South · DESTINATION GUIDE

Hainan 海南

Hainan is an island province whose coastal lowlands surround a higher, forested interior. Haikou, the capital on the northern coast, offers an urban introduction through trading streets and everyday food. Wenchang and the east-coast towns add different maritime and culinary settings, while Sanya supports a more settled beach stay. Decide whether the holiday centres on a particular bay or on several island communities. Two or three carefully chosen bases can reveal substantial variety without turning a short visit into a continuous circuit of the coastline.

Location of Hainan in China

About Hainan

Hainan at a glance

Population
10,550,000Year-end resident population, entire provincial-level administrative area · 2025Source ↗
Income per person
36,306Mean annual disposable income per person, all residents · 2025 · CNYSource ↗
Languages & dialects
Mandarin; Hainanese (海南话), Li/Hlai (黎语) and other local speech traditions.Source ↗
Geography
Hainan Island has lower coastal areas around a mountainous central interior; it lies south of the Qiongzhou Strait.Source ↗
Elevation
Coastal lowlands rise to Wuzhishan, about 1,867 m.This describes Hainan Island's terrain, not an average for the province's land and maritime jurisdiction.Source ↗
Main gateway
HaikouProvince
Yalong Bay · 亚龙湾
Yalong Bay · Hainan · The original uploader was TIY at Chinese Wikipedia . · CC BY-SA 3.0

Discover Hainan

Begin with northern streets and coastal-town food

Haikou's Qilou Old Street introduces arcaded shopfronts and a history of commercial and overseas connections. In the broader northeast, Wenchang offers another setting through Puqian's streets, sour zaopucu soup and coconut-growing coastal landscapes. A local noodle breakfast and a simple chicken meal give these visits a rhythm beyond formal sightseeing. Look above the shop signs and allow time to walk, rather than treating the northern towns only as stops before a southern resort.

Choose a particular east-coast or beach base

Qionghai links Jiaji's food traditions with the maritime museum and fishing-town setting of Tanmen. Wanning combines Riyue Bay's surfing identity with coffee culture in Xinglong, but these are distinct local areas. Sanya then offers a different kind of stay centred on the bay you select. A railway station named for the wider city may still be some distance from the beach or village, so match the arrival point and final transfer to the actual accommodation.

Add forest or western history if it fits

Jianfengling's rainforest in the Ledong area and Danzhou's Dongpo Academy introduce environments and histories that a coast-only route leaves out. They are separate western choices, not a single extension beside Sanya. Select one if it supports your interests, and keep outdoor plans flexible for local conditions. Haikou and Sanya are major gateways, while coastal rail corridors help connect towns; the remaining road journey still needs attention before an ambitious sequence of stops.

Explore Hainan

Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.

Hainan local specialties

海南特色美食 · 151 specialties to discover

Photograph of Wenchang chicken (文昌鸡).Wenchang chicken 文昌鸡

The meat is firm yet tender, with supple skin and a clear chicken taste. The method emphasizes the bird's texture more than a heavy sauce.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: Anna Frodesiak · Public domain
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Zaopucu · 糟粕醋 · AI dish illustrationZaopucu 糟粕醋AI dish illustration · AI 菜品示意图

The broth is sharply sour, lightly spicy and savory, with seafood sweetness balancing the fermented aroma.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
A cold platter including Jiaji duck at the upper left, roast goose, jellyfish, cucumber and other sliced meat.Jiaji duck 嘉积鸭

The flesh is firm and savory, with a supple skin and richness that varies by cut. The dip can contribute citrus sharpness and aromatic heat.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: drs2biz · CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo adjustments

Resized proportionally to a maximum 640 px long edge, EXIF orientation applied where present, and encoded as WebP. No crop or subject alteration.

