# Qionghai travel guide (琼海) Hainan Province · South China, China · 5 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/hainan/qionghai ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Wanquan River → Boao Oriental Culture Garden → Boao Forum for Asia Permanent Venue Scenic Area → Baishi Ridge ## The feel of the place - **Red Detachment of Women:** The 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. - **Liveability:** Locals in Hainan have a saying: “Eat in Haikou, play in Sanya, live in Qionghai”, which shows just how liveable Qionghai is. Blessed with natural beauty centred on the Wanquan River, and with development opportunities brought by the Boao Forum for Asia, its environment and economy are advancing side by side. Many elderly people from the northeast are said to choose Qionghai for their retirement. ## The feel of the place ### Qionghai “Liu” Hainan people refer to Qionghai people as “Qionghai Liu” (phonetic). This is because Qionghai people have an accent that adds “liu” to the end of their sentences. For example, when greeting someone they might say: “Going there, liu? Had your meal, liu?…” - tip: Jiaji Qionghai City administers Jiaji, Boao, Wanquan and other towns. The famous Hainan Jiaji duck comes from Jiaji Town. - tip: Qionghai’s “Ghost Festival” The “Ghost Festival”, also called “Qiyue Ban” (Mid-Seventh Month), is observed by overseas Chinese families, who set out food and burn five-colour paper to honour their ancestors. They also grind glutinous rice, polished rice or dried sweet potato slices into a paste to make “anba” cakes wrapped in leaves. When eating them, people peel off the leaves, a custom known colloquially as “peeling off the ghost skin”, symbolising a wish for peace and good fortune. ### Preparation and Information ### Language As elsewhere in Hainan Province, Mandarin is widely understood, though locals speak it with a Hainan accent. ### Climate and Travel Season The average annual temperature is 24℃, and there is no frost or snow all year round. July is the hottest month in Qionghai, January the coldest, and summer (July to October) is often hit by typhoons. Avoid the typhoon season when planning a trip to Qionghai. ## Getting there & around ### Getting In and Out The Haiyu Eastern Line (National Highway 223) and the East Line Expressway run north to south through Qionghai, two provincial highways cross the city, and the expressway has four entrances within the city. The local road network is dense and well connected. The Hainan East Ring High-Speed Railway has stations in both Qionghai and Boao. ### Air Boao Airport is located in Zhongyuan Town, Qionghai, 12 km from the city centre and 15 km from the Boao Forum for Asia venue. ### Rail The Hainan East Ring High-Speed Railway has stations in both Qionghai and Boao. The trip from Haikou to Qionghai takes just over 40 minutes, which is very convenient. ### Road Transport The East Line Expressway runs through Qionghai and, together with the town roads, forms a network reaching neighbouring cities and counties. Qionghai Bus Station (琼海汽车站) on Dongfeng Road in Jiaji Town is the mainstay of long-distance coach services in Qionghai, with fixed daily routes to Wenchang and other cities in the province. The Qionghai–Wenchang service runs every half hour. ### Water Transport There are four ports: Longwan, Tanmen, Boao and Qingge. Longwan Port is the only natural deep-water harbour on the eastern part of Hainan Island. It neighbours the Boao Forum for Asia venue and is just 55 nautical miles from the main Eurasian international shipping route. Tanmen Central Fishing Port has been designated a national key fishing port. ### City Transport Qionghai’s city transport mainly consists of buses, taxis and minibuses. Bus routes cover most of the urban area and its surroundings. Taxis have a flag-fall fare of ¥5, with waiting time, night-time surcharges and other fees charged separately. Bengbeng cars (also called caifeng cars, or “wind-gathering cars”) are another important means of transport. They are much cheaper than buses and taxis, but safety should be kept in mind. ### Dragon Boat Races Along the banks of the Wanquan River and the Jiuqu River in Qionghai, there is a traditional folk sport with a long history and many participants: dragon boat racing on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the Dragon Boat Festival. The Duanyang dragon boat races in Jiaji and Boao towns are especially lively. ### Haikou–Qionghai From Haikou East Station (海口东站), trains depart between 6:40 and 21:35, with more than 30 services a day. Second-class seats cost ¥48. ### Transport to Boao Boao sits at the mouth of the Wanquan River, some distance from Qionghai City. To reach the Boao river mouth from Qionghai City, take a bus from Qionghai Bus Station (琼海汽车站). Buses run every 10 minutes, including regular buses and dedicated tourist coaches, with fares of about ¥3.5 per person. The intercity train takes 7 minutes and costs ¥9. ### Expressway Exits Boao connects to the Eastern Expressway through three exits: Huanhai Exit (Sun City), Zhongyuan Exit (Dongyu Island) andRonggun Exit (Yudai Beach). - tip: 1. Free entry: Visitors generally pay no admission to explore the Wanquan River on their own at the Wanquan River Pier. 2. Photo boats: Boats offering photo rides are everywhere at the pier, charging ¥2–3 per photo taken. ## Eat & drink Qionghai's overseas-Chinese hometown is rich in local produce, and its best specialties are goose, duck and fish. Qionghai's four signature dishes are also built mainly on these ingredients: white-cut Jiaji Duck, white-cut Wenquan Goose, clear-simmered Wanquan Carp and Tanmen Fish are all well-known delicacies. Qionghai also has medicinal food remedies and folk prescriptions. Jiteng Bazai is a distinctive local snack, and pepper pork stomach stew is a much-loved local dish. The latter is made with Qionghai's own pepper corns and pork stomach. - **Jiaji Duck** — Qionghai Jiaji duck has been raised for over 150 years, traditionally in cages and hand-fed. The result is thin skin, tender meat, crisp bones and a rich aroma, which has made it a local favourite and one of Hainan's Four