Haikou is the capital of Hainan which is an island province of China in the China South Sea. It doesn’t have much places of interest in the city itself but the nearby volcano parks and lava towns, the coconut plantations and mangroves make it a great place to stay 3 nights if you’re visiting the island.

Wugong Temple of the Five Lords in Haikou

First one must understand that during the Tang and Song dynasties (7th-13th century) Hainan was an island where people were send for exile. The Wugong Temple is dedicated to five (as the name says) officials that got exiled to Hainan. The complex is large and it took an hour to explore it. At the other hand, it’s a nice temple to visit in Haikou. The five officials are Li Deyu, Li Gang, Li Guang, Zhao Ding and Hu Quan. Each of them has a stone plaque, ancestral hall, and statue in the temple. 

Tomb of Hai Rui in Haikou

Hai Rui was an official during the Ming Dynasty in China (14th-17th century) and honored in Haikou for his honesty and criticism. He always took care the court and other officials would follow the rules and if not, he would go to the emperor to complain. His integrity could have caused an early death as it wasn’t without risk but Hai Rui lived long. When he died still serving the people they all grieved and that’s why a huge tomb was built for him. It’s interesting to learn about one of the more honest officials in China at that time. A visit takes about an hour and the entrance is free.

Xiuying Battery

The Xiuying Battery was built in 1891 facing the Qiongzhou Straight protecting Haikou against intruders. Except the five-original canon’s which got damaged and replaced by replicas everything else is in original state. There are bunkers, underground passage ways, a command room, ammunition storage rooms and the replica canons to explore. 

Xinhua North Street

Here you can walk around and see some of the old colonial buildings before lots of street vendors setup their food stands in this area. Shopping is cheap and you might want to pick-up items you need here. It’s also the place to go for dinner in the evening with lots of restaurants but even more street food available.