The best resort in the Celestial Empire, “Eastern Hawaii” and the main Chinese health resort Hainan in the past was an exiled island for nobles. Today, only the lazy did not hear about him. A good half of Siberia and the entire Far East treat their ailments and ailments here, at the same time betraying their mortal bodies to the warm turquoise waters of the South China Sea. It’s even boring to describe the traditional picture of Hainan beaches – everything is luxuriously banal to the gnashing of teeth: here they are, emerald palm trees, snow-white sand and azure waters. Let’s talk about the chips of Hainan, this island has plenty of them. Check topschoolsintheusa to learn more about China.
Firstly, Li and Miao are the main ethnic groups in Hainan, arranging amazing funeral and wedding ritual shows for tourists, which makes this corner of China completely different from the rest of the country. Secondly, fruits – rambutans, lychee and other exotic fruits in Hainan will become the main meal at any time of the day or night, since you will not try such an abundance of goodies anywhere else. Further hot healing springs, which do not need special introduction. And, finally, a surprise for all the lazy people who vacationed in Hainan: a rich cultural heritage, which should be looked for not in the south, where all the resorts are concentrated, but in the north, where, in fact, the tired emperor was exiled to know.
Cities and resorts of Hainan
The capital of the island is the city of Haikou. It is here that tourists arrive in the province by bus and train. Most of them immediately go south by high-speed rail or taxi to Sanya with its picturesque beaches and comfortable hotels. But in Haikou itself there is also something to see. The historical center of the city is interesting, where many old buildings have been preserved. At a distance of 15-30 km from it there are historical monuments, many of which are associated with the famous Ming dynasty, which ruled China for almost 300 years. Among them are the Wugong Temple, the tomb of Hai Rui and the academy built in memory of the scholar Qiu Jin.
30 km from Haikou there is an unusual observation deck, equipped on the edge of the crater of the long dormant Ma An volcano. You can climb to it on the steps of magma, from the top you can see a breathtaking view of the frozen lava, relic tropical plants and two active volcanoes that rise nearby.
In the bay of Sanya is the city of the same name – the resort center of the island. On both sides of it stretch strips of beaches and hotels. There are a lot of them on the territory of Sanya itself, but here the hotels are located across the road from the sea. The southern part of the island attracts not only beach lovers. Whatever the purpose of the trip to Hainan, tourists will not be bored here. From the city it is convenient to get to the main attractions of the province – Monkey Islands, Nanshan Temple and Bethel Nat Ethnic Park.
For lovers of outdoor activities in the vicinity of Sanya there are all conditions for diving, surfing, paragliding, cycling and fishing.
Yalunvan is the most elite recreation area, located 25 km from Sanya, famous for its wide beaches with white sand. The most fashionable (and expensive) hotels and major diving centers are located here. In addition, the water in Yalun Bay is the cleanest, the sea is especially calm and slightly cooler than in other parts of the coast of the island. However, for evening entertainment, you will have to go to Sanya from here (about 30 km and 100 CNY by taxi).
All hotels in the resort area Dadonghai, which is 3-4 km from Sanya, are located directly on the coast. This place is popular with surfers: in their opinion, the winds are right here. However, the beaches of Dadonghai are very often crowded: the local population comes there, and there are few sunbeds and umbrellas.
Sanyavan Bay is located near Sanya Airport, its infrastructure is still being developed. The main disadvantage of this resort area is that all the beaches are across the road. The coastal waters here are not as transparent as in Yalunvan, but the surrounding landscapes fully compensate for this. One of the most comfortable hotels in Sanyavan is the Holiday Inn, and recently the largest five-star complex in Hainan, Howard Johnson, opened here.
Hotels in Hainan
Most of the hotel base of Hainan is reserved for “five”. There are few 4-star hotels in Hainan, and in terms of infrastructure they are very different from even modest 5* hotels, not to mention 5* Deluxe. In addition, all the “fours” are located on the second line from the sea. The price per night in a double room in a 5 * hotel ranges from 300-4000 CNY, 4 * – 200-700 CNY. The cost depends on the set of options and the location of the hotel.
There are also budget housing in the resort area. Prices start at 30 CNY for a bed in a shared room. Those who want to stay closer to the sea should consider offers from 100 CNY per room.
Apartments are very popular among tourists. They are suitable for those who prefer to cook on their own. Some are designed for up to 10 guests, so even expensive options are beneficial when calculated per person. Prices range from 200 to 1000 CNY, and in apart-hotels and 5 * villas it can reach up to 30,000 CNY.
The cheapest accommodation options should be looked for outside the resort area, in the north of the island. In the capital of Hainan, Haikou, a night in an apartment for two will cost only 40-50 CNY. Prices for a double room in a 5 * hotel – from 365 to 900 CNY.
