A 10 – Day Self – driving Tour around Hainan Island
Introduction
Tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, I yearned for a getaway. Hainan Island, with its unique charm, first – class ecological environment, and rich natural resources, has always been a dream destination. In December, I embarked on a 10 – day self – driving tour around Hainan Island with my friends, with a per – capita budget of about 10,000 yuan.
Our Itinerary
The route was: Haikou – Wanning – Lingshui – Wuzhishan – Sanya – Dongfang – Haikou. Self – driving allows us to adjust the itinerary at will, reach some niche scenic spots, and stop to enjoy and photograph beautiful scenery on the way. Hainan Island is very suitable for self – driving as there are no highway tolls, and the expressways are well – connected.
Haikou
Haikou and Sanya are the most popular cities in Hainan. The air tickets to Haikou from all over the country are much cheaper than those to Sanya, so we chose to fly to Haikou.
Haikou is a city full of coconut trees. Along its long beach lies the vast Qiongzhou Strait, where sailboats often appear. The ancient volcanic group is covered with coral – like lava flows, freezing the old time here. The sea breeze is slightly cool, the flower fragrance is clear, and occasionally, you can hear the singing of birds.
- Qilou Old Street: It is a landmark in Haikou. The oldest building, Sipailou, was built in the Southern Song Dynasty, more than 700 years ago. There are more than 600 existing Qilou buildings, mainly concentrated on 12 streets. It is a historical and cultural street with a Eurasian – mixed urban style, a large – scale and well – preserved complex of Qilou buildings with Nanyang – style and Chinese – Western architectural features.
- Haikou Bell Tower: It is one of the eight scenic spots in Haikou. It was built in 1929 to meet the needs of foreign trade. The clock on the fifth floor has a unique design. The park around the bell tower is a good place for people to relax after meals. Taking a walk along the river near the bell tower is really enjoyable.
- Wanren Seafood Square: On the first night in Haikou, we went to A Lang Seafood in the square. It has a typical food – stall style. There are seafood markets in the square, where you can buy fresh seafood and have it processed in the shops. Dishes like spicy crab and salt – and – pepper mantis shrimp are highly recommended.
Wanning
Wanning is about an hour and a half’s drive from Haikou. It is known as the “Areca Nut Town” in China and has rich tourism resources.
– Shimei Bay: It consists of two crescent – shaped bays with a six – kilometer – long silver beach surrounded by low – lying, densely vegetated hills. It was praised by experts from the World Tourism Organization as the most beautiful undeveloped bay in Hainan. The name “Shimei Bay” comes from the black stones in the sea on the east side of the bay and the long – winding green – bark forest along the beach. The coastal road here is the most beautiful in Wanning, attracting many young ladies driving luxury sports cars to take pictures.
Lingshui
- Xincun Port: There is a floating “city” on the water here, also known as the floating “Venice”. Many Dan people live on fish rafts. They have lived on the water for generations, fishing for a living. There are floating supermarkets, gas stations, and police stations on the fish rafts. You can take a boat from the pier to experience their simple and original life.
- Xiangshui Bay: When you enter Xiangshui Bay, you will first see the green coconut groves and the endless silver beach. There are strange rocks by the sea, and the sea water is clear. At the foot of Tongling Mountain, there are scenic spots like “Qingtian Stone” and “Longwang Chair”. The top of the mountain is Niuling, facing Fenjiezhou Island from afar. There is also an “Immortal Well” near the beach, with sweet spring water gushing from the rock crevices.
Wuzhishan
The Wuzhishan Tropical Rainforest Scenic Area is located in Shuiman Township at the foot of Wuzhishan. The Wuman River, the mother river of the original Li village, flows through the scenic area. You can enjoy the deep tropical rainforest scenery, ancient trees, vines, and various rare plants. Standing on the viewing platform, you can overlook the majestic Wuzhishan. The open – time of the scenic area is from 08:30 to 16:30 (the latest entry is at 15:30), and it is recommended to book tickets in advance for a discount.
Sanya
- Guoguang Haosheng Resort Hotel: It is an old – established hotel in Sanya with excellent quality, service, and high cost – performance. It is located on the first – line seaside of Sanya Bay, with convenient transportation. It has a 4500 – square – meter swimming pool, and you can reach the opposite beach through the underground passage. The hotel integrates Southeast Asian architectural style with Hainan’s Li ethnic culture, and has various entertainment facilities such as a gym, SPA, tennis court, and children’s playground. The rooms offer a first – line sea view, and the price ranges from 800 to 2000 yuan.
- Wuzhizhou Island: It is known as the “Maldives of China”. According to legend, it was formed by the intervention of the Jade Emperor and two divine cows. The sea water here is very clear, and there are many entertainment projects. You can take a battery – powered vehicle to tour the island and visit scenic spots like Lover’s Island and Sunrise Rock. The ticket price includes round – trip boat tickets, and the opening hours are from 08:00 to 19:00.
- Coconut Islet: It is a niche and primitive scenic spot in Sanya. It is composed of more than a dozen small islands covered with coconut trees. You need to drive and hike to get there, and you may need to take a boat to reach deeper areas. It is very suitable for taking pictures, especially when the sun shines through the coconut groves.
- Along Yalong Bay: In the area of Bohou Village in Yalong Bay, you can see the scenery of cattle grazing. The sea breeze makes people feel relaxed and happy. Local residents often come here to fish, creating a peaceful and idyllic picture.
- Atlantis Water World & Lost Space Aquarium: Many people come to Sanya for Atlantis. The Lost Space Aquarium has more than 80,000 marine creatures of 280 species. You can buy a combo ticket for the aquarium and the water world. Popular projects in the water world include “Let Go and Take a Chance”, although it is a bit thrilling.
- Sanya Romance of the Millennium: The opening hours are from 15:00 to 21:30. You can take a bus or drive there. The performance is a visual feast based on Sanya’s 10,000 – year history.
- Houhai Village: Also known as Tenghai Fishing Village, it is a paradise for surfers. The sea in Houhai Bay is calm, suitable for swimming and surfing. There are many surf shops and homestays along the beach. You can take a bus or drive here.
- Linwang Night Market: It is a very local night market in Haitang Bay. Many locals come here for supper. You can find traditional and authentic Hainanese food like Qingbueliang.
Sanya Cuisine
- Mengdada Coconut Chicken: We went to the store in Yalong Bay. The restaurant has a fresh and island – style decoration. The coconut chicken, made with Wenchang chicken and coconuts from Dongjiao Coconut Grove, is a must – try. Dishes like wild taro and mackerel balls are also delicious.
- Little Dolphin Seafood Square (Sanya Bay Store): The restaurant has a marine – blue decoration style. There is a wide variety of fresh seafood. You can ask the staff for recommendations and choose your favorite cooking methods. Dishes such as salt – and – pepper mantis shrimp, scallops with vermicelli, and steamed ruby fish are very popular.
Dongfang
The Exianling in Dongfang is known as the “Little Guilin” in Hainan. It is like a hidden treasure. According to legend, there was a crow spirit in the cave here, and a beautiful Li girl named Eniang fought against it. You can take a boat to tour Yalong Lake here, enjoying the beautiful scenery of green mountains and clear waters, just like being in Guilin.
Conclusion
After a 10 – day self – driving tour around Hainan Island, we returned to Haikou, ending this wonderful journey. As Sanmao said, “The real joy of travel lies not in the destination but in the process.” Our journey will continue…
