The tropical island, which is part of the eponymous province of Hainan, located in southern China, is known as East Hawaii (both islands are located at the same latitude). Summer reigns here all year round, and the change of seasons is determined not by temperature indicators, but by the direction of winds and rains. Tourists are attracted here by the opportunity to improve their health and relax in an exotic corner of the planet, as well as unique attractions. Information about what to bring from Hainan as a souvenir of the trip will be useful.
Why you should definitely visit Hainan
The island, whose name translates as "the island south of the sea", covers 34.4 thousand square kilometers and has a population of approximately 9 million people. The length of the coastline is 1.5 thousand kilometers.
Its southern and central regions are dotted with dense forests and numerous plantations of bananas, mangoes, pineapples, tea, coffee and coconuts (information for those who are interested in what fruits are in Hainan).
The northern part is industrial. The capital - the city of Haikou - is known for a large number of entertainment and ways to spend time, a variety of hotels of various levels.
There are many reasons why you should definitely come to this part of China:
- The special microclimate allows you to come to rest in Hainan throughout the year. The dry season falls in December – March, and the wet season in August – October. The highest temperatures are recorded here in June and July.
- The island maintains a strict ecological regime. For example, within a radius of 100 km from the city of Sanya, it is not allowed to locate manufacturing enterprises. Waste disposal into the sea is also prohibited, all sewage systems are looped and go to the central treatment systems.
- Sandy beaches, mineral and radon springs, a network of hiking trails and highways deserve special attention.
- All local beaches are owned by the municipality and are well equipped and clean. The entrance to the sea is shallow in most cases. Fans of diving should choose Yalongwan Bay, surfers - Dadonghai Bay.
- Close to Macau and Hong Kong.
- There are a large number of attractions on the island: ethnographic villages of the indigenous people of Miao and Li, the Land of the World Park, the Oceanarium, Monkey Island (across the strait from the city of Sanya), the Nanshan Buddhist Center, Nanshan Temple, a botanical garden, which displays unique tropical plants , Butterfly Museum, Pirate Island.
Here guests will also be taught how to conduct a real Chinese tea ceremony, will be given the opportunity to fish on the Spokoinoe lake, and visit the tiger and crocodile zoo.
What is worth buying on the island
The biggest gift you can give yourself on Hainan Island is to improve your health. Many hotels here have mineral springs and spas that will take care of your spine and joints.
When the question arises of what to bring from Hainan as a gift, it is important to pay attention to the goods that will remind you specifically of China: Hainan shirt, corals, medicines, jewelry and cosmetics, leather and silk products, tea, fruits, china, etc. many, many other exotic products.
What to buy exclusive
If you want to surprise your family and friends with something unusual, pay attention to the souvenirs that are produced by craftsmen in this part of the country and which you cannot buy anywhere else:
- Leisure clothing. Several years ago, the island's authorities introduced a rule according to which it is necessary to adhere to a certain fashion, emphasizing the island flavor. One of the notable things is the famous Hainan shirt. You can recognize it by its bright colors. They are made for people of different sexes and ages, for lovers, for couples. Moreover, it can be not only literally a shirt, but also a sundress, shorts and other wardrobe items. Putting on such an outfit, a person seems to say: "I'm on vacation." That is why many try to immediately plunge into shopping on the island of Hainan in order to quickly feel like they are on vacation.
- Masks in the style of the culture of the local aborigines. Such souvenirs serve as wall decorations and can only be compared with masks made by American Indians.
- Corals and seashells. The former are here called "sea flowers from a stone". But their cost on the island is quite high, so many people prefer to replace them with shells. But here is just the right time to remember that you cannot take out of Hainan. Both of these souvenirs can be taken home only if they have been previously processed. It is even better to have a receipt confirming the purchase with you, otherwise these goods may be taken away at customs. There are no exact restrictions on the size and number of shells and corals, but there should not be too many of them so that no one suspects you of being exported for commercial purposes. If you want something really unique, buy a piece of tridacna - a type of bivalve molluscs with shells up to 1.5 meters long. Such souvenirs are considered especially valuable because they are stored even longer than pearls.
