China

Haikou

Tropical island capital where old streets meet palm-lined bays.

Local time
UTC+8
Population
2.9M
Safety

Cost of a day

$$$$$
Affordable
  • Food$$$$$About $14 a day: light breakfast, cheap lunch, mid-range dinner
  • Stay$$$$$3-star hotel about $54 a night for two
  • Transport$$$$$About $3.6 a day: 4 public transit rides

Exchange rate

🇨🇳 CNY =
Rates from 2026-10-23, refreshed monthly.

Getting in

HAKHaikou Meilan International AirportMain hub, about 16 km southeast of the centre.
HowCostTime
Commuter trainHaikou East Railway Station / city¥2-1015-25 min
Cheapest and fastest; check timetable.
Airport shuttle busHaixiu Avenue downtown¥1530-40 min
Goes to the old Civil Aviation Hotel area.
City busVarious city stops¥2-545-60 min
Ask staff which route suits your hotel.
TaxiCity centre¥50-6030-40 min
Use licensed taxis outside the terminal and insist on the meter.
Ride app (DiDi)City centre¥45-6530-40 min
Pick a marked pickup point.

Estimates, checked October 2026. Wikivoyage: Haikou

Getting around

Ride-hailing or metered taxis for most trips; buses are cheap but slow.

  • MetroNo metro in the city. Don't plan around rail inside Haikou.
  • TrainCommuter trains on the Hainan high-speed line link the airport and main stations.
  • BusCity buses are cheap and cover most routes; fares are a few yuan.
  • Taxi / ride apps ★Taxis meter from about ¥10; insist on the meter (dabiao). DiDi and Amap work well; Uber does not operate.
  • Bikes / scootersBikes and electric scooters are easy to rent; riverside paths are good.
  • FerryFerries cross to Xuwen and Beihai from New Port and Xiuying Port.
  • Rental carNot needed for a city visit; use taxis, buses and trains instead.
  • WalkingGood around Bo'ai Old Street and the waterfront in the cooler months; use rides in summer heat.
Recommended stay★ 1 night (2 days)

One night suits you: Qilou Old Street, the Hainan Museum and one temple fill a day, and beach afternoons do not need a second night.

Best for
  • CultureArcaded old streets, temples and the Hainan Museum.
  • FoodCoconut, seafood and street stalls from morning to late.
  • BeachWest Coast sands, sunsets and easy swims.

Weather by month

21°17°Jan🌧 11d
23°17°Feb🌧 9d
27°21°Mar🌧 10d
30°23°Apr🌧 14d
32°25°May🌧 20d
33°27°Jun🌧 20d
32°26°Jul🌧 20d
32°26°Aug🌧 23d
30°25°Sep🌧 21d
28°24°Oct🌧 19d
26°22°Nov🌧 12d
22°18°Dec🌧 8d

Average daily high / low (°C), sea temperature and rainy days. Typical figures, not a forecast.

Climate

Tropical and humid: warm all year, with a hot, very wet summer and a mild, drier winter.

  • Best time: November to MarchHighs of 21–27°C and the fewest rain days. Ideal for walking the old streets and the coast.
  • Wet season May to OctoberAbout 19–23 rain days a month, often short heavy showers. Carry a light rain jacket.
  • Hot summerJune peaks near 33°C with warm nights around 27°C. Do outdoor sights early morning.
  • Typhoon seasonLate summer and autumn can bring storms. Check forecasts and keep travel plans flexible.
  • Humid year-roundSea air keeps it muggy, especially May to September. Light, quick-dry clothes help.
  • What to packLight breathable clothes, sunscreen and a hat; a rain jacket in summer; a light layer for winter evenings.

Landmarks 3

Must-see · 3

  1. 1

    Qilou Old Street

    Haikou's most famous sight is a long arcade of early-20th-century shophouses with ornate facades, best explored on foot in the late afternoon when the light softens and the arcades fill with local life. Go early morning or after sunset to avoid the midday heat, and wear comfortable shoes since the street stretches for well over a kilometre.

