Hainan my tropical experience in China
Contributed by feature reporter Jens Hoffmann
Hainan is a huge tropical island and the southernmost province of China, worldfamous for its beaches, climate and natural scenery.
The island offers clear blue waters, luxury resorts and a nice atmosphere.
The region is famous for tourism, water sports, mountains and its diverse wildlife.
In recent years, Hainan has developed rapidly as a free trade port, helping to promote business, trade, and international cooperation.
With its natural beauty and growing economy, Hainan continues to be an important and attractive region in China.
Hainan offers far more than just sand and sunshine.
Think tropical beaches, rich cultural heritage, ecological treasures, and cutting-edge space technology.
Explore ancient streets, discover ethnic minorities, relax in lush rainforest resorts, and witness a rocket launch.
It’s a large island, roughly 300 km long and 180 km wide and its warm climate makes it a year-round destination.
Start in Haikou, the provincial capital, then journey to the south to the resort city of Sanya, discovering the island’s natural attractions on the way.
There’s an excellent transport network and accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets.
Our flight arrived in Haukou and we enjoyed the well preserved historic district.
It reminds me of old Singapore or Hong Kong and the streets are lined with nicely crumbling colonial style buildings, nestled cheek by jowl among the 21st century Chinese high rises.
It covers quite a large area and, although the main street has the typical tourist tea houses, snack bars and artisan shops, the narrow side alleys are very definitely local.
I find food markets, grocery shops and pavement vendors, a mirror of the Hainan day to day.
At night the area lights up, with music and street food.
Travelling south down the east coast, I arrive in Wenchang, home to one of China’s premier space centres.
Here you will find practical advantages for space missions. High tech materials arrive by boat and launching over the sea is an extra safety factor.
Lift off is scheduled for just after midnight, so I set my alarm and sure enough, bang on time, I see the ignition.
There’s a huge flash, a shattering noise and the pin prick trail of the rocket vanishes in the clouds.
Wow.
The hotel where we are staying also has an artificial wave pool but I prefer the freedom of the ocean and am soon out with the locals.
The great thing here is that, unlike many surf shots that are seasonal, favourable conditions exist throughout the year.
And after dark the bars come alive with skilled DJ’s providing the music and it becomes party central.
Hainan is home to several ethnic minority groups, including the Li and Miao peoples, whose traditions go back for generations. Binglanggu Heritage Park is situated along the Areca Valley surrounded by mountainous forest on either side. It’s designed to provide valuable insight into the island’s cultural diversity and indigenous heritage.
Covering vast areas of the island’s mountainous interior, the park protects some of the country’s best-preserved tropical rainforest ecosystems.
It’s home to an extraordinary variety of plant and animal species, including the critically endangered Hainan gibbon, one of the world’s rarest primates. At its centre, cable cars whisk you up and down and a network of electric carts ferries you around.
A huge glass observation platform, stretching out above the trees, is a great place to get an overview of the park.
You can even sit in a swing and be pushed out over the forest. Later, it’s worth taking the 3 km hiking trail through the dense forest to get up close with nature. Breathe cool mountain air, surrounded by colossal trees, walking along misty valleys, to emerge back at the entrance to the park.
In the far south of the island, Sanya is a modern resort city sitting on the shores of the South China Sea.
It’s easy to get around either on foot, scooter or golf cart. At its heart is a warren of narrow streets with a small fish market at its centre. This is where the locals shop and where you relax into island life. The coral reefs surrounding the island support vibrant marine life, perfect for underwater exploration
Walking along the shoreline at dusk is particularly rewarding, a winning combination of turquoise water, gentle sea breezes, and blood red skies. Street food stalls line the seafront offering freshly prepared seafood while people pose for selfies.
I’ve only one night here and it’s the end of my trip to Hainan. I’m already planning to return.
Information:
Hainan Airlines flies to Haikou, Hainan, via Changsha from many aiports like Frankfurt and London Heathrow.
Chinese National Tourist Office:
