Hainan Island: useful information, precautions - ngs.tourism. Holidays in Hainan: briefly about the important Hainan Island, China, what ocean
The tourist destination to the Chinese island of Hainian cannot be called new. This tropical corner of Southeast Asia has already been explored by Russian travelers. However, an economic crisis began in the country. The number of people wishing to holiday abroad has decreased. True, the island was not forgotten. But to get there, beach lovers had to change planes in Beijing or Hong Kong. Gradually the situation stabilized. At the end of 2016, direct charter flights from Russia to Hainian resumed.
The resort city of Sanya and Phoenix Airport
The unofficial name of the island is "East Hawaii". Why? Because these islands are located at the same latitude. And like Hawaii, Hainian has long been a vacation destination. Chinese from the mainland constantly come here. On the southern coast in the city of Sanya, the necessary infrastructure has been created for this. There are several hundred hotels along the coastline and in the city itself, with prices to suit a wide range of budgets.
Of course, it is too early to talk about the high level of popularity of this Chinese resort. But the flow of tourists from Russian cities here is gradually increasing. This is facilitated by the relatively low price of the trip, when compared with a tour to some other tropical destination. However, guests from Russia, especially those who have previously visited other South-Eastern countries, have to deal with surprises that to some extent complicate their vacation.
The fact is that the bulk of vacationers, 92 percent, are Chinese. They are accustomed to a special way of life. What is considered unusual for Russians is long-established rules for the Chinese.
Some features begin immediately after the plane lands. Phoenix Airport is located within the city of Sanya. Although airliners land here at intervals of three to fifteen minutes, there are not many international flights. The existing terminal is working, one might say, to the limit of its capabilities. However, with the commissioning of a new terminal, the construction of which is nearing completion, the situation will change.
As for the first surprises, the pause between landing and leaving the plane was too long. If at other airports a maximum of five minutes pass after the engines stop before the doors open, then at Phoenix the wait drags on for almost half an hour.
Although there are few windows at the passport control point in the terminal, this procedure does not take much time. Passengers also receive their luggage quite quickly. As usual, arrivals are greeted by guides. They accompany them on large buses to their hotels. Since the airport is located within the city, the trip takes very little time, from twenty minutes to forty. Of course that's a plus. However, guides accompanying travelers during such a period of time can give visitors the necessary information in a rather concise form.
Characteristic features of hotels
There are no serious difficulties with checking into hotels. Although the language barrier hinders the matter, the situation is always corrected by the Chinese guide, who is also a translator. A deposit is taken upon arrival. Although China has its own currency, the Yuan, deposit amounts are quoted in dollars. Its size is one hundred dollars (however, it is possible that in some hotels the conditions are different).
When traveling to some countries in Southeast Asia, especially Thailand, Russian travelers often travel with rubles, since they can be easily exchanged for local currency there. In China, at least on Hainian Island, this is quite difficult. It is impossible to find street exchange offices in the Sanya resort area, as well as in the city itself. It is also difficult to use a bank card. ATMs are installed in some hotels. But for some reason, most of them either don’t work or they don’t have cash.
The best option is to stock up on RMB at home. Of course, some losses are possible. But they are compensated by the fact that you don’t have to search for a place where you can exchange dollars. As for the deposit, the hotel will take it in yuan in dollar equivalent.
Most Russian tourists, going to tropical countries, try to choose a three-star hotel located closer to the sea. At the same time, they prefer to stick to the “Breakfast Only” food type. Chinese three-star hotels are not very different from the same ones that exist in other countries. True, the area of the room in a double room is somewhat reduced here. This was done by increasing the area of the bathroom. Here, in addition to the required equipment, there is always a washing machine. This is due to the fact that the Chinese who come on vacation live in hotels for a month or longer, preferring to be in the same conditions as at home.
It happens that the small refrigerators in the rooms do not work. In such cases, contacting the hotel staff is useless. They will promise that the repairs will be completed within 24 hours, but no one will do anything.
As for breakfast, the menu depends on the hotel. There is almost no fruit in a three-star. As for the five-star ones, they are available there every day.
There is always a swimming pool on site. Usually it has a fairly large area. Of course, the water smells like bleach. True, by the evening it becomes barely noticeable.
For some reason there are very few sunbeds and umbrellas around the pools. For example, in a three-star hotel, the number of rooms in which exceeds two hundred, there may be seven or eight sun loungers around a pool with an area of at least 250–300 square meters.
However, Russian tourists find a way out of the situation. There is a lot of greenery in the hotel areas. Most of the pool's perimeter is surrounded by green lawns. Russo-tourists sit on them, using beach towels instead of sun loungers.
Beach, sea and some exotic details
If the hotel is on the first line, then it is separated from the beach only by the roadway. There are special driving rules in China. Drivers do not allow pedestrians to pass even at zebra crossings. So it can be difficult to cross the roadway. Fortunately, traffic in the Sanya resort area is not very intense.
Most of the beaches here are quite large. They are just pure sand. Sun beds and umbrellas are a rarity. Traders familiar in other places also do not appear there. But they always wait for tourists at the stairs leading to the beaches. Chinese women come here on three-wheeled electric bikes. Usually these are Muslim women. They invite everyone to buy pearls from them. In Sanya, probably in the suburban area, there are special pools where the shellfish from which these pearls are extracted are grown.
The water in the sea is crystal clear. Its temperature in the winter months does not fall below 24 degrees. But that rarely happens. Usually it is 26 degrees. Big waves are rare in winter. Most often their height does not exceed half a meter.
Although Hainian Island is located slightly north of the popular beaches of other countries in Southeast Asia, even in winter there is enough sun to get a good tan within the time provided by the package.
Unfortunately, beach holidays here are very monotonous. There are no usual banana boat rides; no one offers paragliding behind a high-speed boat.
There is also no street trading in the resort area. There are no shops, no markets, no cafes here. For this reason, those who, expecting the usual conditions, chose the “Breakfast Only” meal type, find themselves in a difficult situation. They have to spend a significant part of their time searching for food. Finding street cafes is not difficult. But this will require about a half-hour walk. However, you can use public transport. You can find out where exactly to go from your guide-translator.
Those who have chosen the All Inclusive meal plan are in a better position. The difference in the cost of the trip is not so great. In addition, this choice eliminates unnecessary worries.
Of course, when you are in a foreign country, you always want to try something special. You can do this in Sanya. There are cafes here where you just need to point to some inhabitant of the deep sea. It will be cooked immediately and served to the customer. True, it will cost several hundred yuan. But no problem. But you will have something to brag about after returning home.
Chinese medicine, excursions, communication with local residents
Usually, when visiting a country, tourists try to learn as much as possible about it. This can be done on excursions. Hainian also offers travelers various trips. Unfortunately, most excursions here are inferior in both intensity and excitement to those that exist in other countries of Southeast Asia. Moreover, their cost exceeds similar ones existing in Vietnam, Thailand, and other countries.
But still, you can see something interesting here. True, it is difficult to single out any excursion based on popularity. As always, a sightseeing tour is offered. It is usually carried out free of charge. The group visits a tea factory, a factory where various drugs and cosmetics are made from sharks. Stops are made in other places as well.
