Elsewhere in the country: Level 1 (exercise caution) — some regions: Special advisory: Tibet, Xinjiang Uyghur AR / L1: rest of the country
checked 2026-10-01 · Details ↗ This is the Korean government’s advisory — also check your own government’s travel advice.
The capital of Hainan Province on the north of Hainan Island, nicknamed 'Coconut City' for its mix of sea and palm trees. Explore the Nanyang-style arcades of Qilou Old Street and historic sites like the Five Officials Temple, then head out to a volcanic-crater geopark and mangrove forests. It is also the starting point of the island's high-speed railway, a handy base for traveling on to Sanya and beyond.
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Check prices →November to April is the dry season, best for walking and sightseeing. May to October is the rainy season, bringing about 80% of the year's rain, and midsummer is very hot. Typhoons are most frequent in August-September, so check the forecast then. Spring Festival and National Day week (around October 1) are very crowded.
Buy tickets and board outside Gate 4 of the T1 arrivals hall at Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK), or at Gate 3 on T2's ground-floor arrivals. Several routes run into the city, including one to the west bus terminal, and you can also buy tickets by scanning a QR code with WeChat. Routes and times can change, so check the airport's official information.
Meilan Station (the airport's own rail station) reaches Haikou East in about 9 minutes. From the same station, the eastern ring high-speed line runs via Wenchang and Boao to Sanya. Buy tickets on 12306 (China Railway's official booking) with your passport.
The airport has a taxi rank and a ride-hailing pickup area. Haikou taxis are metered (check official information for fares). Handy with heavy luggage or late arrivals.
The basic way around town. Fares run from about 1 CNY up to about 5-6 CNY depending on route and distance, and you can pay with mobile payment such as Alipay.
An urban rail line linking Haikou, Haikou East, Meilan, Changliu, Xiuying, Chengxi and other stations. You can tap in with the Alipay '12306' ride code after identity verification; as a foreigner, also be ready to buy tickets on 12306 with your passport.
Taxis are metered (check official information for fares). Ride-hailing apps are widely used and charge Alipay or WeChat Pay.
High-speed trains run from Haikou East down the island's east coast to Sanya. Times vary by train, but some take about 1 hour 46 minutes from Haikou East to Sanya. Book on 12306 with your passport.
Good for: First visit, history walks, street food
The old center of Nanyang-style arcade buildings, full of snack and craft shops and within walking distance of the Haikou Bay promenade.
Good for: Seaside walks, night views
Both riverbanks have been turned into coastal parks with views of the Clock Tower and Century Bridge. At night the lights come on and night markets and restaurants get lively.
Good for: Beach time, sunsets
Beaches and parks stretch along the city's western shore. It's away from the center, so use taxis or buses.
Good for: High-speed rail, island trips
Convenient for high-speed trains toward Sanya and the city train — handy if you are traveling around the island.
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Nearly 600 arcade buildings blending Chinese, Western and Nanyang styles, built in the 1920s-30s by Hainanese returning from Southeast Asia. Named a 'Famous Historical and Cultural Street of China' in 2009, its covered walkways shelter you from sun and rain.
A shrine built in 1889 to honor five Tang and Song dynasty officials exiled to Hainan: Li Deyu, Li Gang, Zhao Ding, Li Guang and Hu Quan. It also includes a shrine to the poet Su Dongpo and is a nationally protected heritage site. Check official information for hours and fees.
The provincial museum of Hainan's history and culture, with free admission. Book online with your real name; open Tuesday-Sunday 9:00-17:00 (last entry 16:30) and closed Mondays except public holidays.
Since 2019, both banks of the Haidian River have become coastal parks linking Qilou Old Street, the Clock Tower, Century Bridge and a sea-view park. Lovely from sunset into the evening lights.
Haikou's most popular public beach, with beach volleyball and other seaside activities and great sunsets. Admission is free; check official information for opening hours.
Part of the Leiqiong UNESCO Global Geopark, with 40 volcanoes across about 108 sq km. Walk the paths around the Ma'an crater to see lava landscapes and tropical forest, and visit the volcano science museum. Check official information for fees.
A national nature reserve on a bird migration route, where you can cruise through the mangrove forest or walk the boardwalk to watch birds — even rare black-faced spoonbills visit. Check official information for fees and boat times.
Rice noodles tossed with sauce, fried peanuts, beef jerky and pickled bamboo shoots — Haikou's favorite breakfast.
A chilled coconut-milk dessert loaded with fruit, beans, taro and more. A must on a hot day.
A bitter, cooling herbal tea that locals drink to beat the heat.
Sweet, fragrant coconut sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves — find them at old-town snack shops.
Evening street food like grilled oysters and squid, skewers and sour mango sticks dusted with chili salt. Choose stalls with marked prices.
Amounts are rough figures in local currency. Check exchange rates before you go.
Airport to the city, an afternoon on Qilou Old Street with street snacks, then Century Bridge lit up from the Haikou Bay promenade at dusk.
Five Officials Temple in the morning, Hainan Museum in the afternoon (book online; closed Mondays), then night-market grills and qingbuliang.
The Ma'an crater at the volcanic geopark in the morning, then the Dongzhai Port mangroves or sunset at Holiday Beach.
Rice noodles for breakfast, then the airport — or the high-speed train from Haikou East to continue around the island to Sanya.
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