Hainan Island is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the country with a tropical climate, fruit plantations and well-maintained beaches. All this attracts tourists from all over the world. On the map, it does not border on other states, but only on the mainland of China.
Hainan - where is it located
When going on a trip, you need to know where Hainan is. It is a province located in the southern part of China, which is washed by the sea. It is located on the same latitude as Hawaii, which is why the island is also known as "Eastern Hawaii". The island is the border between mainland China and the Gulf of Tonkin.
For your information! The administrative center of Hainan and its largest city is Haikou. This city from an ordinary province in a few years has become a modern metropolis. In terms of area, it ranks 29th among all cities in the world.
What washes in Hainan
Which sea is washing Hainan? The island is surrounded by the South China Sea, which is part of the Pacific Ocean. It is separated from the Leizhou Peninsula by the Qiongzhou Strait. Unlike the mainland of China, in Hainan you can swim in the sea almost all year round, which is why the island is so popular among tourists.
Important! Many tourists distort the name of the island, calling it Han Yan in China, but this is a mistake.
How to get there
The most popular option is to fly by plane. The resort has airports in Haikou and Sanya. The flight time from Moscow to Hainan takes 10 hours. But direct flights to Hainan do not fly every day. There are very few direct flights; almost all options involve one or two transfers. The most economical option is with a transfer in the Chinese capital. In this case, the flight to Hainan will take about a day.
Also, Hainan can be reached from the main Chinese tourist centers. The airport in Sanya can be reached by bus or taxi. The duration of the trip depends on the remoteness of the resort.
Note!Some hotels organize transfers to the island. A taxi ride will cost RMB 50-150 *.
You can go to Hainan (China) by train. But there is no direct rail link between Russia and the island, so you need to get to the mainland by plane. Trains run to Hainan from almost all cities. The most convenient way is from Guangzhou.
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Important!During the ferry trip, all passengers are in the carriages and it is prohibited to leave them. Therefore, you will not be able to admire the beautiful seascapes.
One of the most interesting train journeys is the one from Beijing. But the travel time is about 35 hours. But it will turn out to look at life in the Chinese provinces.
Buses run to the administrative center of the island - Haikou. They are sent from almost all major cities in China. For those who want to get to Hainan Beach faster, it is better to leave from Guangzhou, but during the trip you will also need to take a ferry to get to the province.
Story
The first written records in China of the island of Hainan appeared during the reign of the Western Han dynasty. The island territory was used for a military camp. Among the significant events in the annals is the description of the victories of General Lu Bode over the indigenous tribes inhabiting Hainan. Over time, this territory was annexed to the mainland of China.
For your information!Now there are ethnographic settlements on the island in which the Li people live. These are the descendants of indigenous tribes - the first inhabitants of Hainan.
Later, this island became a place of exile, since in the ancient era the lands were wild and uncomfortable. Among the famous exiles was the Chinese artist and poet Su Dongpo. It was thanks to him that the cultural life of the local population rose - an academy and a library were opened.
The province got its name during the reign of the Mongol Yuan dynasty. For a long time, Hainan was an important point on the Silk Road. Chinese colonization only intensified in the 16th and 17th centuries. The indigenous tribes were gradually pushed back to the southern part of the province.
During World War II, the province was under Japanese occupation. During this period, most of the male population of the island perished in the struggle for liberation. When the PRC appeared, Hainan resisted the new government for a long time. Many partisan detachments operated on the island. Only in 1988 did it become a separate province. Now Hainan has become one of the most comfortable and popular resorts in the world.
Flag
Since this province is part of the PRC (communist country), its flag is red with yellow stars. Red is the color of communism, and the star symbolizes the leadership of the communist party.
Climate and weather in Hainan
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The island has a subequatorial climate, but conditions will vary slightly in different parts of the island. In the south, it is almost always hot, but not stuffy, as, for example, in Vietnam. In the north, it is somewhat cooler.
Weather conditions depend on the dominant winds - monsoons. The average water temperature in winter drops to 23-24 ºС, and rises to 29 ºС in summer. It is summer all year round on the island, so there the division is not according to the seasons, but according to the rains and the influence of the winds:
- the dry season lasts from December to March. The thermometer mark drops to 17-20 ºС. Insignificant amount of precipitation falls;
- The rainy season is most pronounced in the highlands and lasts the longest in the southeastern part of the island. Most of the rain falls between August and October. The hottest months are June and July. On average, the temperature rises to 26-30 ºС.
The peak influx of tourists is in March-April. Not so hot weather, almost complete absence of precipitation - this is the most favorable time for a trip.
Important!In the rainy season, it is worth going to those who want to relax on a budget. The cost of housing at this time of the year is much lower.
Transport
The transport infrastructure in Hainan is well developed, this applies to both intracity and intercity communication. Taxis are always found in large numbers near tourist spots. The entire trip takes place only by the meter, and private cabbies are prohibited from taking a fare.