  2. 2

    Haikou Century Bridge

    This cable-stayed bridge over the mouth of the Haikou River is the city's modern icon and a fine spot for sunset views and an evening stroll. Come around dusk for the best light and cooler air; it is free to walk across.

  3. 3

    Qiongzhou Strait

    The strait separating Hainan from the mainland defines Haikou's setting, and the waterfront is the place to feel the sea breeze and watch ferries cross. Visit in the early morning or evening for comfortable temperatures, and bring sun protection during the day.

1Qilou Old Street2Haikou Century Bridge3Qiongzhou Strait

Cultural

Bridge 1

Old Town 1

Natural

Sea 1

Overview

History & significance

Highlights

    Plans

    Haikou rewards visitors with historic arcade streets, volcanic parks and fresh seafood by the strait. Pick how long you have and what you enjoy most. Prices checked October 2026; ≈ marks estimates.

    How long?

    What do you enjoy most?

    1 night · Culture ★ Recommended length

    Arcades, temples and museum history in one easy day and a half.

    Stay: Bo'ai Old Street. Walk to the arcaded old streets, snack stalls and small temples. Central for buses and taxis.

    Tickets & tours
    ≈ CNY 65
    per person
    Taxis
    ≈ CNY 198
    per taxi, up to 4 people
    Hotel
    CNY 200–500
    1 night · Bo'ai Old Street
    Day 1

    Old streets on arrival

    Tickets ≈ CNY 45 pp · taxis ≈ CNY 55
    1234
    Approximate route · map © OpenStreetMap contributors
    1. Taxi from your hotel · 838 m · ≈ 7 min · ≈ CNY 12
    2. 1

      14:00–16:00 · Free to walk · small fees for some houses

      Qilou Old Street Landmark quest

      Start at the Bo'ai Old Street arcades. Shops open roughly 09:00–22:00.

      Open Street always open · shops roughly 09:00–22:00

    3. Taxi · 900 m · ≈ 7 min · ≈ CNY 12
    4. 2

      16:10–17:10 · Free

      Arcade architecture walk

      Walk the arcade lanes in daylight. Go slow and look up at the facades.

      Open Daylight hours

    5. Taxi · 354 m · ≈ 6 min · ≈ CNY 11
    6. 3

      17:20–17:50 · ≈ CNY 10–25

      Fresh coconut and Hainan coffee stop

      Fresh coconut or Hainan coffee. Most stalls close around 21:00.

      Open Roughly 09:00–21:00

    7. Taxi · 244 m · ≈ 6 min · ≈ CNY 10
    8. 4

      18:30–19:30 · ≈ CNY 20–50 per person for snacks

      Bo'ai Old Street snack lanes

      Dinner from the snack lanes. Busiest after 18:00.

      Open Roughly 10:00–22:00, busiest after 18:00

    9. Taxi back to your hotel · 268 m · ≈ 6 min · ≈ CNY 11
    Day 2

    Temple, museum, then fly

    Tickets ≈ CNY 20 pp · taxis ≈ CNY 143
    1234
    Approximate route · map © OpenStreetMap contributors
    1. Taxi from your hotel · 896 m · ≈ 7 min · ≈ CNY 12
    2. 1

      08:30–09:30 · ≈ CNY 10–30, check on the day

      Wugong Ci (Five Officials Temple)

      Open roughly 08:30–17:30. Go early for cooler air.

      Open Roughly 08:30–17:30

    3. Taxi · 2 km · ≈ 10 min · ≈ CNY 14
    4. 2

      10:15–11:45 · Free with ID registration

      Hainan Provincial Museum

      Closed Monday. Check the day before you go.

      Open Closed Monday · roughly 09:00–17:00

    5. Taxi · 1296 m · ≈ 9 min · ≈ CNY 13
    6. 3

      12:15–13:00 · Free

      Wanlv Garden

      Short garden walk nearby. Open roughly 06:00–22:00.

