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View Plans & PricingArea: 2,305 km² (prefecture-level city)
Population: Approximately 2.9 million (2020 census)
Haikou means "mouth of the sea" in Chinese, named for its location where the Nandu River enters the Qiongzhou Strait. It is the capital of Hainan Province.
7.0/10 — Residents enjoy a balanced lifestyle with modern amenities and cultural richness.
Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK) serves domestic and international flights. Haikou Railway Station and Haikou East Station connect to Sanya and other cities on the Hainan eastern ring railway. City buses and taxis serve the city.
Hainan University, Hainan Normal University, and Hainan Medical University are the main higher-education institutions.
Haikou has a tropical monsoon climate with beaches, mangroves, and volcanic landscapes. It is on the northern coast of Hainan Island facing mainland China.
Visit the ancient Qilou Streets (arcade buildings), Haikou Volcanic Cluster Global Geopark, Holiday Beach, Wugong Temple, and the Hainan Provincial Museum.
Day 1: Walk Qilou Old Street and visit Wugong Temple.
Day 2: Explore the Volcanic Cluster Geopark and relax at Holiday Beach.
Haikou is famous for Hainan chicken rice, Qingbuliang sweet soup, seafood, Wenchang chicken, and tropical fruits such as coconut, mango, and pineapple.
Buy coconut products, Hainan coffee, tropical fruits, pearl jewelry, and duty-free goods (Hainan is a duty-free island). Main shopping is on Jiefang Road and in duty-free malls.
Local Vibe: Haikou is Hainan's relaxed capital, full of coconut trees, old骑楼 (arcade houses), and seafood markets. Locals start the day with老爸茶 (dad tea) and move slowly in the tropical heat. It feels like a permanent vacation city with real local life.
Fun Facts:
• Haikou's Old Town is famous for its qilou arcade buildings, a mix of Chinese and Southeast Asian colonial styles.
• The city is the gateway to Hainan Island, China's largest tropical island and a growing free-trade zone.
• Haikou is one of China's most livable cities, with clean air, parks, and a slower pace than mainland megacities.
Haikou locals speak their own flavor of Mandarin. Try these phrases to earn a smile:
鲁嚯 (lǔ huo) — Hello — a casual Hainan greeting.
吃茶 (chī chá) — Drink tea — locals say 'eat tea' like many southern Chinese.
无乜 (wú miè) — Nothing much — a relaxed Hainan reply.
• Hai Rui — A famous Ming dynasty honest official served in Hainan and is commemorated in Haikou.
• Qiu Jin — The revolutionary feminist had connections to Hainan's early modern intellectual circles.
• Huang Daopo — The legendary Yuan dynasty weaver is linked to Hainan's cultural heritage.
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