Haikou, also known as Coconut City, lies in the northernmost end of Hainan Island, which is the second largest island in China. It is the capital city of the largest special economic zone in China. It is at the western bank of the estuary of Nandu River, which is the largest river on the island. Hence the name Haikou.
Tourism in Haikou develops at the same speed with the growth of Hainan Special Economic Zone. Haikou is unique in tourism resources. It lies in the northern part of tropical belt, and it belongs to Tropical Island Monsoon Climate. It is suitable for tour all year round. Facing sea on 3 sides, Haikou enjoys fresh air and is selected to be a Trial City of Health by World Health Organization of the United Nations. It is one of the few coastal cities with unpolluted ecological environment.
Along the coastline stretching 27.25 kilometers long, Haikou has a lot of sea bathing beach land and resorts with nice sand and picturesque views, such as Holiday Beach, Xixiu Beach, Baishamen Beach, Xinbu Beach, among which Holiday Beach is the best place for sea swimming, bathing and sightseeing of the city, while Xixiu Beach is the training and racing base for Chinese National Sailing Team.
Haikou is rich in tourist resources. It has Wugong Temple, which is the famous tourist attraction in Haikou, Tomb of Mr. Hai Rui, and Xiuying Ancient Cannon Fort, which is one of the 4 ancient cannon forts. Huanhua Festival, usually on January 15 in Chinese Lunar Calendar, is an important folk activity. Hainan International Coconut Festival has gained its popularity at home and abroad. Newly built wanly park, Jinniuling Park, and Seaside Park are attractive to tourists.
At present, Haikou boasts 73 hotels for tourists with 10,813 guestrooms and 20,587 beds. 24 hotels are star-rated. There are two 5-star hotels, three 4-star hotels, fourteen 3-star hotels, and five 2-star hotels in Haikou. Haikou owns 174 travel agencies, among which 39 are international travel agencies and 135 are domestic ones. 560 tourist buses with over 15 seats and 1,800 tour guides with certificates issued by China National Tourism Administration are in service in Haikou. In 1998, tourists arrivals reached 2.5678 million, of which 0.1462 million were overseas tourists, and Haikou received 21,900 same-day tourists, who are mainly from Hong Kong by cruises.
Haikou Meilan International Airport has already been put into operation with a passenger capacity of 6 million each year. It will sustain its position as one of the top 10 airports in China. Expressways going west to Yangpu and east to Sanya from Haikou and a ring road on the island will be completed by the end of 1999. The Yuehai Underground Railway Tunnel, which is 18km long below Qiongzhou Qiongzhou strait, is under construction now. Its completion in 2001 will ultimately solve the transportation problem of Hainan Island with the Mainland.
Haikou has convenient facilities for food, entertainment and shopping. It owns a lot of restaurants at various levels and you will find all kinds of local flavors in the food streets. Coconut series and 4 kinds of famous Hainan dishes with local flavors (Wenchang Chicken, Dongshan Mutton, Jiaji Duck, and Hele Crab) are available to tourists in hotels and restaurants. Nightlife is colorful in Haikou. You can easily get access to amusement programs, recreational parks, nightclubs and shopping centers.
With the project of becoming one of the Top Tourist Cities in China, Haikou makes unremitting efforts to improve its level of service in terms of food, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, shopping and entertainment. The tourist market is disciplined and the tourist industry is transforming form supplying sightseeing products alone to an integration of sightseeing, vacation and convention. Haikou now has become one of the most popular tourist cities in South China.