Holiday in Haikou

About Haikou

Haikou is the capital of Hainan Province, China's only tropical island province in the South China Sea. The city on the northern coast of Hainan is the gateway to an island often referred to as 'China's Hawaii' — with warm weather year-round, palm-fringed beaches, and tropical rainforests. The Qilou Old Town (Arcade Old Street) in the center of Haikou is an architectural gem: colonial arcade houses from the 1920s to 1940s blend South Chinese and Southeast Asian architectural styles. These buildings were constructed by overseas Chinese who returned from Southeast Asia. The streets Bo'ai and Zhongshan are the most atmospheric sections. The Haikou Volcanic Cluster Geopark (UNESCO Global Geopark) is located just 15 km southwest of the city: extinct volcanoes, lava fields, and subtropical vegetation create an unusual landscape. The main crater (Ma'an Ling) is accessible via stairs and offers views over the volcanic landscape. Holiday Beach (Jiari Haiwan) is Haikou's longest city beach with 6 km of fine sand, coconut palms, and warm water. For world-class beaches, one can travel 300 km south to Sanya — but Haikou's relaxed atmosphere and affordable prices make the city an underrated alternative. Hainan has been a free trade zone since 2020 with duty-free shopping: The Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex offers international brands at duty-free prices — with an annual budget of 100,000 Yuan (approximately €12,800) per person.