Dongshan goat · 东山羊 · AI dish illustrationDongshan goat 东山羊AI dish illustration · AI 菜品示意图

Expect a distinct goat flavor, savory richness and sometimes a gelatinous edge. A dry-pot version is more concentrated than a soup.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photograph of Lingshui sour noodles (陵水酸粉).Lingshui sour noodles 陵水酸粉

The noodles are soft and slippery, with a tangy, savory coating and crunchy or chewy accents from the toppings.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Photograph of Qingbuliang (清补凉).Qingbuliang 清补凉

The drinkable base is sweet and cooling, while the toppings provide soft, chewy and crisp contrasts. Coconut-rich versions are more creamy than clear ones.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Xinglong coffee · 兴隆咖啡 · AI dish illustrationXinglong coffee 兴隆咖啡AI dish illustration · AI 菜品示意图

Roast level controls bitterness, toasted aroma and body. A sweetened local cup can taste quite different from a plain black coffee.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Hainan rice noodles · 海南粉 · AI dish illustrationHainan rice noodles 海南粉AI illustration · AI 示意图

The dressed noodles are soft and lightly chewy, with salty-sour pickles and crunchy peanuts providing contrast to the moist base.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
All dish names · 全部菜名 (151)

Top sights in Hainan

Trip.Best · Best Things to DoChecked 2026-09-20

  1. Wuzhizhou Island · 蜈支洲岛TOP1

    Wuzhizhou Island 蜈支洲岛

    Show on map
    三亚

    4.6 / 5 · Trip.com

    Wuzhizhou is an offshore island reached by passenger boat from Haitang Bay. Its visitor experience combines a developed marine-recreation area with rocky viewpoints. Guanri Rock, also called Sunrise Rock, stands on the…

    View guide →
  2. Atlantis Sanya · 三亚亚特兰蒂斯TOP2

    Atlantis Sanya 三亚亚特兰蒂斯

    Show on map
    三亚

    4.7 / 5 · Trip.com

    Atlantis Sanya is a large ocean-themed resort in Haitang Bay, with a water park, the Lost Chambers Aquarium, restaurants and hotel facilities. It is useful to choose the experience first: a water-park day and an aquarium visit…

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  3. West Island · 西岛TOP3

    West Island 西岛

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    三亚

    4.6 / 5 · Trip.com

    West Island lies offshore from Sanya Bay and combines a visitor recreation area with a traditional fishing village. Some older village houses use coral stone, creating a built texture quite different from Sanya’s mainland resort…

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  4. Sanya Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone · 南山文化旅游区TOP4

    Nanshan Cultural Tourism Area 南山文化旅游区

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    崖州区

    4.7 / 5 · Trip.com

    Nanshan Cultural Tourism Area lies on the coast west of Sanya in Yazhou District.

    View guide →
  5. Boundary Island · 分界洲岛TOP5

    Boundary Island 分界洲岛

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    陵水

    4.5 / 5 · Trip.com

    Boundary Island lies just offshore near the meeting of Wanning and Lingshui. A ferry crossing leads to a compact island of rocky coast, sea viewpoints and developed marine recreation. The land-based paths offer a worthwhile…

    View guide →
  6. Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park · 亚龙湾热带天堂森林公园TOP6

    Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park 亚龙湾热带天堂森林公园

    Show on map
    三亚

    4.6 / 5 · Trip.com

    Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park combines hillside tropical planting with elevated visitor structures above the bay. The orchid garden offers a close view of cultivated flowers, while the rope-chain bridge and glass…

    View guide →
  7. Tianya Haijiao · 天涯海角TOP7

    Tianya Haijiao 天涯海角

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    三亚

    4.5 / 5 · Trip.com

    Tianya Haijiao turns a stretch of granite-strewn coast into one of Sanya’s best-known cultural landscapes. The inscribed Tianya and Haijiao rocks carry the poetic idea of the far edge of the world, while other carvings add…

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  8. Luhuitou Scenic Area · 鹿回头风景区TOP8

    Luhuitou 鹿回头

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    三亚市

    4.7 / 5 · Trip.com

    Luhuitou is a wooded hill above central Sanya, with viewpoints that make the city’s bays and river mouth easier to understand. Its name, often translated as “deer turning its head”, comes from a Li love legend represented by the…

    View guide →
  9. Sanya Songcheng Show · 三亚千古情TOP9

    Sanya Songcheng Show 三亚千古情

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    三亚

    4.6 / 5 · Trip.com

    Sanya Romance Park is centred on the staged production Romantic Show of Sanya.

