Haikou, China

Haikou is the capital city of Hainan Province, People's Republic of China. It is situated on the north east coast of Hainan Island, and is the largest city on the island. With the sea on three sides Haikou enjoys a long coastline that features excellent bathing beaches and sea side resorts. Holiday Beach is the most popular of these, while Xixiu Beach is where the National sailing and windsurfing teams train and hold competitions.

The downtown area of the city has an excellent environment with streets lined with coconut palms. Besides its natural resources, Haikou has a number of important sites of historical interest. The Wugong Temple (The Five Official's Temple), the Tomb of Hai Rui and the Xiuying Emplacement each serve as reminders of the historical importance of Haikou.

Things to See & Do

* Wugong Temple
* Tomb of Hairui
* Old Street
* Holiday Beach
* Hainan Provincial Museum

General information

Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
Currency – Chinese Yuan (CNY)
Language – Mandarin
Population – 1,800,000 approx
Land Area – 2,304.84 km²
Electricity – 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style or with a round pin below
Time - GMT plus eight hours
International Country Telephone Code – + 86

Port Location – Haikou has two seaports for passenger and cargo service. Haikou New Port, formerly known as the Inner Harbour, is located on the southern side of the mouth of the Nandu River 7 km west of Haikou Xiuying Port.

Travel Links – Haikou is served by Haikou Meilan International Airport, which is located 25 km from the city. Local airlines Hainan Airlines and China Southern Airlines have domestic flights to many Chinese cities, as well as some international flights to neighbouring countries. In addition, Haikou is well-served by other Chinese airlines. There are also international flights to Hong Kong on Hong Kong Ailines, Seoul on Asiana, Kuala Lumpur on AirAsia and Singapore on Tiger Airways and Jetstar.

Buses connect Haikou to many cities on the Chinese mainland, including Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guilin, and Nanning. Most buses are overnight sleepers. Buses are loaded on to ferries and arrive in Haikou at either Xingang port or Xiuying port.

A railway links Haikou to the mainland. A ferry service transports the railway cars, along with other motor vehicles across the strait. The Hainan East Ring Railway links Haikou and Sanya. There are 15 stations in between, either in operation or still under construction. Trains are designed to travel at 250 km/h. Travel time from Haikou to Sanya is approximately 1 hour and 22 minutes. The main station in Haikou is Haikou East Central Railway Station located near the southern end of Long Quan Road.

Important Visa Information
Australian and New Zealand passport holders staying on board or going ashore to visit any Chinese ports are required to obtain a single-entry Chinese visa (3 month validity) prior to travel. We recommend you include a copy of your itinerary with your application and confirm the expiration of the visa at the time of issue to ensure that it is valid for your stay in China. Visas cannot be issued upon the ship’s arrival. Please note that any passengers not in possession of a Chinese visa may be denied boarding or incur a fine.