Diving in Hainan
The rich world of the depths of the South China Sea has been providing the island with a steady influx of divers from all over the world for several years now. Visibility under water there is more than 20 m, and diving is possible all year round due to the stable mild climate and the absence of strong currents. Sometimes, however, echoes of southern storms reach Hainan, and then divers are forced to give way to surfers for several days.
Popular dive sites: Xiaodonghai Bay (two wrecks: cargo ship and boat, depth 15 m), Yalongwan (densely populated coral colonies, 18 m), Houhai Bay (corals and underwater rocks with grottoes, 30 m), Fenjiezhou Island (rocks and wrecks, 25 m).
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Shopping and shops
The hallmark of Hainan is pearls, which are famous for their regular shape and variety of colors. Tea, rock crystal, silk, porcelain, wood carvings, Buddhist souvenirs and Feng Shui symbols are also brought from the island.
You can first try different varieties of Chinese tea in tea houses scattered throughout the island, and then buy the one you like.
Haikou’s Haikou Dungeon Street is home to high-end shopping, and art crafts can be purchased at the Land of Sky and Sea Cape Market. In the city of Sanya, the main department stores are located on Liberation Street in the city center.
Not so long ago, a Tax free system was introduced on the island, but so far only in a few stores. The amount of purchases must be from 800 to 5000 CNY, VAT refund – 11%.
In search of fresh vegetables and fruits, Chinese spices and handmade souvenirs, you should look at the “First Market” in Sanya. This is a huge square filled with tents and stalls. Those who are not interested in meat, fish, vegetables and spices should not enter the enclosed space. There is always an unpleasant smell in the department of seafood delicacies, a wet floor and a lot of people. Nuts, fruits, ready meals and souvenirs are sold at street stalls next to the market. By the way, here is a detailed infa about prices in Hainan.
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What to try
In the menu of Hainan catering, you can find dishes that are prepared only in this province. Deciding to try them is not easy, but definitely worth it. As in any corner of China, noodles are very popular among the locals. We recommend that you try this dish cooked in Hainanese and Lingshui style – the recipes are typical for this province. Another hallmark of the island is the quadrangular beans. This variety is grown only in Hainan, they cook it in almost every restaurant.
In no case should we forget about fresh fruits – lychee, mango, papaya, guava and many other tropical trees grow in Hainan.
The resorts serve a huge amount of seafood prepared in a variety of ways (for example, Hele crab in garlic sauce). From meat dishes, you should definitely try the Jiajing duck, and for dessert – fried ice cream “chaobin”.
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Cafe and Restaurant Hainanya
You can eat in Yalunvan only in hotel restaurants, and since all hotels are high-class, dinner in them will cost tourists an average of 135 CNY. In Dadonghai, food is much easier, there are a lot of different cafes and restaurants near the hotels, dinner in them will cost 50-75 CNY.
In search of cheap food, you should pay attention to small Chinese cafes where the locals dine (25-60 CNY), or international fast food chains – McDonald’s, KFC, pizzerias and others. A light snack will cost only 10-20 CNY. Approximately the same will cost a dinner of shaokao barbecue street kebabs (everything is fried – bread, vegetables, meat and seafood).
Sea cafes and restaurants are especially popular among tourists in Hainan. You can recognize them by their large aquarium. Here they serve squid, shrimp, crabs, lobsters and other inhabitants of the depths, cooked according to various Chinese recipes. Weird and unusual, but very tasty.
For guests who prefer not to experiment with food, Hainan has many establishments of American, Italian, Armenian and other cuisines of the world. On the embankment in Dadonghai Bay there are restaurants with Russian names and menus familiar to our people. Having ordered borscht or dumplings, you may not even notice that you are relaxing in China. Prices are moderate – 50-100 CNY for dinner for one person.
Fans of a dense and varied meal should look into restaurants that work on the buffet principle. The price of the issue is 120-150 CNY per person, with a choice of vegetables, fruits, desserts, meat and seafood. Grill bars are another type of places where you can not only have a delicious meal, but also spend time with friends over a glass of beer and a football match. The average check is 100-120 CNY per person.
Weather
Hainan is the second largest (after Taiwan) and the only island in China with a tropical climate. More than 300 days a year there is clear sunny weather. The average annual air temperature on the island is + 24 ° C, water – + 26 ° C. The ideal time to visit is from March to November. December-February are considered the coldest months.
In mid-late summer, the island is very hot, it rains more often. For those who do not tolerate high temperatures, it is better to plan a vacation in the middle of spring or early autumn – the weather is comfortable and the sea is warm. In September-October, there are many Chinese in the resorts, and from February to May they are occupied by Europeans.