    View guide →
  10. Leiqiong Global Geopark · 雷琼海口火山群世界地质公园TOP10

    Leiqiong Global Geopark 雷琼海口火山群世界地质公园

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    海口

    4.6 / 5 · Trip.com

    The Shishan volcanic landscape shows a different side of Haikou: dark lava rock, crater slopes and villages built from the same porous stone.

    View guide →
View more on Trip.com →

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Ranking source & photo credits

The first ten entries of Trip.Best Best Things to Do. Rankings reflect platform recommendations, not counts of international visitors. Read on 20 September 2026; platform pages may use cached snapshots.

  • Wuzhizhou Island: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Atlantis Sanya: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • West Island: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Nanshan Cultural Tourism Area: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Boundary Island: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Tianya Haijiao: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Luhuitou: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Sanya Songcheng Show: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Leiqiong Global Geopark: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.

Our place guide directory →

EXPLORE THE NEXT LEVEL

Cities, counties & districts in Hainan

19 areas belong directly to Hainan.

19 areas

Prefecture-level city

Haikou 海口市

Haikou is the capital and most populous city of the Chinese province of Hainan. Haikou city is situated on the northern coast of Hainan, by the mouth of the Nandu River.

4 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Sanya 三亚市

Sanya is a resort city and the southernmost city on Hainan Island, and one of the four prefecture-level cities of Hainan Province in South China.

4 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Sansha 三沙市

Sansha City is a prefecture-level city under the Hainan province of China. It is the southernmost and least populated prefecture in China by far, with the smallest land area but the largest maritime territory.

2 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Danzhou 儋州市

Danzhou is a prefecture-level city in the northwest of the Chinese island province of Hainan. The administrative seat and urban center of Danzhou is Nada Town.

Explore the area →
View all 19 areasShow fewer areas
County-level city

Wuzhishan 五指山市

Wuzhishan (literally, five-point mountain) is a county-level city in the highlands of Hainan Island, China. Although called a "city", Wuzhishan refers to a large land area in Hainan – an area which was once a…

Explore the area →County-level city

Qionghai 琼海市

Qionghai, also called Keng Hai, is a county-level city in Hainan, China. It is located in the east of Hainan Island.

Explore the area →County-level city

Wenchang 文昌市

Wenchang is a county-level city in the northeast of Hainan Island in China. Covering an area of 2,403 square kilometres (928 sq mi), the city has a coastline of 207 kilometres (129 mi), and is divided into 17…

Explore the area →County-level city

Wanning 万宁市

Wanning, or in local Hainamese dialect as Van Neing or Ban Neing, is a county-level city in the southeast of Hainan Province, China.

Explore the area →County-level city

Dongfang 东方市

Dongfang (simplified Chinese: 东方; traditional Chinese: 東方; pinyin: Dōngfāng; lit. 'the East') is one of the five county-level cities of Hainan province, China.

Explore the area →County

Ding'an County 定安县

Ding'an is an administrative district in Hainan, People's Republic of China. It is one of 4 counties of Hainan. In 1999, its population was 304,522 people.

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Tunchang County 屯昌县

Tunchang County is a county in the Hainan Province of People's Republic of China. Covering approximately 1,240 km² (480 sq mi), it is centrally located within the Hainan province and bridges the province’s…

Explore the area →County

Chengmai County 澄迈县

Chengmai County is a county in Hainan, China. It is one of four counties of Hainan. Its postal code is 571900. In 2002, its population was 490,800.

Explore the area →County

Lingao County 临高县

Lingao County (formerly romanised as Limko or Limkao) is an administrative district in Hainan province, China. It is one of the 4 counties of Hainan.

Explore the area →Autonomous county

Baisha Li Autonomous County 白沙黎族自治县

Baisha Li Autonomous County is one of 6 autonomous counties of Hainan, China. In 1999, its population was 176,377 people, largely made up of the Li people.

