Hainan · China
Where to stay in Haikou
Haikou is a city in Hainan, China, home to about 2,873,000 people.
- Best months
- November to March
- Nearest airport
- HAK17 km · Haikou Meilan International Airport
- Currency
- CNYrenminbi
- Time zone
- Asia/Shanghai
- Language
- Chinese, Putonghua, Standard Chinese
About
About Haikou
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.
Its population consists mostly of immigrants from other provinces, and many development projects are in progress. Many streets in Haikou are quite different during the day than in the evening. You will soon notice the abundance of coconut trees in Haikou. Most streets are lined with them. It is greener than most Chinese cities and has decent air quality. The downtown does not have many tourist attractions and the water in its only beach area is murky but as a transport hub, it can serve a base for traveling to some cities on the north of Hainan.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Haikou
See
- Old Qilou Streets
- Tianhou Temple
- Xitian Temple
- Former Residence of Feng Baiju
- Former Residence of Qiu Jun
- Qiongtai Academy
- Qiongya Red Army Yunlong Reorganization Site
- Qiu Jun's Tomb
- Tomb of Hairui
- Wugong Temple
- Xiuying Battery
- Dongzhai Harbor National Nature Reserve
Do
- Sea Turtles 911
- Changying Wonderland
- Splash City
- Haikou Bay Performing Arts Center
- Hainan Center for the Performing Arts
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Haikou
5 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Huangma Holiday Drunk Hainan Hotel (Haikou Xiuying Provincial Hospital Branch) | 2.6 km | |
| Huangma Holiday Island Style Hotel | 7.0 km | |
| Huangma Holiday Nanhai Museum Hotel(Friendship Sunshine City store) | 1.5 km | |
| Juzhi International Hotel | 12.7 km | |
| Wanlilong Business Hotel | 1.0 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Haikou
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Haikou are November to March. June is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C; September is the wettest, with about 301 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Haikou: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK), about 17 km from the city centre in a straight line; Qionghai Bo'ao Airport (BAR, 99 km) is also within reach.
Getting in
Haikou is a transport hub with flights to many cities and boats to nearby mainland cities such as Beihai and Zhanjiang.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
HAK · Haikou Meilan International Airport
BAR · Qionghai Bo'ao Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Haikou
Eat
The tropical weather of Haikou has attracted the Chinese all over the country to move to this island, along with their specialty. While most tourists don't come to Haikou for food, an impressive choice of foods is a hidden gem. The cooking style is a fusion of Cantonese, Hokkienese and certain Southeast Asian elements and seafood is impressive. Prices have surged as the tourism industry is booming. However, prices are still generally lower than many other Chinese cities if you can avoid being overcharged. Compare to other places such as Sanya, Haikou is less touristy and a way cheaper to taste the local food.
Drink
Haikou has a vibrant night life. The city has many clubs and bars, most of which are busy on any night of the week. There are several clubs on Guomao Road in the business district of Haikou. There is a bar/club area at Haikou Bay, next to Evergreen Park.
Stay safe
Cars and motorbikes often do not signal, but otherwise are safe. At night, many vehicles use high beams.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Haikou: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Haikou?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Haikou are November to March. June is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C; September is the wettest, with about 301 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Haikou?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK), about 17 km from the city centre in a straight line; Qionghai Bo'ao Airport (BAR, 99 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Haikou?
renminbi (CNY).
Nearby
Destinations near Haikou
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.