Haikou Travel Guide: Things to Do, Eating Tips and One-Day Itinerary

Welcome to to the gateway to paradise! Whether you’re looking for a tropical escape away from the skyscrapers of Shanghai or wanting a change up from historic cities like Beijing, Hainan is your answer. As the capital of Hainan Island, Haikou is a laid-back coastal city where the air is salty, the coconuts are fresh, and the pace of life slows down to a comfortable island crawl.

Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly alternative to Hawaii or a seasoned China traveller seeking something fresh, Haikou offers a unique blend of colonial charm and modern seaside vibes.

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How to get to Haikou

To get to Haikou, you can fly directly into Meilan International Airport (HAK) via Hainan Airlines. These flights are often significantly cheaper than flying into mainland hubs. Once you land, use a DiDi (ride-share) or the high-speed rail to reach the city centre in 30 minutes.

Fly into Haikou

Haikou Meilan International Airport (海口美兰国际机场) is the primary gateway to Hainan. Most travellers from will Australia find that flying directly into Haikou via Hainan Airlines is surprisingly affordable. Tickets on the budget carrier Hainan Airlines often cost significantly less than flights to mainland hubs like Guangzhou, Shanghai or Beijing.

The central part of Haikou is located about 20kms from the airport and only a half hour drive away. If you’re using a ride-sharing app like DiDi, be aware that drivers don’t pick up directly at the terminal doors. Follow the clearly marked signs to the dedicated “DiDi Parking Area” – it’s a bit of a trek with suitcases, but much cheaper than a standard taxi.

Take the high-speed train to Haikou

One the best things about Meilan airport is that it is literally right next to a high-speed train station! The station is called Meilan Station (美兰站) and the high-speed train loops right around the entire island including places like Wanning and Sanya. If you’re planning to head straight to the southern part of the island, Trip.com is the best place to browse high-speed trains. For more info on how to use high speed trains in China, see our detailed blog here.

Top Things to Do in Haikou

The best things to do in Haikou involve exploring the 19th-century architecture of Qilou Old Street, cycling the scenic coastal path along Haikou Bay, and visiting the futuristic Yundong Library. For a local experience, spend your evening eating grilled oysters and drinking fresh coconuts at the Haida Night Market.

Qilou Old Street (The Arcade Streets)

Qilou Old Street is Haikou’s historical heart, famous for its 19th-century “shophouse” architecture blending European and Asian styles. It is the best place in the city to find traditional snacks like crispy shrimp cakes and “egg coconuts” while exploring narrow alleys where local life remains largely unchanged by modern tourism.

Walking through Qilou felt like stepping into a Southeast Asian time capsule. The architecture is a mix of faded European shutters and ornate Chinese carvings, which felt more like Penang than the sleek skyscrapers of mainland China.

As we were wandering, we hit a massive line in front of us. Naturally, we didn’t want to miss out, so I immediately assigned Corry to the end of the line while I headed to the front for recon. It turned out to be the legendary deep-fried shrimp cakes (Xia Bing). They are piping hot, incredibly crunchy, and cost about 5 CNY (1 USD). The trial here is the heat, don’t be like me and burn your tongue because you’re too impatient to wait for the oil to cool!

At the Qilou Old Street, look for the stalls selling “Egg Coconuts.” They shave the shell until only the jelly-like flesh holds the water. It’s served in a plastic ball for 15 CNY (2 USD) and you just poke a straw through the top and sip!

Haikou Clock Tower

The Haikou Clock Tower is a prominent red-brick landmark built in 1928, situated along the Haidian River. While the tower itself is a quick photo stop, it serves as the primary navigation point for entering the arcade streets or starting the scenic cycling path along Haikou Bay.

To be honest, coming from a city like Melbourne with its grand Victorian architecture, we found the Clock Tower a bit “meh” as a standalone sight. However, it’s an essential landmark for your internal GPS. It’s a 10-minute walk from the Qilou Arcade and sits right at the mouth of the bay, making it the perfect spot to find a Meituan bike and start your ride toward the library.