- Medicines. China is a country of alternative medicine. Pay attention to snake powder, nanocalcium, shark oil, joint balm. To choose a cream or other drug, you just need to tell the seller for what purpose you need it. But remember that such souvenirs from Hainan are also best exported in small quantities.
- Coconut product. Palm trees with coconuts grow here in large numbers. Therefore, there is nothing surprising in the fact that the natives got used to making various useful and simply pleasant things for guests out of them. For example, sweets, powder, mashed potatoes, dried fruits are made from the pulp of a nut. And from the shell, vases, flasks, storage containers are made.
Take a sociological survey!
Jewelry and cosmetics
The next thing to buy in Hainan is definitely pearl jewelry. The island is the leading earner of this marine jewel.
Hainan pearls have a unique color scheme, luster, and are durable. Almost all jewelry that can be bought in the local shops and shops is handmade.
In addition, there is a factory on the island where pearls are grown, processed and various products made from them. There is a shop at the factory where you can buy it.
According to the reviews of those who have already visited the island, it is worth going here for "serious decorations". But the most common beads are cheaper to buy at the market or on the beach. Real pearls do not deform and do not leave scratches on themselves.
It is worth recalling the special effect that pearl powder has. It is saturated with amino acids, mineral elements (in particular, calcium) and is included in various cosmetics. Pearl cosmetics are in great demand in Hainan. The Chinese are sure that pearls give youth, and therefore they actively use dust from it in cosmetology - to soften the skin and fight wrinkles.
Hainan is home to the world's largest rock crystal deposits. Earrings, bracelets, beads, rings and other jewelry are made from it. Not only the material itself is appreciated, but also the ability of Hainan craftsmen to grind it, bringing the products to perfection.
Factories that specialize in the processing of rock crystal are located in the suburbs of Sanya. And in the town of Wanning, there is the Gem Museum, where you can look at tourmalines, garnets, diamonds and other minerals.
In the very first days of your vacation, you need to buy coconut oil. It will help to give your tan a pleasant, even shade and protect your skin from burns.
We replenish the wardrobe
China is one of the leading manufacturers of leather goods. But few people come to the island to buy a leather jacket. And it is completely in vain: since they are bought here mainly by locals, prices on the island of Hainan for these goods are very low.
It is best to look for branded clothing in shopping malls and in stores at expensive hotels. There is a wide range of beachwear on the island, which can be bought very cheaply. Shorts, for example, will cost 40 yuan (about $ 5).
Natural silk deserves special attention. Clothes, blankets, bed linen are sewn from it. As a presentation, you can buy a silk scarf. The silk factory is one of the most visited places on the island.
What to bring from food
If you decide to bring something edible from the island, you need to ask the seller how to transport and what are the storage conditions for the product you have chosen. Hainan is famous for its large selection of fruits: kiwi, bananas, coconuts, mango, pomelo - this is just what we are used to at home. But here you can find a lot of things that are not on other continents:
- Pitthaya - known as "dragon fruit", tastes distantly like strawberries, contains a lot of vitamin C.
- Mangosteen is a small fruit, tart-sweet in taste, perfectly quenches thirst, has useful properties, for which it received the name “fruit of the gods”.
- Durian is an egg-shaped tree with 5 chambers inside. Its pulp has a slightly sweet taste, reminiscent of a mixture of cheese and nuts, with the same characteristic smell.
- Lychee - These fruits resemble cherries with the smell of strawberries and pineapple.
- Longan or "dragon's eye" - looks very much like a potato, has a sweet taste, is rich in minerals and vitamins.
Tea will be an excellent gift. Its cultivation in this region of the planet is facilitated by the subtropical climate and landscape features. Most often, tourists prefer black tea "Scarlet East" and green tea "Emperor's Concubine".