The best part is the observation deck. From its height you can see almost the entire city of Sanya. By the way, by Chinese standards it is small. The number of inhabitants is only seven hundred thousand people.
Tourists travel part of the climb to the observation deck in electric vehicles. They walk about half the way. The climb cannot be called tiring. It is brightened up by short stops in some interesting places.
The mountain where the observation deck is located has its own name. It is considered a park. It is called rather intricately “The deer turns its head.” The name is associated with a legend that the guide will tell you on the bus.
In Sanya, tourists can also visit medical centers. Here they will get acquainted with the methods of Chinese medicine. Some even express a desire to undergo treatment. If you come to the island for this purpose, you should remember that the cost of just one session of Chinese medicine is usually one hundred yuan. True, diagnostics are carried out free of charge.
A special feature of excursions in Hainian is payment. It often happens that, having bought an excursion from a hotel guide and gone on a trip to some interesting place, tourists are faced with an unpleasant surprise. They are asked to pay extra for entry to places where they have already purchased a trip.
Another feature is the lack of normal competition. Travel agencies selling tours on the island are monopolists. There are no street excursion bureaus. True, a way out can be found. You can meet enterprising Chinese near hotels (usually where the stairs leading to the beaches are located). They offer interesting trips to tourists at their own risk. Moreover, their services cost about half as much.
It should be especially noted that these entrepreneurs cope with their task brilliantly. At the same time, they offer not only those excursions that can be purchased from a travel agency, but also provide any other trips. For example, they can take tourists to some distant market where they can buy inexpensive fruit.
Usually these Chinese (probably illegal) entrepreneurs speak Russian quite well. Most often, they lived in Russia for some time, so there are no difficulties when communicating with them.
Finally, about the language barrier. On the streets of Sanya, although not often, you can still meet Russian-speaking Chinese. English is not useful here. For some reason, the Chinese try to ignore it, preferring to memorize a few Russian words.
In hotels, if Russians stay there, there are always signs in Russian. Such inscriptions can be found in the city.
The Chinese have a traditional respect for Russians. They love to take pictures with Russian tourists. If Russian tourists try to say something in Chinese, the degree of respect for them increases. It also increases when a Russian traveler invites a Chinese to take a photo with him. Sometimes this is enough to win over some merchant at the market. After such an offer, he will definitely reduce the price for his goods.
Video: China Part 1. Hainan, excursions, legends, Hotel reviews
Video: China Part 2. Hainan, prohibitions, fakes, pearls, silk..
Hainan Island (海南, Hǎinán) is one of the best holiday destinations not only in China, but also in the world.
This tropical island, washed by the waters of the South China Sea, is the second largest among Chinese island territories after Taiwan. It is “another China”, unlike the mainland. Its name translates as “sea south”. Hainan is also called the "Chinese Hawaii" due to the fact that it is at the same latitude as the Hawaiian Islands.
Hainan differs from other popular destinations in Southeast Asia by its unique tropical climate, which allows you to relax here all year round - there are 300 sunny days a year. The island adheres to strict environmental standards and has a well-developed and dynamically developing infrastructure for international tourism, recreation and recreation.
Industrial zones are located in the northern part of the island, in the vicinity of the capital, Haikou. A spaceport was built near the city of Wenchang in northeastern Hainan in 2014.
In the central part of the island there are dense forests in which unique plant species grow, mostly endemics included in the Red Book of China and the whole world. The island's fauna is the richest in the country: over 85 species of mammals and more than 456 species of birds live here.
The island is also famous for its plantations - coffee, tea, fruits, mangoes, bananas, pineapples, coconuts are grown here.
Current time in Haikou:
(UTC +8)
Tourists are attracted here by ample opportunities for a beach holiday: the coastline of Hainan stretches for 1,500 kilometers. There are beautiful sandy beaches, thermal complexes with radon and mineral springs.
Fans of active recreation will also have plenty to do: a network of tourist routes has been laid out in the mountains and along the coast, and there are excellent highways. And connoisseurs of cultural and educational recreation will enjoy local attractions - Buddhist temples, natural sites, ethnographic villages of the indigenous Li and Miao tribes.
Find out what to see, where to go and what to do on the island in our guide to Hainan.
How to get there
There are several ways to get to Hainan, such as by plane, train, bus or ferry.
Airplane
Most often, Russians get to Hainan by air. So, a direct flight from Moscow to the island takes about ten hours.
Regular and charter flights from Russian cities (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Novosibirsk, Tyumen, Rostov-on-Don, Perm, Nizhny Novgorod, Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Blagoveshchensk) are operated by Yakutia, Azur Air, "Nordstar", "IFly", "Alrosa", "S7 Airlines", "Ural Airlines". In addition, at the end of 2019, the Chinese airline Hainan Airlines opened a flight from Moscow to Hainan.
Tourists can also take advantage of flights of foreign airlines with connections in Chinese cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, etc.) or in other cities in Asia and the Middle East (Dubai, Doha, Seoul, etc.).
Local carriers operate domestic flights from Chinese cities to Hainan, including Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Deer Airlines, etc.
There are two major airports on the island - in the cities of Haikou and Sanya.
Transport
Despite the fact that the cities of Hainan are small (compared to other Chinese metropolises), they have well-developed public transport - both urban and intercity. There are buses, trains, bicycle and auto rickshaws, and taxis.
Bus
The most popular public transport in Hainan is buses. There are bus stations or small bus stations in almost all localities, and in large cities there are usually several of them. Both city and intercity buses run around the island.
The most popular bus route among tourists runs between the cities of Haikou and Sanya. Buses run daily from 7:00 to 18:00 once every 20 minutes. A distance of 250 km is covered in 4-5 hours. Ticket prices start from $12. Bus schedules are available on the Chinabusguide website.
Cycle and auto rickshaws
For small tourist trips over short distances, you can use local exotic transport - bicycles and auto rickshaws. Since this type of transport is designed only for foreigners, the fare is higher than in a taxi. But you can bargain with the rickshaw driver, and then the trip will be cheaper and add variety to your vacation program.
Train
There is a ring road along the entire island. Hainan High Speed Railway, it consists of two branches: eastern (海南东环高速铁路) and new western (海南东西环高速铁路). A round trip around the island takes five hours, the carriages are comfortable with soft armchairs and folding tables. Speed 200 km/h. The train has a dining car, and conductors also serve hot food, snacks, drinks and ice cream.
There are two main railway stations on the island - in Sanya ( Sanya Railway Station, 三亚火车站, address: Lin Zhi Gou, Sanya, Hainan, 育秀路10号) and in Haikou ( Haikou Railway Station, 海口火车站, address: Yuehai Dadao, Haikou, Hainan, 海口市秀英区粤海大道). There is also a railway connection between them. Travel time with stops is only two hours; an express train covers this route in an hour and a half.
Train tickets are sold at station ticket offices, where you must present an ID, a photocopy of it or a photo on your phone, but when boarding the train you will be asked for your original passport.
Remember that when purchasing tickets online, you need to arrive at the station in advance and pick up your ticket at the general ticket office if it was purchased for a regular train and not for a high-speed train. When traveling on high-speed trains, an electronic ticket is sufficient. You must keep your boarding pass during your trip; you will need it to exit the station.
