Xiuying

Introduction

Xiuying is a district of Haikou City on the island province of Hainan. It is one of the districts that make up the city, so your visit here is part of a wider Haikou trip rather than a separate destination.

Getting around

Haikou's public transport network covers Xiuying well, so you can rely on a mix of buses, taxis or ride-hailing, the high-speed intercity railway for longer trips, and shared bikes for short hops. Public buses are the workhorse of local movement, with frequent service along Binhai Avenue and near Xiuying Port; fares are inexpensive, though buses slow down at peak hours. Route information is posted at major stops and available through local apps, and since drivers generally don't speak English, show your destination written in Chinese. Taxis and the ride-hailing app Didi both work well for reaching specific addresses, with Didi straightforward if you have a Chinese payment app set up; flag fall is modest and most city trips fall in a low-to-moderate fare band, though expect higher fares from the airport and during peak periods or public holidays. Dockless shared bikes and e-bikes are common and genuinely useful for short distances, especially along the waterfront — unlock them through Chinese bike apps and QR codes, charged in short time blocks.

Walking is comfortable along the seaside promenades, one of Xiuying's main pleasures, but away from the waterfront sidewalks on village streets can be uneven, so watch your footing and wear sensible shoes. For onward island travel, Haikou East Railway Station is the main high-speed hub, serving the Hainan Eastern Ring Intercity Railway with frequent departures — the best option for trips between major Hainan towns, such as the run down to Sanya. Haikou Railway Station handles some conventional and local trains instead. Buy tickets at the station or through official apps and WeChat, and allow extra time for security checks. From Haikou Meilan International Airport, airport shuttle buses run to Haikou city centre and to Haikou East Railway Station, taking roughly half an hour to three-quarters of an hour to central Haikou; a taxi or Didi is faster and door-to-door, around half an hour to forty minutes to central Xiuying or Haikou, with fares rising at peak times and holidays. If your next move is across Hainan, the shuttle's stop at Haikou East lets you connect directly to the intercity rail network.

Three days in Xiuying

Day one: Base yourself in Xiuying, the western district of Haikou City on Hainan. Start along Binhai Avenue, the coastal road that gives the area its shape, and get your bearings on foot. Xiuying Port is the district's anchor, and the streets around it are where you'll feel the everyday rhythm of the place. For getting around, taxis and Didi both work, and dockless bikes are easy to pick up with a QR scan. Walking is often the simplest way to link one stretch of the waterfront to the next.

Day two: Use Xiuying as your launch point for the wider city. Haikou East Railway Station connects to the Hainan Eastern Ring Intercity Railway, which runs down the island to Sanya, while Haikou Railway Station serves other routes. If you're arriving or leaving by air, Haikou Meilan International Airport is the city's gateway. Public signage and announcements often appear in both Chinese and English, though outside the main hubs you'll rely more on Chinese. Buy what you need through WeChat, which covers most payments.

Day three: Slow down and stay local. Return to the Xiuying waterfront and let the day unfold without a fixed route. The district rewards wandering rather than ticking off sights, and its position on Haikou's western edge keeps it quieter than the centre. Keep the railway and airport connections in mind for your onward travel, and leave time to simply sit with the sea in front of you.