Haikou: the tropical beach of southern China

Capital of the tropical island of Hainan, Haikou blends ancient volcanic formations with a palm-lined seafront in colonial style.

Taxis and buses remain the most common way to get around.

The Old Street of Haikou, with its colonial facades built by overseas Chinese merchants at the turn of the twentieth century, blends European and Cantonese architectural styles.

A few minutes away, the Geological Park of Haikou Volcanic Crater, formed about one hundred thousand years ago, offers trails through extinct craters covered in tropical vegetation.

Heading towards the coast you reach Holiday Beach, among the most popular on the island for swimming and water sports.

As evening approaches, the temple of the Five Lords, dedicated to officials exiled during the Tang dynasty, closes the day in a historical and peaceful setting.

Hainan, the island on which Haikou sits, is often called the 'Hawaii of China' for its year-round tropical climate, and has been designated a free trade zone to attract international tourism and investment.

The Volcanic Crater Geological Park, formed by over forty now-extinct volcanic cones, represents a rare case of volcanic landscape converted into a tourist destination in China's tropical zone.