You can check the schedule and buy train tickets in Hainan online on the websites Travelchinaguide and Сhinatrainguide, in the WeChat applications, qunar.com, ctrip.com, etc.
Taxi
Taxi in Hainan is the most convenient, easiest and most popular way of transportation among tourists. Taxis can be found near hotels, attractions, shopping centers and restaurants, stopped on the street or called by phone from the hotel. Taxi drivers can take tourists anywhere on the island.
The cost of the trip depends on the company and the car; rates are usually indicated on a sign attached to the windshield.
The cost of a taxi trip in Hainan is calculated as follows: the first 4 km from 2 dollars (10-12 yuan), then about 0.30 dollars (1.5-2 yuan) for each kilometer (when traveling outside populated areas - 0.50 dollars (2.5-3 yuan) per kilometer. At night, rates are higher, you should check with the driver before boarding.
As a rule, taxi cars on the island are equipped with meters and cash registers. At the tourist's request, the driver must issue a receipt. Many travelers negotiate a fixed price when traveling long distances; for example, a trip from Sanya to Haikou will cost around $100.
It is worth remembering that local taxi drivers rarely speak English, so it is better to have with you the exact name of the desired place in Chinese, a business card of the hotel or establishment, or a photograph of its sign.
Cable car
There is also a cable car on the island - the longest in China, located over the water. Its length is 2,138 meters, it connects the village of Xincun in Lingshui Bay with Monkey Island (the so-called Nanwan Monkey Island Nature Reserve on a small peninsula inhabited by monkeys).
Open cabins with passengers spend 15-20 minutes on the way. To get to the cable car, you first need to get from Sanya to Lingshui Bay (60 km) by public transport.
Automobile
A car is not the most popular means of transportation for tourists in China in general and Hainan in particular, since driving in this country is only possible for holders of licenses issued in the PRC.
International driving licenses are not recognized in China; the fine for violating this requirement is 1,500 yuan, and in some cases foreigners face imprisonment.
Experts say that those who want to rent a car in Hainan can still get a Chinese driver's license. It is issued to tourists for up to one month. The minimum processing time is one week. You can order such a document in advance by contacting one of the local car rental offices online.
An alternative way to move autonomously over short distances is to rent a bicycle or electric moped (due to strict environmental requirements, ordinary motorcycles and mopeds are prohibited from entering large cities, in particular, Haikou). There are municipal rental services on the island for such vehicles, and an extensive network of bike paths has been created for cyclists.
Districts
Hainan Island is administratively a province of the same name in China, which in addition to it includes several smaller islands: Nansha, Zhongsha, Xisha, etc.
Hainan Island has four urban districts, the capitals of which are Haikou, Sanya, Sansha and Danzhou. The largest cities are Haikou and Sanya. Other relatively large cities on the island are Lingshui, Dongfang, and Wenchang.
The administrative center and largest city of the island is Haikou(海口), which over the past twenty years has transformed from a provincial town into a modern metropolis with a population of one and a half million people, it has become a major economic center. Haikou is located in the north of the island.
The city, whose name translates as “Sea Gate,” was founded during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). There are a number of historical monuments here, the most famous of which is the so-called “Idol of the Five Noble Men,” which reminds us that in imperial China the island served as a place of exile for disobedient officials who were disliked by the emperor. Other interesting places in Haikou include the Historical Museum, Safari Zoo, and Hai Rui Mu Tomb.
Not far from the capital is the extinct Ma An volcano, the main attraction of the Shishan National Crater Geological Park, which tourists love to visit. The famous thermal springs of Hainan can also be found there.
Today, Haikou boasts a developed recreation and entertainment sector, as well as a large network of hotels of various levels. The capital of the island is the most environmentally friendly metropolis not only in China, but probably in the whole world, so holidays in Haikou attract foreigners from different countries. On local beaches you can engage in active water sports, go fishing, and have a picnic in a specially designated area. It is also important that the city is a major transport hub, from where it is easy to travel to any other point on the island.
Attractions
Museums and galleries
Where to eat and drink
Entertainment
Parks and Recreation
Leisure
Transport
Shops and markets
Wellness holiday
Private guides in Hainan
Russian private guides will help you get acquainted with Hainan in more detail.
Registered on the Experts.Tourister.Ru project.
Things to do
In Hainan, any tourist will find something to their liking. Here you can see unique local temples and modern skyscrapers, visit unusual museums, make successful purchases in shopping centers, and get acquainted with tropical flora and fauna.
Here are 10 things we suggest travelers do in Hainan:
Beach holiday
Most often, tourists come to Hainan to relax on its famous beaches.
Most of the famous beach resorts are located in the southern part of the island. Here are the bays of Yalongwan, Dadonghai and Sanyawan. Every year, thanks to its developed infrastructure, the island's beaches attract hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world.
All beaches in Hainan resorts are municipal, equipped with everything necessary for relaxation: sun loungers, umbrellas and showers. The beaches are sandy and gently sloping everywhere, the water is warm and clear.
Yalong Bay(Yalong Bay) is considered the most respectable holiday destination in Hainan; it is located next to the city of Sanya. The water here is the cleanest, the sea is especially calm and a little cooler than on other parts of the island’s coast. The length of the beach line is 7.5 km, it is covered with light beige sand. Large diving centers are located here. Most tourists prefer to relax on the beaches of Yalong Bay. The name of the bay translates as “Dragon of Asia”.
Dadonghai Bay(Dadonghai), whose name translates as “Great East Sea”, is located near the city of Sanya and is considered the most beautiful beach in China. The local beaches are about 3 km long and feature snow-white sand. Here the sky is azure, the sea water is clear, and in the sea you can see the sails of fishing junks and sampans glowing in the dark. This bay is the busiest - there are a large number of restaurants, cafes and shops. In addition, the beaches of Dadonghai Bay are preferred by surfers.
Sanyawan Bay(Sanya bay) is the closest to Sanya, and the local beach is the longest in the entire resort, it is 17 km long and 20-30 m wide. The shore is dotted with soft beige sand, the entrance to the water is gentle, without holes or stones. A holiday in this place is ideal for families with children. The Sanyawan Bay beach is not as popular among foreign tourists as Yalongwan and Dadonghai; mainly locals relax here. At the same time, the bay, surrounded by tropical vegetation, is very picturesque and worth a visit.
In the area of the capital Haikou there is a popular Holiday Beach, which stretches in its western suburbs along the Binhai Road. Entrance to the beach is free for everyone; fees are charged only for additional services, such as renting sun loungers and umbrellas. This wide sandy beach, fringed by rows of coconut palms, is a favorite beach destination for Haikou residents. Foreigners are not too fond of Holiday, since the water here is noticeably cooler than in the resort south.
The second city beach of Haikou is called Xixu, in comparison with Holiday Beach it has a very modest size, is located closer to the city center, also along the Binhai road, but in a westerly direction.
In addition to the well-known large beaches, the island also has small beaches in villages, as well as wild beach areas that do not have recreational infrastructure.
Leisure
The most popular active excursion on the island among tourists remains a hike to the crater of the Ma An volcano. The ancient volcano is located 27 km from the capital of the island, the city of Haikou, in the territory of a special park. The last time this volcano erupted was about 50,000 years ago. You can climb to the crater via steps made of volcanic magma.
