The "Mouth of the Sea", Haikou is nestled along the Nandu River that flows into the South China Sea. Haikou is a melting pot of eastern and western cultures, traditional and modern, where steel and glass buildings stand amidst ancient buildings, and traditional folk music plays from an antique cassette player at the newspaper stand while pop music blares out from the CD player across the street.
There is so much to do in Haikou. Visit fishing villages, explore ancient tombs and shrines, indulge in sea sports or simply relax at the many beaches along its coastline. For a taste of Hainanese culture, mingle with the locals at the bustling Haixiu Avenue. Hainan’s local produce such as pearls, coconut, seashell and horn carvings, coffee and pepper can be found there. Also not to be missed is Hainan’s famous specialities – Wenchang Chicken, Dongshan Mutton, Jiaji Duck and Hele Crab.