Haikou Bay: The Best Way to See Haikou

The bayside bike path from the Clock Tower to the library is an awesome “must do” Haikou experience. For us, the beautifully paved trail felt a lot like cycling the St Kilda foreshore back home in Melbourne. It’s the perfect way to soak in the sea breeze while watching the city skyline transition from old-world charm to modern glass towers.

To join the locals, you’ll need to grab a yellow Meituan (美团, měi tuán) bike. The cost is incredibly cheap, usually around 3 CNY (0.4 USD) for an hour of riding. You’ll need to register via the Meituan app or a WeChat mini-program.

Despite having been in China so many times, this was our first time using the yellow Meituan bikes! Fear not, the registration process is fairly painless with a little patience and passport in hand. The app might say it takes one business day to verify your passport photo, but we found we could use the bikes almost immediately. Don’t let the “pending” screen deter you from trying to unlock a bike!

Haikou Yundong Library

The Yundong Library is a world-renowned, wormhole-shaped architectural marvel located on the Haikou Bay waterfront. Designed by MAD Architects, this “Cloudscape” serves as a public reading room and park, offering panoramic ocean views and a futuristic interior filled with thousands of books and tiered wooden seating.

The Yundong Library looks like something out of a sci-fi film with smooth white curves and circular cutouts that frame the sea. Inside, it’s a minimalist dream with quiet reading nooks and tiered seating that invites you to hide away from the humidity for an hour.

For Yundong Library, you must book in advance via their WeChat mini-program “Haikou Yundong Library” (海口云洞图书馆), or you’ll be stuck admiring the exterior.

To make the most of your trip, ensure you have your apps and tech sorted. Download WeChat and Alipay, and link your Australian bank card before you leave home. If this is your first time, check out our full China travel tech guide and how to guide on using the metro in China.

What to Eat in Haikou: Haida Night Market

Haikou’s food scene is defined by its night markets, with the Haida Night Market (海大南门夜市, hǎi dà nán mén yè shì) being the undisputed heavyweight champion. Arrive around 6:00 PM to beat the massive crowds and head straight for the grilled seafood stalls.

Our absolute favourite food at the night market was the grilled oysters. We ordered 10 oysters in the for 30 CNY (4 USD) and they grilled them on the spot for us. They were topped with so much minced garlic that it was almost a 1:1 ratio of toppings to oysters but they were INCREDIBLE. It’s no exaggeration that we literally spent the rest of our 3 weeks in Hainan reminiscing about these oysters cause they were so damn good!!

One-day Itinerary for Haikou: highlights

A perfect day in Haikou starts with a morning walk through Qilou Old Street for breakfast, followed by a scenic bike ride along the bay to the Yundong Library. In the afternoon, explore the Hainan Provincial Museum before ending the night with a massive seafood feast at the Haida Night Market.

Where to Stay in Haikou

For the best experience, stay near the Haikou Qilou Old Streets in the Longhua District (龙华区, lóng huá qū). This keeps you central to the historic sites and the best food hubs like Haida Night Market.

We stayed in this area and found it to be super central to everything all the places that we wanted to visit. Unfortunately our hotel looked great in pictures but reality didn’t quite match up, which is sometimes part of the experience of travelling through China.

That said, if we were to stay in Haikou again we’d pick the Totoro Spirit Hotel for a mid-range option, or the Creations Museum Hotel for something higher-end.

Best Time to Visit Haikou

The best time to visit Haikou is from November to April. During these months, the weather is mild and dry, with temperatures ranging from 18°C to 25°C. Avoid the summer months (May to September) if you dislike extreme humidity or the risk of typhoons.

Coming from Australia, we are used to the heat, but the Hainan humidity is a different beast entirely. We visited in late April and the “feels like” temperature was consistently over 35°C by midday. If you are sensitive to the sun, plan your outdoor activities (like the cycling path) for before 10 AM or after 4 PM to avoid the worst of the tropical burn.