Near the volcano there is a restaurant and a platform where folklore performances by the local Li and Miao peoples are held in the evenings. In the vicinity of Ma An there are craters of active volcanoes Leihuling and Lojingpan, caves and grottoes in igneous rocks.
Hainan has ample opportunities for fishing. Thus, in the vicinity of the city of Sanya, tourists are offered fishing on Lake Spokoinoye. At resorts on the coast you can go sea fishing from a boat or spearfishing. In all cases, the caught fish will be cooked for tourists in a nearby restaurant.
The island has excellent diving conditions. The history of the development of this active recreation in China begins in Hainan - the country’s first dive club was once opened here. In addition, the only coral reserve in China is located here; it is located in the waters of Sanya and protects more than 600 species of underwater inhabitants. In the waters of the island there are many underwater caves, grottoes, and wrecks. For tourists without a certificate, it is possible to dive with two accompanying PADI instructors.
Festivals and shows
Tourists who like to combine relaxation with visiting cultural events, as well as those who are interested in the history and cultural of the island, can attend numerous performances. For example, the island has a show called “Romance of the Millennium” (千古情 or Romance Sho), for which a unique theater was built in Sanya.
Folklore lovers should definitely visit the national village of Binglangu (槟榔谷), and if time permits, then see the bright national holidays from the traditional Chinese calendar:
- “yuan xiao jie” (云霄节, Lantern Festival - 15th of the first month);
- "long tai tou" (龙抬头, Spring Dragon Festival - the second day of the second month);
- "San Yue San" (三月三, New Year's Day of the Li people - the third day of the third month);
- "duan wu jie" (端午节, Dragon Boat Festival - the fifth day of the fifth month);
- "Qi Xi Jie" (七夕节, Chinese Valentine's Day - the seventh day of the seventh month).
In addition, various holidays, carnivals, shows, concerts, and exhibitions are also held in different areas of the island throughout the year.
You can check what events are taking place on the island during your visit on the official Hainan tourism information portal.
Theater
The island has a long theatrical tradition. Thus, Qiong Opera (or Hainan Opera) has a history of more than three hundred years. You can see performances at the Qiongshan Gongzi Theater, a puppet theater operating in the tradition of Qiong Opera.
Another puppet theater, Linggao, offers performances in which humans and puppets are involved simultaneously. Artists usually go on stage in makeup; they control puppets, with which they usually play the same role, pronouncing lines in turn. The performances are accompanied by traditional music performed on two sons.
Vacation with children
Those who come to Hainan with children will certainly have something to do. Thus, in Sanya there are the most popular water parks on the island - “Amazon” and “Sanya Dream”, they are open all year round. During a trip to Sanya Dream, in addition to the water slides, it is worth visiting the Ice and Snow World entertainment center with ethno shows, especially since all of the listed sites are located on the same territory - in the Sanya Songcheng Resort complex.
Another famous water park is located at the Atlantis Resort Sanya hotel and covers an area of 200,000 sq.m. It features unique water attractions, the likes of which are found only in other hotels of the Atlantis chain - in Dubai and the Bahamas. At the same hotel, the largest aquarium on the island is open - in a huge two-story aquarium there live more than 280 species of marine life, which you can even feed.
Children will certainly enjoy the island's many zoos. For example, you can get acquainted with the fauna and flora of Hainan in the Dongshan Nature Park, the largest safari zoo in Asia. It spreads over an area of 130 hectares and has 1,200 animals of more than 100 species that live in nature. You can move around the park by jeep or on foot. Nearby there is another attraction - Mount Dongshan with huge boulders.
You can also take children to the Crocodile and Tiger Zoo. There are more than 20,000 crocodiles and more than 200 tigers brought from Thailand. There is a tiger circus. Another attraction for children is the colorful Bird Park, as well as an entertaining Bayshemen Park, which will not let little tourists get bored.
Tea ceremony
In Hainan, as in other regions of China, you can become more familiar with tea traditions.
However, due to its climatic conditions, the island is a favorable place for growing rare elite varieties of tea - “Kudin”, “Snow tea”, “Favorite tea of the imperial concubine” and the like.
Tourists can watch a tea ceremony, where they will be introduced to the art of brewing tea, told about the beneficial properties of each variety and how to brew it, after which they will be offered to taste and purchase the tea they like.
Treatment and recovery
Tourists come to the island not only for a beach holiday, but also to undergo treatment at one of the local clinics or to improve their health at mineral or radon springs.
Thus, there are dozens of branches of famous medical centers in Beijing and Dalian on the island, offering various traditional Chinese methods of rejuvenation and healing.
Among the procedures offered here are also acupuncture, qigong (therapeutic gymnastics), acupressure, herbal medicine (herbal treatment), ear massage (auriculotherapy), aromatherapy, sand treatment. It is believed that all these procedures can help those suffering from diseases of the musculoskeletal system, nervous, reproductive systems, gastrointestinal tract, skin, breathing, as well as those who have problems with addictions.
Hainan, among other things, is famous for its hot springs. The island has many thermal springs, the water temperature and chemical composition of which are different. There are springs on the coast, in the tropical forest, in the mountains, and near cities. Hot thermal water with a temperature of +40° C...+78° C in combination with traditional Chinese medicine gives amazing results. The main methods of treatment are Chinese massage, foot massage, acupuncture, bamboo cupping. Radon sources are suitable for the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, gynecological diseases, and potassium-sodium sources treat the nervous system, skin, and respiratory organs.
The hottest spring is Guantan (the temperature of the thermal waters is up to +90°C at the source) near the city of Qionghai. The Starfish and Heavenly Dragon resorts are located there.
Xinglong Hot Spring Valley is located 120 km from Sanya. It is suitable for tourists who want to take various baths: from radon to potassium-sodium. There are more than a dozen hotels here, almost each of which has its own spring with a swimming pool.
Another resort is Nantian. In 2005, it was included in the list of the best Chinese thermal sources. Located 30 km from Sanya and consists of 36 pools of different temperatures and compositions, surrounded by tropical gardens.
Fish therapy springs are located in the Phoenix Island area, a 15-minute drive from the center of Sanya. Here they treat skin diseases, relieve stress, and recover from rheumatoid arthritis and colds.
Purchases
Tourists often combine holidays in Hainan with successful shopping. Shopping lovers will be able to purchase authentic goods here, the range of which is determined by the local climate.
As a rule, items made from silk, pearls, crystal, porcelain, corals, Chinese fans and umbrellas, crafts made from coconut shells and sea shells (including tridacna), various types of tea, coffee, pepper and shark oil are brought from the island.
Edible souvenirs are also popular, for example, local exotic fruits - mango, coconut, pitahaya, mangosteen, lychee, longan, etc.
As for clothing, it is unlikely that you will be able to buy clothes or shoes for the winter season in Hainan stores, as well as large-sized clothing - most often the size range is limited to sizes 48 - 50.
Retail outlets on the island are represented by shopping centers, department stores, supermarkets, shops, private shops and markets, both large and very small. The opening hours of stores depend on whether they are private or public. State stores are open from 9:00 to 19:00 (large shopping centers - until 22:00), and private retail outlets operate on an individual schedule. It is better to go to food markets early in the morning.