In particular, Puerh tea is one of the most expensive varieties in the world, obtained through microbial fermentation. Tea is sold literally everywhere. Many stores will not only teach you how to brew it, but will also offer you to master a real Chinese tea ceremony.
One of the places where you can buy tea in Sanya is the Maxim trading house.
What else can you bring from the products:
- coconut milk - sold in cans and boxes in all supermarkets;
- coffee - the island has a botanical garden with a whole coffee plantation. Here you can also taste and buy this drink;
- alcohol - presented in the form of tinctures, bottled, in which, in addition to the drink itself, you can also find herbs or snake skins;
- spices - aromatic white and black peppers are grown here. There are no specialized stores, but you can buy such a gift in any market;
- sweets - you can choose a gift set in the form of a wooden box filled with coconut, coffee, mint sweets. Hainan chewing gum and hard candy are also popular. And coffee sweets completely replace a cup of coffee - they have the same portion of caffeine.
What else to bring from the island
The list of gifts from Hainan can be expanded with the following products:
- porcelain - products made from it will amaze with their variety. Here you can find both factory items and handmade products. Items from Jingdezhen porcelain deserve attention. It is thin and airy;
- Chinese umbrellas - they will surprise you with the brightness of colors, drawings and plots;
- electronics - even if you are very skeptical about products made in China, still take a look at watches that can take photos and shoot videos.
- iPhone - you can buy this product on the island a little cheaper than at home. And it can turn out to be of decent quality;
- goods made of yellow rosewood (a type of wood) - once it was used to make furniture only for the imperial house. And they produce many useful things: caskets, rosary, bowls, combs, umbrellas, chess, cases.
Where to go shopping
In Hainan, everything is made for tourists, and therefore shopping will not cause any problems. There are many shopping streets, shops, supermarkets and markets. The main thing is to know what and where to buy.
Shopping centers on the island
Popular shopping centers in Hainan are located mainly in Sanya, in Dadonghai Bay and in the capital:
- Mingzhu Plaza - located in the center of Sanya. Numerous clothing, footwear and accessories boutiques are located on 6 floors, food courts and a cinema are located on the upper floors.
- In the Summer Mall you can buy perfumes and cosmetics, goods for men, women and children, sports goods, household appliances, bedding.
- Gou Jun is a shopping center in Sanya, which includes three floors, which houses stationery, electronics, clothing, footwear, food stores.
- The Pineapple shopping center has the shape of this fruit. The Chinese have thought over the pastime here to the smallest detail, and therefore anyone can find something to do with themselves. Particular attention is paid to the play areas for children.
- Shopping centers "Winter" and "Leto" - these complexes are located close to each other in the center of Dadonghai. The first is suitable for budget shopping, while the second is where brand stores are concentrated.
- The Tianhun shopping center is located opposite the bus station and offers customers fashionable clothes from European brands.
- Crowne Plaza Shopping Center - located in the Crowne Plaza hotel in Sanya. More than 100 stores of local and European manufacturers of clothing and footwear and accessories are located on its territory.
In Haikou, you need to pay attention to the shopping centers Pearl Plaza, Tailong Mall, Yi Xin Shopping Park.
Popular Stores
If you want to go shopping, rather than spend the whole day in the malls, then the pedestrian street in Sanya awaits you. From Dadonghai you can get here by buses No. 2 and No. 8. McDonald's will serve as a reference point.
Jiefang Road shopping street is located in the heart of the city. Here you will find two rows of kiosks with souvenir products, at the end of the street - clothing stores, cafes, a supermarket, KFC fast food. But prices here can be higher than in other stores, since everything is geared towards tourists.
Where else you need to look:
- Corner Deli in Dadonghai - here you can buy imported drinks and food. Located on the top floor of the Summer Mall. The prices here differ little from other outlets, but the assortment is more diverse.
- International Luxury Center - located at the Mangrove Tree Hotel. People come here for luxury goods from world brands: Burberry, Lanvin, Dior and others.