Note!Those who want to plunge into an authentic atmosphere should use a cycle rickshaw. This type of transport is designed for tourists. The cost of the trip will be higher than by taxi, but you can bargain with the rickshaw.
There is also a high-speed railway on the island for intercity connections. There are two bus routes in Sanya and minibuses run between the most visited places by tourists.
Tourists can rent a car, but this will require a special driver's license. Foreigners are issued it for a month. It will be cheaper if you send a rental request in advance to local agencies on the island. Tourists can also take a cable car ride to get to Monkey Island.
Areas
The most visited among tourists is Sanya Island, China. But the administrative center is Haikou. This province includes not only Hainan, but also other islands.
The culture
The cultural life of Hainan Island in China combines the traditions of various tribes inhabiting this territory. The province has preserved old streets in Haikou, Danzhou and other cities.Colorful theater festivals are held in Hainan, and you can get to know more about the life of the indigenous population in ethnographic settlements.
What to see
There are many interesting places in Hainan that are worth visiting during a tour to this province:
- "End of the World" - a park located near the city of Sanya;
- Nanshan - the center of Buddhism in China;
- Dong Tian - Taoist temple complex;
- ethnographic villages.
Also on the island there are military complexes, the exact location of which is classified.
Where to go in Hainan
There are several museum complexes on the island. They feature unique expositions of rare items. Also in Hainan there are a large number of parks and garden complexes:
- Xinglong Botanical Garden;
- Yanoda Park;
- Dongshan Safari Park.
Many tourists love the Zhujiang Nantian Hot Springs - this is a true open-air spa complex. Mount Wuzhishan is the main natural attraction of the island. There are several hiking trails throughout the mountain.
Interesting places in Hainan
One of the most interesting places in this province is Monkey Island. The monkeys living in this protected area are accustomed to humans. Sometimes tourists are shown performances with their participation.
Important!You need to be careful with things, as monkeys can pull them out of their pockets.
A suitable place to explore the flora of Hainan Island is the Flying World Park, which is home to many tropical birds. It will be interesting to visit the Ma An volcano, which is not active.
Private guides in Hainan
Especially at the height of the tourist season, there are many private guides on the streets. At the same time, the cost of the excursion will not always be cheaper than that of the tour operator. Not all guides are fluent in Russian, so they may not tell all the interesting facts about the attraction.
The ideal option is to order the services of a professional accredited guide. Its cost will be higher, but the quality of the excursion will be at the highest level.
Things to do
The island is famous for its beach holidays. They are all well maintained and clean, suitable for swimming. Many of them have discos, and the coastline is full of restaurants, shops and bars. Yalongwan Beach is popular with divers.
Fans of outdoor activities will love the water parks, which have a large number of attractions for children and adults. Also on their territory there are cafes, shops and recreation areas.
For your information! The main holiday, which is accompanied by a colorful show, is the Chinese New Year. In Sanya, on March 3 lunar calendar, indigenous tribes host a coconut festival. A jazz festival is held on the island in April.
The festival "The Strongest Man in the World" is held in September. But the most interesting and unusual is the wedding festival, which is held in November. Most of them take place in December - food, coffee and flower festivals.
Sanya is home to the unique Qianzui Theater, which hosts a large-scale and colorful performance. The theater is located in the Romantic Park. Also in Haikou, you can listen to Chinese opera at the local theater.
Tea ceremony is a must on many sightseeing tours. After all, Fr. Hainan is home to elite teas.
Another tourist destination is wellness. In local clinics, visitors are offered acupuncture, massage, aromatic oil therapy.
Beaches and bays
Local beaches have everything you need for a comfortable stay. All of them are sandy with a gentle entrance to the water, so they are safe for swimming with children. Dadonghai Beach is suitable for surfing.
Purchases
Shopping lovers will be able to buy authentic goods here - products made of silk, pearls, sea shells, crystal, as well as tea and coffee. The province has shopping malls, department stores and supermarkets. There are also markets where you can buy fresh fruits and seafood.
Important!It is necessary to bargain on the market, because sellers often inflate prices.
The province has Tax Free. If you buy goods worth more than 800 yuan, but less than 5,000 yuan, 11% of the amount is returned to foreigners when flying through international airports. Tax Free applies to 21 categories of goods.
Connection
Most hotels, cafes have free Wi-Fi, and Seigner even has its own network, which is maintained by the local administration. To connect, you need a Chinese number, which will receive an activation key.
Safety
Here is a list of important phone numbers to call in Sanya:
- fire service - 119;
- police - 110;
- ambulance - 122;
- traffic police - 122.
Tourism in Hainan is at a high level. In travel companies you can find out how much a ticket to the island costs, because its price depends on the season. The average cost of the tour, including flight and hotel accommodation, will be 55,000 rubles. per person. It's inexpensive in terms of what entertainment and amenities are in store.
* Prices in the article are indicated for February 2021.