Tourists can exchange foreign currency for yuan at Bank of China branches, hotels, exchange offices at train stations, airports and large shopping centers. Cards of all major international payment systems are also accepted for payment.
Haixudonglu Street in Haikou is where high-end shopping is concentrated; in Sanya, the main department stores are located on Liberation Street in the city center.
Tax Free system
Foreigners in Hainan can take advantage of the Tax Free system.
When purchasing goods worth from 800 to 30,000 yuan when leaving the island through the airports of Haikou and Sanya, foreign tourists are refunded 11% of the amount spent. The Tax Free system is valid for 21 categories of goods, including clothing, shoes, cosmetics, accessories, haberdashery, jewelry, arts and crafts, watches, household appliances, electronics, etc.
Only special Duty Free stores participate in the Tax Free program, of which there are now only a few on the island - two in Sanya, one each in Haikou and Qionghai. They, contrary to expectations, are located not at airports, but within the city. In the future, the authorities plan to open similar stores in other cities of the island, as well as allow some large department stores to operate under the Tax Free system.
You can use the VAT refund service by presenting your passport and air ticket. Payment for the goods is collected in the store, after which the purchases are sent to the airport, where they can be collected upon departure in the international flights area with an identification document or check. The tax refund area is marked with signs in English and Chinese.
Food and drink
The formation of Hainanese cuisine was greatly influenced by the location of the island and its location in a tropical climate. Local dishes are light; the cuisine is dominated by seafood, of which huge quantities are caught here. At the same time, meat dishes are also found.
The most authentic dishes on the island are:
In addition, in Hainan, as throughout China, noodles are respected: here you can try Baolofen noodles(文昌抱罗粉) with beef, broth, peanuts and fresh onions, or local rice noodles(海南粉) with beef and sesame jerky, served with shell broth.
Among the local desserts stand out mango rolls(芒果肠粉) - rice pancakes with mango pieces, as well as fruit fried ice cream(水果炒冰), which is prepared on the streets from any fruit: they are crushed, water, condensed milk and sugar are added, after which the mixture is fried using a special device until a solid mass is formed - the exotic dessert is ready!
When it comes to drinks, the locals love to drink tea, they often treat their guests to it, and tea stalls can be found everywhere on the streets. They also have their own coffee - Xinglong coffee(兴隆咖啡), which grows on local plantations in environmentally friendly conditions and has a wonderful aroma.
In addition, you can finish your meal with the freshest fruits. The most popular and delicious fruits on the island are lychee, mango, star fruit, passion fruit, papaya, mangosteen, pitahaya, rambutan, durian, guava, etc.
Remember that when eating you should use chopsticks carefully, do not knock them on the plates or talk while waving them. Also, you should not stick chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice.
Connection
To stay connected while vacationing on Hainan Island, tourists have two ways - using WI-FI and buying local SIM cards.
The main Chinese mobile operators remain China Unicom and China Mobile. There is a difference in their services, but it is not significant for tourists who do not plan to make calls, since they only need the Internet.
Tariffs vary depending on the set of services in the package, but tourists will be satisfied with the simplest and most inexpensive tariff. The balance is replenished with cards of various denominations - from 20 to 100 yuan. To top up, you need to call the number indicated on the back of the card and follow the instructions (the service is also available in English).
SIM cards in China are sold upon presentation of a passport. They can be bought in specialized stores of operators, in shops selling newspapers and magazines. At the same time, you can also purchase it without a passport from merchants, but the price will be much higher.
Internet
Free Wi-Fi in Hainan is available in most hotels, cafes, restaurants, airports and shopping centers.
Sanya even has its own wireless network (i-Sanya), organized with the support of the local administration. To connect to it (and to some other points), tourists will need a Chinese number; they will receive a confirmation code for subsequent registration.
In addition, in China, many social networks and instant messengers that are familiar to us are blocked, for example Google, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Whats’up, Telegram, Viber. However, you can use the services of Yandex, Vkontakte, Odnoklassniki, Mail.ru, Skype, iMessage, Facetime.
To stay in touch, you can use the Chinese messenger WeChat, with which you can not only communicate, but also pay bills. And instead of Google maps, you need to download the Baidu maps application.
If for some reason tourists on vacation need blocked sites and services, you can use a VPN. Among these types of programs there are paid and free ones, they will help you open any website in China. However, it is worth remembering that in China there are penalties for using a VPN. In January 2019, a precedent occurred: a Chinese citizen was fined one thousand yuan (10,000 rubles) for installing a VPN. It is unlikely that the authorities will be able to detect violating tourists in a week or two of rest, but it is still worth taking this information into account when going to Hainan.
Safety
As in any other resort, while vacationing in Hainan, tourists are advised to follow personal safety rules: carefully monitor their belongings in crowded places, and keep documents and large sums of cash in the hotel safe.
Where to call in case of emergency (phone numbers for Sanya city)
As for crime, it is zero on the island, not counting pickpocketing and cases of petty fraud. Therefore, you should carefully check your change when making purchases: counterfeit 10 and 50 yuan bills can be found here.
The sun in tropical latitudes is dangerous - you can burn in 15-20 minutes. The best time to sunbathe is from 8:00 to 11:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00. It is better to bring sunscreen with you, and it should have a protection factor of at least 20-30 units, since only Chinese brands of sunscreen are sold in Hainan, and almost all of them have a whitening effect.
Photography is prohibited in churches, government buildings, near military and strategically important sites (which even include bridges and dams).
You should be careful when eating in street stalls and tents, as well as in other places outside the hotel that are questionable from a hygiene point of view. You should wash your hands more often, drink only bottled water, and wash local fruits with it.
Where to stay in Hainan
The largest number of hotels in Hainan are located on the shores of the three bays of Sanya.
Thus, Dadonghai Bay offers the most diverse accommodation in a wide price range: from hotels of famous international brands to inexpensive hotels, hostels and apartments. The local beach area has a developed infrastructure; in recent years, many cafes, restaurants, and nightclubs have appeared along the beaches. This area is most popular among Russian tourists, while local establishments are focused on our compatriots - there are signs and menus in Russian, Russian-speaking staff, an appropriate range of goods, etc.
Yalong Bay is considered the most prestigious; there are luxury hotels of international chains with their own beaches, but there are also hotels offering more economical holidays. Local beaches are distinguished by fine white sand. The first dive club in China was created here, and the country's first casino also opened on one of the nearby islands. The recreation infrastructure is located on the territory of the hotels themselves or in special tourist areas.
Sanyavan Bay is the least known among Russian holidaymakers; there are 4-5* hotels there, most of which are located across the road from the beach. Sanyavan is a dynamically developing bay, in which several new hotels have opened in recent years.
In addition to the traditional hotels presented above, you can rent apartments in Hainan. This type of accommodation will be appreciated by some categories of tourists, in particular families with children.
Booking.com offers more than 1,700 hotels in Hainan for booking. You can select a hotel using a variety of filters: hotel star rating, hotel type (hotel, apartment, villa, hostel, etc.), cost, hotel location, ratings of people who visited the hotel, Wi-Fi availability and much more. .
