments are radically transforming Hainan's coastal landscape, and they aim, within about ten years, to turn once remote backwaters into China's most glamorous and luxurious destinations.
Hainan has abundant tourism resources and convenient transport. Expressways link both the east and west coasts, with no toll booths along the way (Hainan's fuel surcharge is already included in the fuel price), and a coach from Haikou to Sanya typically takes just over three hours. On the east coast, where tourism resources are concentrated, the Hainan East Ring High-Speed Railway opened in December 2010. Along the route, the coast is divided into six functional zones based on resource distribution, landforms, vegetation, customs, culture and town layout: 1. Haikou urban area to Haikou Meilan International Airport: urban landscape section; 2. Haikou Meilan International Airport to Wenchang: wetland and farmland landscape section; 3. Wenchang to Qionghai: coconut grove and farmland landscape section; 4. Qionghai to Wanning: national image showcase section; 5. Wanning to Lingshui: nature reserve and resort section; 6. Lingshui to Sanya: folk culture and tropical seaside resort section.
Places in Hainan
Mission Hills Huayi Feng Xiaogang Movie Commune
Haikou · 3–6 hours; 2–3 hours
A utopian film-themed destination that showcases the changing face of urban neighbourhoods in China and abroad during the 20th century. It includes the 1942 Street, Old Beijing Street, Nanyang Street, the Church Square area, and the world's largest film studio, along with other supporting facilities. The mix of distinctive Chinese and Western architecture makes you feel as though you've travelled back to the Republican era. Lined with shops and restaurants, the streets also offer rickshaw and horse-carriage rides.
Boao Forum for Asia Permanent Venue Scenic Area
Qionghai · 2–3 hours
There is no doubt that it was the Boao Forum for Asia that made Boao famous overnight. But if you think Boao is only about politics and economics, you would be missing a great deal. Here, where a river meets the sea, you will find one of the world’s most beautiful river-mouth landscapes, and the town is known as the “Water Town.” The Wanquan River flows into the sea right here. The Yudai Beach is also a must-visit. Its landform is unique in Asia: you may see the sea surging on one side while the river on the other side remains perfectly calm.
- Mission Hills Huayi Feng Xiaogang Movie CommuneHaikou ·
- Boao Forum for Asia Permanent Venue Scenic AreaQionghai ·
- Yalong Bay Tourist ResortSanya ·
- Nanshan TempleSanya ·
- Wuzhizhou IslandSanya ·
- Old Town and Qilou Old StreetHaikou ·
- Five Lords ShrineHaikou ·
- Wanlyu ParkHaikou ·
- Volcanic Cluster Global GeoparkHaikou ·
- Dongzhaigang Mangrove Nature ReserveHaikou ·