A Belgium-sized island 450km from Hong Kong, Hainan may be off the beaten track for Kiwis, but it’s very popular with China’s domestic tourists. Here’s why …
1. So hot right now
On the same latitude as Honolulu, the winterless island of Hainan is known as “the Hawaii of China” – and it sure feels similar. As my tour group landed in the capital of Haikou, we were met with delicious heat and humidity, as well as fragrant leis.
The palm trees and lush jungle are a world away from the hustle, bustle, pollution and congestion of Beijing – this is China, but not as you know it! And then there are the gorgeous white-sand beaches, enjoyable year-round thanks to the annual 300 days of sunshine and average temperature of 25ºC. The most beautiful beach, Tianya Haijiao, known in ancient times as “the edge of the earth”, doesn’t allow swimming, but the scenic boulders carved with poetic calligraphy more than make up for it.
Boulder and the beautiful: There’s no swimming allowed, but Tianya Haijiao still rocks.
2 Luxury on a budget
The nightlife doesn’t really compare to Honolulu, but with the Kiwi dollar buying almost five Chinese yuan, Hainan is the place to go for five-star accommodation at three-star prices. The labyrinthine Park Hyatt Sanya has teepees and hammocks on its private beach, and bathtubs overlooking the ocean. Mission Hills Haikou boasts a water park and the world’s largest golf course, visited by stars such as Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant and Jessica Alba. Then there’s the family-friendly Sheraton Sanya Resort, which hosts a sunset seafood beach barbecue that’s not to be missed.
The heat is on, so hats, sunnies and short sleeves are a must. (Selfies optional!)
3 Glorious food!
Speaking of kaimoana, Hainan is known for its fresh seafood, tropical fruit and spices. Everywhere we went, we were presented with lazy Susans loaded with Wenchang chicken, Jiaji duck and other tasty local delicacies. But the best thing is to escape the overly air-conditioned dining rooms and do like the Hainanese do. Our favourite eating experience was at a seafood market in the southern city of Sanya, where we picked live fish from tanks (I opted for scallops and kina – no sad eyes!) and had them cooked for us at nearby stalls as we downed Tsingtao beer.
4 A touch of culture
Beyond the beaches, there’s not much in the way of must-see attractions – relaxing is the aim of the game – but you’d be mad not to catch a cultural performance. The Legend of Romance show at the Sanya Romance Park is a baffling but entertaining mix of acrobats, dancing cavemen, bloody warriors and writhing mermaids re-enacting the history of the island, but I much preferred the cultural displays at Binglanggu, a tourist park in the highlands that showcases Hainan’s ethnic minorities. Love songs, fire dancing and a cute cast of ducks, geese, goats and water buffalo make for a lively, hilarious and memorable experience. I also enjoyed the park’s zipline ride and the nearby hot springs.
While the food can be prickly, the reception at Sanya’s seafood market is anything but.
5 Stop right now
There are no direct flights from New Zealand to Hainan, so it’s the perfect excuse for a city stopover in Shanghai or Guangzhou. I had a day in Hong Kong, where I skipped the shopping and fine dining for a sweaty hike up Victoria Peak to access sweeping views of the metropolis, then caught the Star Ferry across to Kowloon for a cheap-as-chips harbour cruise.
.jpg)