This is one of the best resorts, which combines not only a beach holiday, but also a unique Chinese culture with many attractions, and a good medical base. For those who want not only to relax and get a lot of impressions, but also to maximize their health, the resort on Hainan Island is an excellent choice. It is so beautiful that it was given the name "East Hawaii". In China, it is the only island with a tropical climate, where the sun shines more than 300 days a year. The best time for relaxation is considered to be the period from March to October.
What can be treated
Here they provide comprehensive treatment of the gastrointestinal tract, pulmonary system, skin problems, genitourinary system, bone, and cardiovascular problems. The island uses many traditional Chinese techniques, all without the intervention of surgery. Various natural medicines are also used. Several treatment centers are concentrated here, such as “Garden of Longevity”, “Sanyutang”, “Yu-Kang”, “Tai Chi”.
On the territory of Nantian there are over 30 pools, with different chemical properties and temperatures, which allow the thermal spring to significantly improve your health.
This resort has the hottest spring of Qionghai, the water temperature reaches 70 - 90 °C. The valley of Xinglong springs is also popular; here the water temperature reaches 45°C - 65°C. The sources contain various elements, some of them may be radon and potassium-sodium. Each source is suitable for a specific health problem.
Recreation areas
As for the beaches, they are all in a modern style, equipped with umbrellas, showers and sun loungers. There are 4 bays that are located in the South.
Yalongwan is considered the most elite and cleanest recreation area. Prestigious hotels and large diving centers are located here.
Dadonghai will be a popular place for surfers, as the wind is right for this activity.
Sanyawan and Sanya have beautiful landscapes, although all the hotels are located across the road.
Must-sees
The most popular places are:
- The Edge of the World is an amazing park, the length of which is 23 km; on its territory there are blocks of stones of unusual shapes, for example, a stone in the shape of a broken heart, a stone symbolizing wealth, supporting the sky and the labyrinth of lovers;
- Ma Al Volcano is an inactive volcano, the road to which is paved with magma, and an observation deck is equipped along the perimeter of the crater;
- Butterfly Gorge is a protected park where a huge variety of butterflies from different countries live, an amazing sight;
- Monkey Island is a reserve where only monkeys live, there are about 3000 of them, an entire island is allocated for them, covered with rocks and forest with many fruit trees;
- Nanshan is a Buddhist center with several temples and a gold statue of Guanyin Buddha, which is decorated with expensive stones, and is considered the largest Buddha statue made of gold according to the Guinness Book of Records.
This is not the entire list of attractions; there are many more. Also at the resort you can go scuba diving, since the marine world is diverse and full of colors, or any other sport, there are plenty of them. Unusual Chinese cuisine will surprise you with its variety and taste.
The availability of last minute tours will be more useful than ever. Visiting such a resort is everyone's dream. Unforgettable and vivid impressions are guaranteed.
Hainan (translated as “South of the Sea”) was inhabited in ancient times by the ancestors of the Li people. It was conquered and became part of the Chinese state in the 2nd century. BC e., and in the VII-XII centuries. a wave of Han settlers pushed local residents from the coastal plains into the mountains.
The tropical island of Hainan was part of the mainland no more than 400 thousand years ago. Research on the remains of ancient animals dating back to 600-400 thousand years BC. e., showed that the flora and fauna of the island and the nearby peninsula were no different. The island, with an area of almost 34 thousand km 2, could have broken off as a result of an earthquake associated with violent volcanic activity, which stopped in Hainan only about 8 thousand years ago. The craters of extinct volcanoes testify to past eruptions.
The indigenous population of Hainan is considered to be the Li people, who came to the island from the southern regions of China about 7 thousand years ago. A local legend interprets the ancient story as follows: a certain young man crossed the South Sea, on an island in the mountains he found an egg, from which came a girl who became his wife, and from them came the Li people. In the same vein, another legend describes the ethnology of the Miao people: they allegedly descended from a dog and a princess. The princess's father promised a daughter to the one who would defeat the leader of the enemies. The winner was the yard dog, who brought the head of the enemy leader.
In fact, the Miao people have always been considered brave warriors. According to one version, they ended up on the island as mercenaries of the Han rulers to serve in a military garrison and suppress uprisings of the indigenous population, because they had been desperately resisting since the conquest and inclusion into the Chinese state in the 2nd century. BC e. Major anti-government uprisings broke out here in the 16th-17th centuries and at the end of the 19th century.
At first, there were very few Han Chinese on the island, remote by those standards, which was then called the “gateway to hell”: a military garrison in the north, and also a place of exile for unwanted officials (five ministers of the Tang and Song eras visited Hainan in this capacity). The active penetration of the Han people throughout the island, especially on the fertile coastal plains, began already during the Tang Dynasty (VII-X centuries). Local residents were forced into the central mountainous regions.
As for the Hui people, who are identified as a separate people and live compactly on an island in the city of Sanya, they do not differ in language and appearance from the Han Chinese, but they traditionally profess Islam. Their distant ancestors were Arab and Persian traders who sailed on trading ships and took Han women as wives. The offspring of such mixed marriages are already mentioned in the Northern Song period (960-1127) as “Hui-hui”. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), which was tolerant of all religions, the Hui people formed as an independent group. During the reign of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), persecution began, but even under the communists the Hui people were able to defend their right to identity.
In the second half of the 14th century. the island became part of the Chinese province. In 1876, the Qing government opened the port of Haikou to foreign trade. In 1890-1891 Li rebelled against the Qing authorities, and in 1927-1936. Hainan was one of the areas of armed struggle against the Kuomintang authorities. When in 1939-1945. the island was occupied, the local population waged guerrilla warfare against Japanese troops, and after the war, in 1946-1949, it was an area of active opposition to the Kuomintang reaction. In 1952, an autonomous region of the Li and Miao peoples was created in Hainan, part of Guangdong Province, and in 1988 Hainan became a separate province.
Mountains, hills, platforms and plains of Hainan Island form a tiered architecture. The average height of the peaks is 500-800 m above sea level, 81 of them rise above 1000 m, and the highest mountains (Wuzhishan, Yingeling, Ezongling, Houmiling, Yajiadaling and Diaoloshan) have overcome 1500 m. Quite a lot of water flows radially from the mountain ranges in the center of the island. large rivers. In the mountains there are monsoon tropical forests, the plains are cultivated.
The Chinese government and the Hainan Provincial Tourism Authority are seriously concerned about turning this tropical island into a place of tourist pilgrimage - a world-class resort center.
Being at the same latitude as Hawaii, the island of Hainan has an excellent climate, excellent conditions for irrigation and very good ecology: clean air and sea. A variety of tropical fruits (more than 50 species), coconuts and sugar cane grow here; coffee, tea and cocoa (introduced in 1954), cotton, and more than 120 types of vegetables. Rice harvests are harvested 2-3 times a year. In general, ideal conditions for agriculture. As well as for inbound tourism, as the government decided when it launched the International Tourism Center project in 1999. The Chinese approached the development of the international tourism industry very intelligently, first of all taking up environmental issues, organizing dozens of parks and nurseries for wild animals and improving the natural sandbanks of the coastline - turning them into a many-kilometer chain of landscaped beaches.
Warm and transparent is also “landscaped”: now, according to the law, the discharge of harmful substances within the “island of international tourism” is prohibited. The bottom is thoroughly cleared of debris, and excursions to the underwater world are provided - for divers and on submarines.