Great Dishes. - **Wenquan Goose** — Wenquan goose is a local crossbred goose raised by farming households along the Wanquan River. It feeds on wild grasses and, during the fattening stage, is kept in cages and hand-fed with bran and other coarse feed. It is nutritious, rich without being greasy, and mellow and tasty. Goose blood is high in protein and trace minerals such as iron, calcium and copper. It is mainly eaten white-cut. - **Wanquan Carp** — Wanquan carp is nutritious, usually weighing 1–2 kg, with the largest reaching 10–15 kg. In autumn, the carp build up fat for winter, which is when they are at their most delicious. There are many ways to cook them; the most common are sweet-and-sour carp, steamed carp and ginger-braised carp. In Jiaji Town, on the Wanquan River, locals typically eat it as fish slices in a bian lu hotpot (打边炉). - **Jishiteng Soup** — A folk tonic with strong local character, made from jishiteng vine leaves and rice. Jishiteng is said to nourish yin, strengthen yang and replenish qi and blood, and its aroma is mellow, so this soup has long been a favourite. On the first day of the seventh lunar month in particular, every household in Qionghai eats jishiteng soup. - **Sea Stories** — A very popular restaurant, decorated around the theme of fishing-village life with a rustic, natural feel. The menu focuses on seafood. (Behind Boao Yudai Grand Hotel, Haibin Street, 0898-62708909) - **Tanmen Port Seafood Stalls** — A very good-value seafood spot. The surroundings are a little basic, but the seafood is very fresh and still lively. (Aihua East Road, Jiaji Town, 0898-62928678) ## Shopping Qionghai's produce is abundant. Jiaji duck, with its meaty flesh and thin skin, flavourful Wanquan carp, rich Wenquan goose and agar (琼脂) are all renowned local specialties. Qionghai's skilled craftspeople make handicrafts that are even more astonishing: the elegant Canggu bamboo ware, the comfortable and durable Nanhan grass mats, and the finely crafted Eight Immortals tables, all of which showcase the simplicity and meticulousness of local people. Qionghai's tourist shopping is concentrated along Yinhai Road and near scenic spots, such as the Boao Commercial Centre Plaza near the Boao Asia Forum International Conference Center and the Boao Scenic Area Shopping Centre. Both are good places to shop with confidence. ### Local Shopping Spots ### Recommended Specialties ### Coffee Powder Qionghai produces plenty of coffee, and locals sell it the way they sell rice, with coffee powder piled up and sold by the jin. Visitors buying specialties may want to take some coffee powder home. - **Jiaji Old Street** — The old market street is divided into north and south gates. Walking north from the south gate, you'll first pass mostly clothing shops, then food stalls. The street slopes downhill, and all the way down you'll find snack vendors, where many local specialty snacks can be found. - **Tanmen Central Fishing Port** — Wherever you go in Hainan, buying seafood at a market and having it cooked has become an essential visitor activity. Tanmen Central Fishing Port is known as the “Thousand-Year Fishing Port, Gateway to the South China Sea”. Many fishermen land their catch here daily, and prices are low. Be sure to bargain hard and compare prices. - **Nanhan Grass Mats** — A traditional handicraft from a village in Panshui Town, Qionghai, renowned for its elegant design, cooling comfort and sturdiness. - **Canggu Bamboo Ware** — Cangu is a village in Wenquan Town, Qionghai, famous for its finely crafted, attractive and durable hand-woven bamboo ware. The range includes items for many uses, such as sieves for grain and rice and tools for washing rice. - **Lidu Ceramics** — Produces ceramic goods for rural production and daily life, including “foot basins” for storing various items, pottery for cooking rice and soup, and plates, bowls and spoons. - **Jiuqu and Wenshi Pepper Seeds** — Compared with other places, the soil in the towns around Jiuqu and Wenshi is better suited to growing pepper, so pepper cultivation became the main side income of these towns. ## Where to stay Most visitors to Qionghai stay around Boao. The hosting of the Boao Asia Forum made Boao stand out from the many beautiful but little-known small towns in Hainan, and its accommodation has kept pace. There are many family guesthouses at modest prices. Those who like to indulge can stay in hotels, and there are quite a few four- and five-star options here, since Boao once hosted the Asia Forum. In short, whatever kind of lodging you choose in Boao, from guesthouse to hotel, you are likely to feel you're getting good value. - **Boao Asia Forum Grand Hotel** — The hotel has more than 20 hot springs, reportedly including the Wanghai Spring, the hot spring closest to the sea. Compared with other hot springs, the scenery is much better. It also offers mineral sand baths, which are rare in China. Ideal for a getaway, though prices are not cheap. (No. 1 Yuanyang Avenue, Dongyu Island, Boao, 0898-62966888) ## Things to see - **Boao Forum for Asia Permanent Venue Scenic Area** (★★★★★): Admission Admission ¥49; combined ticket ¥139 (covers all scenic areas, sightseeing bus and yacht); Opening hours 8：00—17：30; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/boao-forum-for-asia-permanent-venue-scenic-area - **Wanquan River** (★★★★): Admission Thrill Rafting ¥158; Canyon Adventure ¥238; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/wanquan-river - **Changying Global 100 Theme Park** (★★★★): Opening hours 11:00–17:00 (Wednesday to Friday); 11:00–18:00 (weekends and public holidays); closed on Mondays and Tuesdays; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/changying-global-100-theme-park - **Boao Oriental Culture Garden** (★★★): Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/boao-oriental-culture-garden - **Yudai Beach** (★★★★): Admission Free admission to the scenic area; round-trip boat ticket ¥70; Opening hours 9：00—16：00; Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yudai-beach --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 2516–2527. 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.