Getting Your Bearings in Xiuying
Xiuying is a coastal district of Haikou, the capital of Hainan Island in southern China. It is known for Xiuying Port, its seaside promenades, seafood markets, and the Qing-era Xiuying Fort, a nineteenth-century coastal battery. Most of the visitor infrastructure — shops, supermarkets, pharmacies, and transport connections — is concentrated near Xiuying Port and along Binhai Avenue, so this is a sensible area to base yourself and to use as your mental anchor when planning journeys.
How Visitors Get Around
Haikou's public transport network covers Xiuying well, and a visitor can comfortably rely on a combination of buses, taxis or ride-hailing, the high-speed intercity railway for longer trips, and shared bikes for short hops. Walking works nicely along the waterfront but is less comfortable away from it.
Rail: The Intercity Network
Haikou East Railway Station is the main high-speed hub, serving the Hainan Eastern Ring Intercity Railway with frequent departures. This is the best option for travel between major Hainan towns — for example, the run down to Sanya on the island's south coast. Haikou Railway Station handles some conventional and local trains instead.
- Buy tickets at the station or through official apps and WeChat.
- Allow extra time for security checks before departure.
- For a visitor staying in Xiuying, reaching Haikou East is the key connection point for onward island travel.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Public buses are the workhorse of local movement. They offer extensive coverage of Haikou, including Xiuying, with frequent service along Binhai Avenue and near Xiuying Port. Fares are inexpensive, but buses can be slow at peak hours.
- Route information is posted at major stops and available through local apps.
- Drivers generally don't speak English, so show Chinese place names in writing to communicate your destination.
- Long-distance buses depart from Haikou Long-distance Bus Station for destinations beyond the city; intercity fares vary with distance.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis and the ride-hailing app Didi both work well in Haikou and are a convenient option for reaching specific addresses in Xiuying. Didi is widely used and generally straightforward for visitors with a Chinese payment app set up.
- Flag fall is modest, and most city trips fall in a low-to-moderate fare band.
- Expect higher fares from the airport and during peak periods or public holidays.
- Have your destination written in Chinese to show the driver.
Bike-Share and E-Bikes
Dockless shared bikes and e-bikes are common and are a genuinely useful way to cover short distances, especially along the waterfront. They are unlocked through Chinese bike apps and QR codes.
- Rates are low and charged in short time blocks.
- Ideal for seaside promenade riding and quick errands between nearby points.
- You'll need a Chinese mobile payment app to use them.
Walkability
Walking is comfortable along the seaside promenades, which are one of Xiuying's main pleasures. Away from the waterfront, be prepared: sidewalks on village streets can be uneven, so watch your footing and wear sensible shoes.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK) is the main gateway to the region. Two practical options connect it to central Haikou and Xiuying:
- Airport shuttle buses — these run to Haikou city centre and to Haikou East Railway Station. They are the budget option and take roughly half an hour to three-quarters of an hour to reach central Haikou.
- Taxi or Didi — faster and door-to-door, with a journey of roughly half an hour to forty minutes to central Xiuying or Haikou. Fares are higher than the shuttle but reasonable for the convenience, and rise further at peak times and holidays.
If your next move is onward across Hainan, the airport shuttle's stop at Haikou East Railway Station lets you connect directly to the high-speed intercity rail network.
Practical Tips for Visitors
- Learn a few basic Mandarin or Hainanese phrases, and keep place names written in Chinese for drivers.
- Mobile coverage is reliable, and supermarkets and pharmacies are easy to find near Xiuying Port and Binhai Avenue.
- The best travel season is November to April, when conditions are drier and less humid with fewer typhoons. May to October brings monsoon and typhoon season, with heavy rain and possible flight delays.
- The climate is tropical monsoon, generally warm year-round, with the heaviest rainfall in August.
- Budget roughly US$30–60 per day for a comfortable visit in the Haikou area.