The pedestrianised streets around Zhongshan Lu are a looking glass into Haikou’s French colonial past, with cobblestone blocks of porticoed row houses – some restored, some charmingly decayed. Though still a work in progress, ‘Old Town’ has some cute cafes, bookshops, and markets hawking handicrafts and spices, while down the smaller side streets you can still see active scenes of local life.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
11.78 MILES
Photogenic Mei She was built out of the rough grey volcanic stone so prevalent in this part of Hainan. Wander the quiet back alleys and gawp at the castle…
Haikou Volcanic Cluster Geopark
9.3 MILES
While this geopark encompasses about 108 sq km of rural countryside, the main attraction here is a corny tourist park surrounding a (genuinely cool)…
Five Officials Memorial Temple
2.66 MILES
Hainan wasn't always a desirable holiday destination. In earlier times it was considered a remote part of the Chinese empire and used as a place of…
2.65 MILES
This modern colossus of a building should be your first stop when you arrive in Hainan. The displays on ethnic minorities, as well as Hainan’s 20th…
Nearby Hainan attractions
2.65 MILES
This modern colossus of a building should be your first stop when you arrive in Hainan. The displays on ethnic minorities, as well as Hainan’s 20th…
2. Five Officials Memorial Temple
2.66 MILES
Hainan wasn't always a desirable holiday destination. In earlier times it was considered a remote part of the Chinese empire and used as a place of…
3. Haikou Volcanic Cluster Geopark
9.3 MILES
While this geopark encompasses about 108 sq km of rural countryside, the main attraction here is a corny tourist park surrounding a (genuinely cool)…
11.78 MILES
Photogenic Mei She was built out of the rough grey volcanic stone so prevalent in this part of Hainan. Wander the quiet back alleys and gawp at the castle…