Nature
The main biowealth of Hainan is concentrated in the area of the mountain tropical forests of the island, including the protected relic forests on Wuzhishan. The flora and fauna of the island is rich and diverse, with many endemic and rare, endangered species.
Not only zoos close to the wild, but also most of Hainan's experimental nurseries and nature reserves are accessible to visitors. At the same time, everything is organized so that guests’ visits are as safe as possible for both animals and people. Even if there are thousands of crocodiles and hundreds of tigers in the zoo, like near the city of Sanya. There you can watch predators feeding from special bridges. On the shores of Lake Dongshan there is a zoo with tropical fauna, imitating an African savanna, where in part of the territory wild animals (bears, tigers, lions) roam free in natural conditions, and tourists are transported in “impenetrable” cars; However, in the second part, predators, according to the tradition of zoos, sit in cages. A very famous and visited place is Monkey Island with Guancia macaques. There is the Butterfly Gorge Park and Aquarium, as well as the Yalong Bay Butterfly and Shellfish Museum and much more.
Culture
In addition to tropical exoticism, Hainan has such a valuable resource as national color. Here they are no longer trying to consolidate the local national minorities of the Li, Miao, Hui and others into a single Chinese nation, but are in every possible way encouraging the preservation and restoration of national cultural traditions. The existence of “folklore villages” and many cultural events are based on them: festivals, holidays, competitions in traditional martial arts, “staged” scenes from everyday life, etc.
In the south of Hainan, when it began to turn into an international tourism zone, the largest Buddhist center in Asia, Nanshan (“South Mountain”), appeared - a landscape park with statues of deities and restored ancient Buddhist temples. And in the very south there is the “Edge of the World” landscape park, with a collection of bizarre stone blocks, called by their own names and cataloged. A full bouquet of attractions for every taste. In addition, on the “Island of Eternal Spring”, in anticipation of dear foreign guests, roads have been put in order (the main cities are connected by a high-speed ring highway) and top-class hotels have been built.
general information
Hainan is the second largest island in China, with a very good ecology and favorable tropical climate.Location: in Bakbo Bay (aka Bay Buwan, Tonkin) of the South China Sea, across the narrow Hainan Strait from the Leizhou Peninsula.
Origin: The island broke away from the mainland as a result of volcanic activity.
Administrative affiliation: Hainan Province (from 1370 to 1988 the island was part of Guangdong Province). China.
Administrative center: Haikou city - 2,046,189 people. (2010).
Administrative division: 2 prefectures: Haikou and Sanya, 20 counties, 213 cities.
Languages: Mandarin Chinese (official), Hainanese, Cantonese, Tai-Kadai (Li), Miao-Yao (Miao), etc.
Ethnic composition: Han - 84%, Li - 14.7%, Miao - 0.7%, Huizu, Cun, etc.
Religions: Buddhism - the majority, Taoism, Islam (Huizu and Cun in the south, near the city of Sanya), Christianity.
Currency unit: Yuan.
Large cities: Haikou, Sanya - 685,408 people. (2010), Danzhou - 829,567 people. (1999), Dongfang - 358,313 people. (2000).
Major airports: Meilan, in the city of Haikou, and Fenghuang, in the city of Sanya (both international).
Major ports: Haikou, Sanya, Baso, Yangpusy.
Largest rivers: Nandujiang, Changhuajiang and Wangquanhe (154 rivers in total).
Highest mountains: Wuzhishan, Yingeling, Ezongling, Houmiling, Yajiadaling and Diaoloshan (above 1500 m).
Numbers
Area: 33,920 km2.Population: 8,671,518 people (2010).
Population density: 255.6 people/km 2 .
Highest point: 1867 m (Wuzhishan Mountain).
Coastline length: 1528 km.
There are 68 natural harbors on the island, 24 of which are already included in the transport system.
By 2000, there were 72 protected areas, 5 of which were of national importance.
Climate and weather
Tropical, monsoon.The central and eastern coast of the island has a humid climate, the southwestern region has a semi-arid zone, the south has a particularly favorable climate with dry air, and the remaining areas have a semi-humid climate.
The rainy season is from May to October.
Typhoons occur in August - September.
Average temperature in July(on the plains): +29°С.
Average January temperature(on the plains): +19°С.
Average annual water temperature: +26.5°C.
Average annual precipitation: 1200-1500 mm, in the mountains up to 3000 mm.
Average annual number of sunny days: 300.
Economy
Hainan is one of the first four free economic zones, currently the largest free economic zone in China.Industry is concentrated in the north, near the city of Haikou.
Natural resources: quartzite, natural gas, petroleum, malachite iron ore, titanium iron, aluminum, zirconium, sapphire, jade, rock crystal, oil shale, limestone, zeolite, drinking springs (underground reservoirs), sea salt (Yinggehai, Dongfang, Yuya salt mines) . Medicinal resources of plant and animal origin (used in traditional Chinese medicine and pharmaceuticals).
Industry: leading industries - petrochemistry, electronics and computer science, pharmaceuticals based on biological resources of the sea; also mining, energy, port, textile (silk factory), food, etc.
Agriculture: tropical crop production in the central and southern part of the island (coconut plantations, as well as tea, coffee, cocoa, sugar cane, hevea (rubber plant), citrus fruits, bananas, mangoes, pineapples, etc.; rice harvest is harvested 2-3 times per year.
Fish farming (fish factories), fishing.
Traditional crafts: fishing and cultivation of pearls, products made from mother-of-pearl, pearls and jade, from coconut palm raw materials (including shavings), silk weaving, collection of medicinal raw materials of plant and animal origin for Chinese traditional medicine, salt fishing.
Service sector: tourism, financial, transport, trade, organization of exhibitions, festivals and other cultural events of an international scale.
Attractions
■ Sandbanks and 60 equipped beaches occupying more than half of the coastline; coral reefs, marine flora and fauna.■ The most famous zones of tropical relict forests: Jianfengling Mountain in Yuedongxian County, Bawangling Mountain in Changjiangxian County, Diaoloshan Mountain in Lingshuixian County and Wuzhishan Mountain in Qiongzhongxian County).
■ Extinct volcanoes(Ma An, paired peaks near the city of Qiongshan, Leihuling crater, etc.), karst caves (Lobidun, Qianlongdong, Huangdidong, etc.), thermal springs (NanTian, Xinglong, etc.).
■ Nature reserves and nurseries, parks and zoos (in total there are more than 4 thousand plants on the island, of which more than 600 species are endemic; the fauna includes more than 500 species of vertebrates, 104 species of reptiles, 344 species of birds, 82 species of mammals, including rare species: black-headed long-armed ape monkey, musk deer, red deer, macaque, leopard, golden swallow): the black-headed long-armed monkey reserve in the Bawangling Mountains, the deer reserve in Dongfangxian County, the tropical fauna nature reserve (zoo) on the shores of Dongshan Lake, the golden swallow bird reserve in Wanning , Monkey Island - Guangxi Macaque Reserve on the Nanwan Peninsula, Xinglong Tropical Park, etc. Rivers, rapids, waterfalls and reservoirs.
