# Wanning travel guide (万宁) Hainan Province · South China, China · 10 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/hainan/wanning ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Dongshan Ridge → Shenzhou Peninsula → Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden - **Day 2:** Shimei Bay → Nanyan Bay → Riyue Bay ## Getting there & around ### Getting In and Out Wanning is a county-level city in southeastern Hainan Province, facing the South China Sea to the east. The Hainan East Ring High-Speed Railway has a Wanning station, but travel mainly relies on roads: the Hainan East Line Expressway and the Hai-Yu East Line Highway run through the city from northeast to southwest. ### Rail The Hainan East Ring High-Speed Railway has Wanning Station. The trip from Haikou to Wanning takes only about 1 hour. ### Road Wanning Bus Station is on Wanzhou Avenue, with buses to Haikou, Sanya, Wuzhishan, Wenchang and other destinations, in standard and express types. ### Waterways There are eight ports, large and small. The larger ones are Wanzhou Port and Wuchang Port, which are connected by shipping routes to ports along China's southeast coast. ### Getting Around the City Local transport in Wanning mainly includes “Sanjiaomao” (三脚猫), “Fengcai” (风采车), motorbike taxis (摩的) and minibuses. Sanjiaomao mainly run between villages and towns, with fares based on distance, at ¥0.5–3. Fengcai, also known as “bengbengche” (蹦蹦车), generally operate within Wanning's urban districts, with fares of ¥1–3 and around ¥10-plus for longer trips. Motorbike taxis usually charge ¥2–4, and fares can be negotiated with the driver on long journeys. Wanning also has many privately run minibuses, which are convenient and can be flagged down anywhere, with fares varying by distance. - **Wanning Bus Station** — (Wanzhou Avenue, Wanning City, 0898-62222256) ## Eat & drink When it comes to food, Wanning is truly Hainan's culinary capital, with distinctive snacks unmatched across the island. That Wanning claims two of the “Four Great Dishes of Hainan” tells you all you need to know. ### Signature Dining ### Eat Dongshan Goat at Dongshan Ridge Every mutton shop in Wanning hangs up a “Dongshan Goat” sign, but none of them sells genuine Dongshan goat. By comparison, the best place to eat goat in Wanning is Fulu Dongshan Goat at the foot of Dongshan Ridge. It isn't authentic Dongshan goat either, but its whole-goat dishes are good, including pan-fried goat liver, stir-fried goat tripe, goat skewers and braised goat belly. - **Dongshan Goat** — Dongshan goats are raised on Dongshan Ridge in Wanning. They have jet-black coats and plump flesh, producing rich broth with a fresh flavour and no gamey taste. Their deliciousness is said to come from the rare plants they graze on, such as partridge tea (鹧鸪茶), which grows on Dongshan Ridge. One of the Four Great Dishes of Hainan, Dongshan goat can be cooked in many ways, each with its own character, and dipping it in its distinctive sauces makes it a rare treat. - **Hele Crab** — One of the Four Great Dishes of Hainan, Hele crab comes from the waters around Hele Town in Wanning. Its roe-and-meat richness is rare among crab species. In particular, its golden, glossy roe, resembling salted duck egg yolk, is fragrant and irresistible. It is most commonly steamed and served with a dip of ginger, garlic and vinegar, letting the pure flavour shine. - **Gangbei Prawns and Houan Mullet** — Gangbei Xiaohai, on Wanning's east coast, covers a sea area of about 38 square kilometres and is a large natural fishing harbour. The famous Hele crab, Gangbei prawns and Houan mullet are all abundant here. Gangbei prawns and Houan mullet, together with Dongshan goat and Hele crab, are known as the “Four Great Dishes of Wanning”. - **Wanning Suanfen (Sour Rice Noodles)** — Lingshui is said to make the best sour rice noodles in Hainan, but don't underestimate Wanning's version. Unlike Lingshui's sweeter style, Wanning adds vinegar to its seasoning, making the noodles especially appetising. They are also a must-try late-night snack for locals. - **Jackfruit (Boluomi)** — Jackfruit is an evergreen tropical tree of the mulberry family. Its fruit ripens in June and July. It is enormous, weighing up to 40 kilograms, and is known as the “king of fruits”. The fruit grows directly on the trunk and contains countless golden pods of thick, soft, sweet flesh with a rich aroma. The seeds inside the pods can also be boiled and eaten. ## Nightlife Wanning's nightlife is not much different from other cities in Hainan. If you're in the mood, you can catch a show in Xinglong. If you prefer to avoid crowds and noise, take a stroll in People's Square, where the night views are quite pleasant. Watching coconut palms sway against the night sky under dazzling neon is a delight in itself. ## Shopping ### Recommended Specialties Dazhou Island bird's nest, Xinglong coffee, Houan mullet, Gangbei prawns, Dongshan goat, Hele crab and more. Wanning's Dongshan goat meat is tender with no gamey odour, and together with Hele crab from Hele Town, both are listed among the Four Great Dishes of Hainan. Dazhou Island's bird's nests and Xinglong's coffee are also treasures renowned at home and abroad. ## Where to stay Travellers seeking comfort can choose star-rated hotels or hot spring resorts. Most are built around attractions, with beautiful surroundings. One example is the HNA Resort Hotel at Kangleyuan in Xinglong, located midway along the Haikou–Sanya highway, where you can enjoy hot spring baths during your stay. Budget-conscious backpackers are best off staying in central Xinglong, which has many good-value guesthouses with fewer guests. Accommodation here is also a short distance from the bus stations in the main towns, and it is easy to reach nearby attractions by bus. - **HNA Resort Hotel (Kangleyuan Branch)** — The rooms have a distinctly Southeast Asian style. The highlights are the golf course, swimming pool, hot spring pools and open-air BBQ area, and some facilities are free to use once you check in. (Kangleyuan, Shimei Bay Xinglong Tourism Resort, 0898-62568888) ## Things to see - **Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden** (★★★): Admission ¥50; Opening hours 8：30—17：00; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/xinglong-tropical-botanical-garden - **Dongshanling Cultural Tourist Area** (★★★★): Admission ¥43; Time needed 3–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dongshanling-cultural-tourist-area - **Shimei Bay** (★★★★): Time needed 2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shimei-bay - **Qingshui Bay** (★★★★): Opening hours All day; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/qingshui-bay - **Jiajing Island** (★★★): Time needed 3–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/jiajing-island - **Shenzhou Peninsula** (★★★): Admission ¥45; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shenzhou-peninsula ## Day trips & beyond - **Nanwan Monkey Island** (★★★★): Admission ¥154; Opening hours 8：00—17：00; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/nanwan-monkey-island - **Daidai Island** (★★★★): Admission ¥96 (October–April); ¥80 (May–September); Opening hours 8：00—17：20; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/daidai-island - **Fenjiezhou Island Tourist Area** (★★★★): Admission ¥132 (admission + round-trip ferry); Opening hours 8:00–22:40; 8:30–18:00 (if there is no night session); Time needed 3–6 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/fenjiezhou-island-tourist-area - **Diaoluoshan** (★★★★): Admission ¥35; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/diaoluoshan --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 2527–2538. 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.