Explore the area →Autonomous county

Changjiang Li Autonomous County 昌江黎族自治县

Changjiang Li Autonomous County (formerly known by its Cantonese romanization name Cheongkong) is an autonomous county in Hainan, China. It is one of the six counties of Hainan.

Explore the area →Autonomous county

Ledong Li Autonomous County 乐东黎族自治县

Ledong Li Autonomous County (simplified Chinese: 乐东黎族自治县; traditional Chinese: 樂東黎族自治縣; pinyin: Lèdōng Lízú Zìzhìxiàn; postal: Loktung; Hlai language: Lokdhongx) is a Hlai autonomous county in Hainan…

Explore the area →Autonomous county

Lingshui Li Autonomous County 陵水黎族自治县

Lingshui Li Autonomous County is an autonomous county in Hainan, China. It is one of the six autonomous counties of Hainan with a postal code of 572400, and in 1999 a population of 318,691, largely made up of…

Explore the area →Autonomous county

Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County 保亭黎族苗族自治县

Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County is an autonomous county in Hainan, China. One of the six autonomous counties on the island, its postal code is 572300.

Explore the area →Autonomous county

Qiongzhong Li and Miao Autonomous County 琼中黎族苗族自治县

Qiongzhong Li and Miao Autonomous County is an autonomous county in Hainan, China. It is one of 6 autonomous counties of the upper highlands of Hainan.

Explore the area →

Arrive, stay & get around Hainan

交通枢纽、住宿与天气

YOUR ARRIVAL GATEWAY

Haikou海口

This Hainan entry uses Haikou as its selected gateway city. It does not describe transport coverage across the entire region.

Airports

Railway stations

Metro & city transport

Coaches, ferries & onward travel

Transport reference review: 2026-09-06. Consult the operator for current services and timetables.

More about getting around

Haikou and Sanya are the principal air gateways. Eastern and western passenger rail corridors help link coastal towns, but stations do not necessarily sit beside beaches. Match the station to your actual bay or village, and arrange the last road transfer in advance.

Stay in Hainan

Sanya's bays offer different balances of resort seclusion and access to restaurants; inspect the surrounding map as carefully as the room photographs. Central Haikou suits street exploration. For rainforest visits, confirm whether your accommodation provides access to the specific area you intend to visit.

Find hotels on Trip.com →

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Haikou weather

The current-hour forecast loads when this section is visible. It uses MET Norway model data for the named city, not station observations.

Seasons & when to go

This is a tropical island, but conditions differ between the north, south and mountains. Hot, wet weather and tropical storms can affect summer and autumn plans; northern winter days may feel cooler than expected. Check local conditions before committing to water activities.

Local life & communication

Hainan's local character lies in ordinary island routines as much as resorts: noodle breakfasts, sour seafood soup, coffee with snacks, port-town arcades and mountain communities.

Haikou's arcade streets and the maritime museum in Tanmen offer ways into the island's coastal history. Li textile traditions include spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidery. For a craft visit, look for interpretation that identifies the community and technique, and check whether a demonstration is scheduled.

Language & communication

Mandarin is the most useful shared language for travel. Hainanese and Li community languages form part of the island's linguistic variety. Resort staff may offer English support, but keep inland destinations written in Chinese and confirm arrangements before leaving a major town.

Useful local tips

  • Choose a coast or regional cluster before arranging hotels. Haikou, Wenchang, Wanning and Sanya are separate bases, not interchangeable neighborhood names.
  • Include a Haikou food morning for laobacha or noodles and a separate dessert stop. A visitor's meal diary supports leaving time for city eating before continuing to Wanning's coffee and beaches.
  • Zaopucu and Lingshui sour noodles can contain seafood, nuts or other mixed toppings. Ask what is in your particular bowl.
  • Rainforest visits depend on the current authorized route. A national-park description does not mean every forest road, peak or wildlife habitat is open to visitors.
  • Build flexibility around sea and weather conditions. A surf-bay listing is not confirmation that a given session or beach is suitable for swimming that day.

Written by China Revealed · Editorially updated 2026-09-07

Sources & useful links