Getting Around Haikou
Haikou sits on the northern coast of Hainan Island, at the mouth of the Nandu River, and the city is almost completely flat and only a few metres above sea level. That flatness, plus a compact and well-connected core, makes it a fairly easy city to navigate. Visitors generally rely on a handful of options: taxis, buses, the rail and metro-style services, and their own two feet. The city's northern district of Haidian Island is separated from the main part of Haikou by the Haidian River, but it is linked to the mainland by four bridges, the largest being Haikou Century Bridge, with the Renmin, Heping and Xinbu bridges providing the remaining road connections from east to west.
Rail, Metro and Tram
Haikou is a stop on Hainan's high-speed railway, which loops around the island and connects the major towns on both the east and west coasts. For a visitor, this is the most useful rail service: it links Haikou with Sanya and with intermediate stops such as Wenchang, Qionghai, Bo'ao, Wanning, Lingshui, Ledong, Dongfang, Baimajing, Lingao, Fushan and Laocheng. The trains also serve the airports in both Haikou and Sanya, so you can move between city and airport by rail as well as by road.
Haikou has three major railway stations, including one at the airport, plus several minor stations served only by suburban trains. The two you are most likely to use are:
- Haikou East Railway Station — centrally located in Longhua District and directly opposite the city's main long-distance bus station. Because of its central position, it tends to be the more popular choice for passengers travelling on Hainan's high-speed line.
- Haikou Railway Station — out in the far western suburbs, close to the border with Chengmai County. This is the main station for trains arriving from the mainland, and it is also connected to the island's high-speed railway line. If you are arriving from the mainland by train, you must change trains here to continue on the high-speed line.
Trains from the mainland are loaded onto ferries to cross the Qiongzhou Strait, so the rail link to Guangdong and beyond uses regular-speed services rather than high-speed ones. The nearest high-speed station on the mainland side is in Zhanjiang, from which you can continue to Haikou by train or bus.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Buses are the cheapest way to get around Haikou, but they reward a little preparation: you need to know the routes to use them well. Local bus routes fan out across the city and connect the main transport hubs, including the railway stations, the long-distance bus stations and the ferry terminals. If you are arriving at the airport and want to take a bus, a practical trick is to show the address of your hotel to the attendant, who will point you to the bus that gets you closest.
For longer journeys, Haikou has three main long-distance bus stations, each oriented toward a different part of the island:
- Haikou Bus Terminal — across the road from the south side of Haikou East Railway Station. Mainly serves destinations in the island's interior such as Ding'an, Tunchang, Qiongzhong, Wuzhishan and Baoting, with limited services to parts of eastern and western Hainan and to Zhanjiang in Guangdong.
- Haikou East Bus Station — on Haifu Road in Qiongshan District, serving cities and counties in eastern Hainan including Wenchang, Qionghai, Lingshui and Wanning.
- Haikou West Bus Station — on Haixiu West Road in Xiuying District, serving western Hainan including Chengmai, Lingao, Danzhou, Baisha, Dongfang, Changjiang and Ledong. This is also the main station for interprovincial services, hence its alternative name, the Interprovincial Bus Terminal.
Bus stations can also be found at the airport and at the two ferry terminals. Ferries are another form of public transport worth knowing about: there are frequent daily sailings between Haikou and Xuwen on the mainland, and daily ferries to Beihai and Fangchenggang in Guangxi. Note that ferries are commonly cancelled in bad weather — summer storms and typhoons, or winter fog — and that when services resume after a major holiday such as the Spring Festival, queues outside the terminals can be enormous.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are the most expensive of the main options but also the most straightforward, and they can be hailed easily just about anywhere in the city. The meter starts at ¥10, though it is customary to agree a price before getting in, and a typical fare for a shorter trip is around ¥15. A taxi from the airport to the city centre takes about half an hour.
One caution applies at the airport: on arrival you will likely be approached by drivers shouting "taxi" at you. These are illegal taxis, and you risk at least paying extra by taking one. Instead, walk out of the terminal building, where you will find a line of licensed taxis. Before setting off, insist that the driver uses the meter (dabiao) even if they are reluctant. A metered fare to the city centre should run about ¥50–60.
Walkability
Haikou's flat terrain and its network of upgraded sidewalks make walking a genuinely practical option, at least in the central areas. The city has invested heavily in pedestrian infrastructure: many sidewalks have been repaved or relaid with new brick, and many new street crossings with traffic lights have been installed to improve conditions for pedestrians and for the electric motorbikes that are ubiquitous here.
Two things are worth knowing before you set out on foot. First, sidewalks in Haikou are legally designated as one-way routes for two-wheel vehicles, so expect motorbikes to be using the pavement alongside you; police are stationed at major intersections to keep them in line, stopping those going the wrong way or running red lights. Second, brick is the standard sidewalk material precisely because of the city's many ficus trees, whose roots deform the surrounding paving — so watch your step on older stretches.
Walking is also the best way to explore the historic Qilou Old Street area, whose arcaded buildings blend Southern Chinese and colonial styles and reflect Haikou's history as a treaty port. The old town retains a small portion of the city's oldest buildings, put up by returnees from overseas and mixing Portuguese, French and Southeast Asian influences.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK) is located in Lingshan Town, Meilan District. It has two terminals: Terminal 1 serves only domestic flights, while Terminal 2 handles both domestic and international flights. A free shuttle bus connects the two terminals, so if you land at the wrong one for your onward connection, you can move between them at no cost.
From the airport you have several ways into the city:
- Taxi — the simplest option, taking roughly half an hour to the city centre. Use the licensed taxi rank outside the terminal rather than accepting offers from drivers inside, and insist on the meter; expect to pay about ¥50–60.
- Airport shuttle bus — costs ¥15 per person and runs from the airport to the Home Inn (formerly the Civil Aviation Hotel) on Haixiu Avenue in downtown Haikou.
- Public bus — very inexpensive, but you need to know the routes. If you take this option, show your hotel address to the attendant, who will direct you to the bus that gets you closest.
- Rail — the airport has its own railway station on Hainan's high-speed line, so you can also reach the city by train.
Whichever option you choose, the airport is also a transport hub in its own right, with bus services and connections onward to other parts of the island.