# Wenchang travel guide (文昌) Hainan Province · South China, China · 5 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/hainan/wenchang ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Wenchang Confucius Temple → Tongguling → Moon Bay → Shitou Park → Dongjiao Coconut Grove ## The feel of the place - **Hometown of Overseas Chinese:** Wenchang 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. - **Land of Coconuts:** Wenchang is called the home of coconuts because it has so many of them. The saying 'Wenchang's coconuts make up half of Hainan' is one no one can dispute. In Wenchang, coconut palms sway and the scent of coconut fills the air. What you eat, what you drink and what you do here may well be linked to coconut palms or coconuts in some way, and even the souvenirs you take home are often made from coconut shell. ## The feel of the place ### Bamboo-Strip Lanterns Wenchang's bamboo-strip lanterns are famous across the province. Their distinctive feature is their design: 72 red 'xi' (喜, joy) characters of varying sizes and 36 'shou' (寿, longevity) characters can be seen on the lantern body. During the lantern-sending procession, a long oval lantern hangs beneath each lantern, with a small candle lit at its base. The light shining through brings the mountains, waters, flowers and figures painted on the lanterns to life. Each lantern is bright in colour, and the shadows they cast are enchanting. - tip: 'Bangxi' (Binding Opera) In some Wenchang villages, whenever there is a happy occasion, local farmers stage a 'bangxi' to celebrate. Whenever overseas Chinese return home, a 'bangxi' is also staged to thank fellow villagers. If no 'bangxi' is held during the Spring Festival, it is made up for at the Lantern Festival. Qiong opera has become an emotional touchstone for local farmers. Most of them don't care much about the content of the plays; what matters to them is this form of performance itself. ### Preparation & Information ### Language Wenchang dialect was once regarded as the standard for Hainanese. Locals still speak mainly Wenchang dialect. Older residents' Mandarin may be hard to understand, which can make communication a little tricky, but conversing with younger generations is no problem. ### Climate & Travel Season The climate is mild, with an annual average temperature of 23.9℃. May–June and August–October are the rainy seasons, and August–October is also the peak season for tropical storms and typhoons. Avoid typhoon season and you can enjoy Wenchang to the full. ## Getting there & around ### Getting There & Away Wenchang has convenient road and sea links, with nearly 200 major roads, and sea routes reach ports across China and Southeast Asia. The city centre is only 73 km from Haikou. There is a provincial express bus from Haikou to Wenchang (about ¥19), and high-speed EMUs on the East Ring Railway also run direct. ### By Air Haikou Meilan International Airport is only 36 km away. ### By Rail The Hainan East Ring Railway's high-speed line has a Wenchang station. The trip from Haikou to Wenchang takes just over 20 minutes. ### By Road The road network is well developed. The Haiwen Expressway runs for 56 km and links west and south to the Haiyu Eastern Line and the East Line Expressway. Every town in the city is now connected by road. The “Two Bridges and One Road” (the Qinglan Sea-Crossing Bridge, the Puqian Sea-Crossing Bridge and the Coastal Tourism Expressway) have greatly shortened the distance between Wenchang and Haikou. ### Water Transport Water transport is mainly handled by two major ports, Qinglan Port (清澜港) and Puqian Port (铺前港), which serve as the waterborne gateways to eastern Hainan. ### City Transport Tricycles are the main form of city transport, followed by buses. Bus routes and frequencies are limited. Taxis are available in the city, with a flag-fall fare of ¥8. - **Wenchang Bus Station (文昌汽车站)** — (275 Xinfeng Street, Wenchang City, 0898-63221392) ## Eat & drink ### Local Specialties - **Wenchang Chicken** — Wenchang chicken is one of Hainan’s four traditional classic dishes, renowned at home and abroad for its thin, crisp skin, tender meat and soft bones, and its excellence in colour, flavour and presentation. In Hainan, and especially in Wenchang, hosts always serve a plate of pale, fragrant Wenchang chicken at a banquet as a sign of generous hospitality. Wenchang City is famous for its chickens, and white-cut Wenchang chicken can be tasted throughout the city and its countryside. Because Wenchang chicken is so well known, many visitors to Hainan for sightseeing or holidays make a point of having a meal of it. - **Baoluo Rice Noodles** — These noodles are made from carefully selected quality rice and have a white, smooth, silky texture. Dry-mixed, they are served with dried beef, peanuts, sesame seeds, bamboo shoots, pickled vegetables, bean sprouts, sesame or peanut oil, and a little chilli or white pepper, making a fresh, tender and fragrant dish. In soup, they come with lean pork, pig liver, pork intestines, kidneys, spleen, bamboo shoots and pickled vegetables. The broth is delicious and rich without being greasy, even if you eat a big bowl. - **Zaopo Vinegar** — Also known as “women’s vinegar” or “March Eighth vinegar”, it is made by boiling the leftover distiller’s grains from brewing with a little chilli, garlic and oil. The most famous version comes from Puqian in Wenchang, and Haikou also has several outlets. Adding kelp strips, seaweed, rakkyo (荞头), beef offal, pork offal or seafood to it creates a sour, spicy and appetising dish that is very popular. - **Jinshan Beef Jerky** — Jinshan beef jerky is made from carefully chosen, plump beef and is known for its meticulous preparation. The meat is marinated in seasonings for a set period, simmered in a pot, sun-dried, then returned to the pot and baked over a fire. Jerky made this way is especially fragrant and savoury, and dipping it in a mix of vinegar and chilli gives it a different flavour. - **Wenchang Chicken Rice** — The preparation is meticulous. Quality rice is washed and drained, then stir-fried briefly in a hot wok with chicken fat and minced garlic, and finally cooked in chicken stock. The result is glossy, soft and smooth, fragrant and delicious, filling without being greasy, and it leaves a lingering savour on the palate. ## Shopping Wenchang City has more than ten tourist craft and souvenir factories. Their main products are coconut carvings, shell carvings and other items, in over 80 varieties. They are exported to more than ten countries and regions, including the United States and Canada. Coconut is Wenchang’s most famous local specialty. Here you can taste refreshing young coconut, and buy locally made coconut flakes, shreds, chunks, coconut sugar, coconut milk biscuits and a range of other coconut-flavoured foods. ## Where to stay Wenchang is not a large city, but it has a great many hotels, all concentrated in the city centre with convenient transport. In addition, the many family guesthouses scattered around the urban area are doing brisk business and have become an important place to stay in Wenchang. ## Things to see - **Tongguling** (★★★★): Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/tongguling - **Shitou Park** (★★★★): Opening hours Open all day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shitou-park - **Dongjiao Coconut Grove** (★★★★): Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dongjiao-coconut-grove - **Gaolong Bay** (★★★): Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/gaolong-bay - **Wenchang Confucius Temple** (★★★): Admission ¥15; Opening hours 8：00—17：30; Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/wenchang-confucius-temple --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 2506–2516. 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.