- The Senya store in Sanya offers national clothing for beach and island holidays.
- Watsons is a chain of cosmetics and body and face care products. Here you can find local products and imported brands.
- Yuejin Lu is a pearl shop in Sanya. Next to it is the First Market in Sanya, you can get there by bus number 3.
- "Silk Way" is a silk goods store.
And don't forget about the specialty shops at the tea and coffee plantations.
Hainan Markets
Markets are the best place to buy food in Hainan. In Sanya, the most popular bazaar is called "First". It is one of the most democratic in terms of prices. For adequate money, you can buy vegetables, fruits, seafood, tea, coffee, toys, electronics, clothes. The market is open from 4 am and closes late at night.
The Sanya Fish Market starts at Lao Yu Gang Square. Local fishermen bring their catch here early in the morning. Here you can find more than 150 departments with different types of fish and about 35 food courts, where you can cook whatever you want: oysters, fish, crabs, seahorses, shrimps. Be prepared for the smell in this place to be specific.
The Hongshi market (Sanya) is divided into two parts - south and north.The first is for retail buyers, the second is for wholesalers.
You should definitely visit the Hungan fruit market and the Letyan bazaar with products from local farmers.
Market No. 1 is also a night market. In the evenings, local artisans come here with their products. But the question of how to get to the Sanya night market will not cause any trouble. Just take buses 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12, 16, 30, 31. They all stop two hundred meters from the bazaar.
Discounts and sales seasons
Long seasons of sales in Hainan are mainly organized by chain stores. They are usually timed to coincide with public holidays:
- October 1 - Day of the People's Republic of China;
- New Year;
- New Year according to the Eastern calendar;
- May 1 - Labor Day;
- Mid-Autumn Festival (falls on October 1 in 2021).
In small shops and private shops, you can always get a discount if you buy more than one item. But this must be agreed with the seller in advance.
It is customary to bargain on the island. Sometimes you can get a discount of up to 50%.
When shopping in Dadonghai or another Hainan region, please note that when local merchants want to make a discount, they indicate in the shop window how many percent of the previous price the item will cost, and not vice versa, as is customary in Europe.
The article “National Currency in China” will answer questions about China's money.
Tax-free and duty-free
In January 2021, the Tax Free system was launched on the island. Purchasing goods in excess of 500 RMB (approximately $ 120), but no more than 5,000 RMB (about $ 745), you can get a refund of 11% of the check amount. Departure in this case should be carried out through the airports of Sanya and Haikou.
VAT compensation applies to the following types of goods: cosmetics, clothing, accessories, shoes, jewelry, haberdashery, watches, arts and crafts, electronics, household appliances and some others.
The tourist must be at least 18 years old. You can use the tax-free service only twice in 1 year.
You will have to pay for the goods in full. But it will be possible to pick up purchases only at the airport in a special area. You need to have your passport and check with you.
The first duty-free shop was opened in Sanya City. A little later, a large China Duty Free store appeared - one of the few in the world that is located outside the airport (next to Dadonghai Bay). Opened in 2009, it occupies about 120 thousand square meters.
Shopping Tips
What you need to know before traveling to Hainan:
- If you want a discount, bargain. But do it politely and proactively. Local sellers are easy to bargain.
- Before you buy unfamiliar fruit, ask for a taste. Their taste can not always meet the expectations of tourists.
- Good things on the island don't come cheap. Therefore, never agree to buy multiple units of something for the price of one.
- Going to the island, you need to stock up on antihistamines in case of an allergic reaction. It can arise here for anything.
- Never forget that you cannot take out of the island, and buy gifts according to customs regulations.
Outcomes
A reminder of a vacation in Hainan can be a "Hainan shirt", jewelry with pearls or rock crystal, cosmetics based on pearl dust. From edibles you can bring sweets, tea or coffee, exotic fruits. There are several large shopping centers on the island, and markets where you can bargain are very popular. Thanks to the tax-free system, you can return 11% of the amount spent on some types of goods.
