Haikou Travel Guide
Haikou, known also as the 'Coconut City', is the capital of Hainan Province, China's second largest island. The city is the provincial administrative center of Hainan as well being the focus of the local economy, culture and transportation. Haikou stands at the northern end of Hainan Island, on the west bank of the Nandu River estuary. This river is the longest on the island and the city's name appropriately means 'Mouth of the Sea'.
With the sea on three sides Haikou enjoys a long coastline that features excellent bathing beaches and sea side resorts. Holiday Beach is the most popular of these, while Xixiu Beach is where the National sailing and windsurfing teams train and hold competitions.
The downtown area of the city has an excellent environment with streets lined with coconut palms. Here there are modern and convenient public transport facilities and all that is best in a tropical seaside city that is pollution free and that meets the needs of the tourist in a friendly and welcoming way.
Although most travelers head straight for the beach resorts near Sanya, the old 'Coconut Capital' has a few things worth checking out as well.
The city is located on the southern bank of the Qiongzhou Strait, facing the mainland's Leizhou Peninsula. Built on a mound of the coast, it is the biggest city in Hainan Province.
Haikou's industries include tropical crops processing, electronics and textiles as the mainstays of its light industry. It is a foreign trade and sea port city with advanced communications and a complete range of service equipment. The city has beautiful scenery, a pleasant climate and luxuriant vegetation.Haikou is an ancient city. Tourist sites include:
*Wugong Temple commemorating five officials banished to Hainan in the Tang and Song dynasties (i) built in the 1890s, when China's territorial integrity was under threat (ii) four of the five officials were exiled for advocating recapturing lands from northern barbarians. Now put 2 and 2 together! Nobody will tell you this, but this is a very political shrine!
*The admirable Qiongtai Academy of Classical Learning
*Hairui Tomb
*Qiujun Tomb
*Xiuyang Fort Babette (gun installations from the late 19th century)
*The old quarter of the city. With narrow streets and somewhat decaying colonial architecture, this area has atmosphere.