      Open Roughly 06:00–22:00

    7. Taxi · 20 km · ≈ 58 min · ≈ CNY 49
    8. 4

      14:00–14:30 · Free

      Meilan airport garden stop

      Allow extra time for the trip to Meilan airport.

      Open Airport hours

    9. Taxi back to your hotel · 23 km · ≈ 1 h 7 min · ≈ CNY 55

    Swap in instead

    • Add a day trip to the volcanic crater park and lava villages north of the city; check opening hours on the day.
    • Take the high-speed train to Sanya for beaches and resort life, roughly 1.5–2 hours each way.
    • Slow down on the West Coast: a sunset walk, a beach café and an evening seafood dinner.

    Getting around

    • No metro; commuter trains on the Hainan high-speed line link the airport and main stations.
    • City buses are cheap and cover most routes; fares are a few yuan.
    • Taxis meter from about ¥10; insist on the meter (dabiao).
    • Ride-hailing apps DiDi and Amap work well; Uber does not operate.
    • Bikes and electric scooters are easy to rent; riverside paths are good.
    • Ferries cross to Xuwen and Beihai from New Port and Xiuying Port.

    Where to stay

    • Bo'ai Old Street · ≈ CNY 200–500 a night
      Walk to the arcaded old streets, snack stalls and small temples. Central for buses and taxis.
    • Haixiu Avenue · ≈ CNY 250–600 a night
      Downtown shopping and food, close to the museum and easy taxi pickups.
    • West Coast · ≈ CNY 350–900 a night
      Beach resorts and long seaside walks; quieter nights, farther from the old town.
    • Meilan District · ≈ CNY 200–550 a night
      Closest to the airport and the high-speed train station; handy for early flights.

    Food & drink

    • Try Hainan staples: Wenchang chicken, coconut rice, and a bowl of Hainan-style noodles for breakfast.
    • Seafood: pick fish and shellfish at a market or tank restaurant and have it cooked; agree the price per weight first.
    • Street snacks around Bo'ai Old Street: coconut water, grilled squid and sweet rice cakes, mostly ¥5–20.
    • Cool down with qingbuliang, a sweet coconut-milk dessert soup with beans and fruit.
    • Big night food streets and open-air seafood places get busy after 7pm; go early or expect a wait.

    Tips

    1. Enjoy the local Hainanese chicken rice and fresh coconut water
    2. Explore the Qilou Old Street for unique Southeast Asian-influenced arcade architecture
    3. Visit the Haikou Volcanic Cluster Global Geopark to hike around dormant craters
    4. Typhoon season peaks between July and September, so monitor weather reports
    5. WeChat Pay and Alipay are essential, as with all of China
    Sources for prices and hours

      Taxi costs are estimates from straight-line distance and the metered fare. Map positions are approximate.

      Tours & activities

      Take this tour to unlock 1 landmark quest

      Qiongzhou Strait
      • Forest ticket and tour car included
      • A coastal day out near the strait
      • 6 reviews · 3.3 rating
      Entry includedCar and driver

      Yalong Bay Tropical Forest Ticket and Tour Car

      GetYourGuide · ★ 3.3 (6)

      Souvenirs

      Coconut Candy

      CNY 15–35200–400g · estimate

      A sweet made from Hainan-grown coconut, a fruit the island is famous for. It is a common gift to bring home from Haikou.

      Where: Official specialty shops such as Chunguang or Nanguo
      Choose individually wrapped packs, since they hold up better in heat.

      Flights

      Dates are departure dates at each airport, which may differ from your itinerary arrival date. Select your flight and complete payment on Trip.com.

      Search flights · Trip.com

      Hotels

      Search all Haikou hotelsHotels.com

      Popular hotels

      eSIM

      Get an eSIM for HaikouStay connected in China from day one · Airalo
      Compare all 5 plans · choose data and duration

      Check that your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked. Data-use estimates are a guide; verify coverage, activation rules and the final price on Airalo.

      Luggage storage

      Store your bags in HaikouDrop luggage at nearby shops and hotels · Bounce