# Central and Western Hainan travel guide (海南中西部)

Hainan Province · South China, China · 16 places
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/hainan/central-and-western-hainan

## Quick itinerary

- **Day 1:** Danzhou Millennium Salt Fields → Dongpo Academy → Zhonghe Ancient Town → Shihua Water Cave → Botanical Garden
- **Day 2:** Qizi Bay → Bawangling → Wuzhishan (Five Finger Mountain) → Limushan National Forest Park

## The feel of the place

- **Tropical Rainforest:** The 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.

## The feel of the place

### Preparation and Advice

### Climate and Travel Season

The main sights on the Central-Western Route are concentrated in Lingao, Danzhou, Changjiang, Ledong, Wuzhishan, Qiongzhong and Baoting. The climate here differs from the rest of Hainan. It is relatively dry, with a typical tropical monsoon climate marked by distinct wet and dry seasons. Rainfall is concentrated in the typhoon season from June to November. In winter, the influence of cold ocean currents is strong, so temperatures are relatively lower.


## Getting there & around

The West Expressway, the only completed expressway on the Central-Western Route, connects the coastal areas with Haikou and Sanya, the two major cities. Danzhou is the transport hub of western Hainan, with daily buses to Guangzhou and various parts of Hainan.


## Things to see

- **Dongpo Academy** (★★★★): Admission Peak season ¥25; off-season ¥21; Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dongpo-academy
- **Zhonghe Ancient Town** (★★★★): Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/zhonghe-ancient-town
- **Longmen Surging Waves** (★★★): Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/longmen-surging-waves
- **Songtao Reservoir** (★★★★): Admission ¥120; Opening hours 9：00—16：00; Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/songtao-reservoir
- **Millennium Ancient Salt Fields** (★★★): Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/millennium-ancient-salt-fields
- **Shihua Water Cave** (★★★★): Admission Peak season ¥70; off-season ¥58; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shihua-water-cave
- **Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences Botanical Garden** (★★★★): Admission ¥26; Opening hours 7:30–17:00 (Monday to Friday)
7:30–18:00 (Saturday and Sunday); Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/re-zuo-liang-yuan-zhi-wu-yuan
- **Lingao Cape** (★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 4–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/lingao-cape
- **Bawangling** (★★★★): Admission ¥50; Time needed 0.5–3 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/bawangling
- **Qizi Bay** (★★★): Time needed 1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/qizi-bay
- **Wuzhishan (Five Finger Mountain)** (★★★★): Admission ¥50; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/wuzhishan-five-finger-mountain
- **Red Canyon Rafting** (★★★★): Admission ¥200; Time needed 2–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/red-canyon-rafting
- **Qixianling Scenic Area** (★★★★): Admission Peak season ¥50, off-season ¥42; combined admission and hot spring ticket ¥128; Opening hours 8：00—17：30 — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/qixianling-scenic-area
- **Baihualing Scenic Area** (★★★):  — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/baihualing-scenic-area
- **Limushan (Limu Mountain)** (★★★★): Opening hours 8：00—17：00; Time needed 4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/limushan-limu-mountain
- **Muse Tourist Resort Scenic Area** (★★★): Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/muse-tourist-resort-scenic-area

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Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 2572–2584. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.