Welcome to Hainan

Haikou
With a population of around 160,000, Hainan’s capital Haikou is by far the biggest city on the island. Although practically a village in Chinese terms, it is a fun place to spend some time, even though its position on the north coast closest to the mainland makes it a bustling, functional centre rather than one designed for tourists. With the sea on three sides, there are many excellent beaches nearby although most visitors head for Sanya on the south coast. Sometimes called Coconut City, Haikou has several hotels and also offers historical sites worth investigating as the island became home to many exiles banished from the Tang Dynasty. An international airport is located 25km from the city, which is easily and cheaply accessible by taxi. There are also regular ferry links from nearby Guangdong province. The city itself is small and can be navigated by foot although there are plenty of taxis and motorbike taxis available for longer distances. Motorbike taxi prices are not fixed so negotiate with the rider first. Blessed with a tropical climate, Hainan temperatures rarely fall below 15 degrees Celsius and in July and August temperatures range between 25 and 30 degrees. In high summer, rain combines with temperatures rising to more than 35 degrees for a few weeks but Haikou, on the north coast, is usually spared the worst of the tropical storms which tend to concentrate on the eastern side of the island.


Sanya
A visit to China's southernmost city is all about the fantastic beaches. With three distinct resort areas, Sanya’s coastal waters are clean and safe for swimming and the area is very much geared for holidaymakers. In recent years, Sanya played host to the Miss World pageant and every year in November hosts the International Wedding Festival where hundreds of couples tie the knot.Sanya is a laid back and friendly holiday resort and offers everything the sun-loving visitor could ask for. There are also cultural diversions for visitors. Hire a guide and head for Tongzha, less than 100km away, which makes an ideal base to explore the rural area and visit the Li and Miao minority villages nearby A comfortable intercity bus runs between Sanya and Haikou, although the city has its own airport. Traffic is much lighter here than in Haikou although the narrow city streets sometimes make it easier to travel by motorbike taxi instead of the conventional four wheeled variety.Although generally similar in climate, Sanya's temperatures are cooler than Haikou's in the summer and the city is relatively sheltered from seasonal storms.