■ Monuments of ancient history: 5 ancestral temples, erected in memory of 5 famous ministers of the Tang and Song dynasties exiled to Hainan (including the most honorable Liu Deyue); the Su Dongpo High School and the ancestral temple in memory of Su Dongpo, a writer of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). Burials of the medieval Ming era. A well of the Han era, dug by order of Emperor Wudi, the ancient town of Yazhou, the ancestral temple of the Wei family, a high school in Qiongzhi, a tower in Wenchang.
■ Memorable revolutionary places: Memorial of the Red Squad of Women Fighters in Jiajizhen City, Jinnyuling Fallen Warriors Memorial Park, Memorial Museum of the History of the Uprising in Baisha Township, Song Family Estate and Song Qingling House Museum. Mao Zedong Memorial.
■ International Tourism Zone in the vicinity of Sanya: the Buddhist center of Nanshan with a recreated ancient Buddhist temple, “Butterfly Gorge” (many different butterflies brought from the countries of Southeast Asia, Africa and South America), “Edge of the World” (bizarre stone blocks, each with its own own name), “Pirate Island”, tropical shell museum, crystal museum, oceanarium, farms of crocodiles, peacocks, ostriches, etc. Tea houses. Folklore villages of the Li and Miao peoples.
Curious facts
■ On Hainan Island, in the Center for Buddhist Culture on an artificial island, there is both the world’s tallest statue of the goddess of mercy Guanyin (108 m) and the world’s largest pure gold statue (weight 140 kg) depicting her.■ Hainanese are traditionally famous for their ability not only to catch, but also to grow the best pearls. A local achievement - a grown pearl measuring 15.5 x 19 cm.
One of the popular tourist places is Hainan Island, photos of which can be found on the Internet. The tropical stretch of land, surrounded by the waters of the South China Sea, territorially belongs to the People's Republic of China and at the same time represents a large province located in the south of the country. To have a general understanding of the island, you need to know that its coastline is 1,500 kilometers long and its population is approximately eighteen million people. The southern and central part of the province is covered with dense forest, as well as plantations where bananas, mangoes, coconuts, tea, and coffee grow.
The northern part is considered an industrial center, so for a tourist it is not enough to know where Hainan Island is on the map; it is also necessary to understand where is the best place to go for a good rest. The capital of the province is the city of Haikou, which has a population of about 1.5 million people. It harmoniously combines large industrial centers and a developed recreation industry with a wide range of entertainment and a huge network of hotels of various classes. The islands also owe their popularity to their unique microclimate, which makes swimming and relaxation possible all year round. It is also worth noting that the country maintains strict adherence to environmental regulations.
It is prohibited to build any industrial production within a hundred kilometers from Sanya in any direction; in addition, any sewerage system must be looped and connected to a treatment facility; dumping waste into the sea is not possible.
Over the past few years, the bays of Hainan Island have become a popular destination among travelers around the world. For this reason, the provincial government has taken the trouble to create a powerful infrastructure for dynamically developing tourism and recreation. Vacationers from all over the world are attracted by a wide network of interesting tourist routes along the coast and mountain ranges, complexes of mineral and radon springs, and high-quality sandy beaches. Tourists can enjoy beautiful views of ethnographic villages, geographically significant places, and also catch the adrenaline rush on one of the local highways.
Volcanic activity
The fact that volcanic activity in Hainan stopped eight thousand years ago is evidenced by extinct volcanoes. You can take a guided tour to their craters. If a traveler does not know what to see on Hainan Island, he should visit the most famous volcano here, called Ma An. Its shape visually resembles a saddle. You can climb to the crater, which is protected by a railing, along steps lined with volcanic magma. There is a full-fledged observation deck at the top, from where you can look inside the crater. Its neck is solidified lava, from which, over the years, a variety of tropical relict plants and dense bushes have sprouted. The tourist area of the attraction is a spacious park. Not far from the open-air observation deck, between the palm trees, there is a restaurant where folklore evening performances by local residents, representatives of the Miao and Li peoples, are held in the evenings.
Additional confirmation of the stopped volcanic activity are the thermal springs, which are considered attractions of Hainan Island in China and also attract a huge number of tourists from all over the world. Such springs are unevenly scattered throughout the province and are surrounded by small cottage resorts, which are surrounded by green thickets, consisting mainly of tropical plants. The most popular place is considered to be the Guantan spring complex, the water temperature of which reaches 70 – 90 degrees. A traveler can get here along the Wanquan River, which is the third largest on the island.
How to get there
A tourist can get to the island from almost any airport, even from the Far East and deep Siberia, but direct flights are not established today. The exception is charter flights, which mainly depart from Moscow. Most airlines operating today offer their customers flights with connections to various cities in China. You can fly from Khabarovsk and Moscow to Hainan Monkey Island with one transfer, from St. Petersburg or another region - with two or more transfers.
If a traveler wants to enjoy the views of mainland China and can afford to travel longer, he should consider options such as train or bus routes. You will still have to fly, but much less. Most Russian flights are served by the airport in a southern resort city called Sanya. In addition, it is worth noting that the province is considered a special economic zone promoting the development of inbound tourism, so the visa regime here is relatively simplified. That is why a traveler can receive a visa immediately upon arrival. Separate programs are also provided for Russian groups of tourists. If the size of the group, whose visit will not last longer than 15 days, exceeds five people, visitors on the group list can take advantage of the visa-free regime.
Weather on Hainan Island
If we look at the weather of Hainan Island in China by month, it is worth noting that its main distinguishing feature can be called stability. Throughout the year there are almost no temperature changes. Resorts on the southern side of China welcome guests continuously. The daytime temperature during the season varies from +23 to +26 degrees, except in rare cases. That is why there is no winter cold or sweltering summer heat. Another notable feature is the fact that the water temperature is always several degrees higher than the current air temperature. The local season is divided into:
- The dry period lasts from December to March. It is considered the most favorable period for rest, since there is practically no rain. Even in winter, the daytime temperature does not fall below +20 degrees, and the night temperature does not drop below +15 degrees.
- The rainy season lasts from April to November and is characterized by high humidity. Spring is considered the most favorable time for excursion trips, since there is no obvious heat yet. Further, the thermometer column shows a higher value every month. The August indicator rises to +40 degrees.
The best time for a beach holiday is considered to be from October to November, as the resort weather begins to recover, that is, showers occur less and less often. Thus, the weather of Hainan Island in autumn pleases with refreshing winds and average, comfortable air temperatures.
Sights of the province
For local vacationers, attractions are also important, of which there are a huge variety. Among them there are luxurious tropical beaches, as well as natural monuments and objects created by man himself. Modern travelers, as a rule, pay the greatest attention to the following places:
Thus, in addition to a beach holiday, vacationers are offered a huge number of places to visit, which usually cannot be visited in a few weeks of vacation. It is for this reason that tourists often return here again. Eighty kilometers from the city of Sanya there is an island with an area of 1000 hectares, where more than 2100 monkeys live, which belong to the type Guanxi macaques. There, tourists can visit a unique monkey circus, as well as dine inside a restaurant located on the water.
We can say that in any weather, Hainan Island in China will be an ideal holiday destination. This is due to the huge variety of leisure options. If the weather is not conducive to a beach holiday, you can go on an excursion or just take a walk around the city.
