With its origin as early as the Han Dynasty the City of Haikou is over 900 years old. It is also known as the “Coconut City” and is now the center of Hainan’s politics, economy, science, culture and transportation. Haikou’s Old town is a mixture of houses in European and Southeast Asian styles. The streets used to be divided into different areas, selling Chinese and western medicines, silk and clothing, fresh fish and meat.
If you are interested in shopping, you may visit Qilou Arcade Street, which is one of the ten historical cultural streets in China. If you are more into nature, try out the Golden Bull Mountain Ridge Park (Jinniuling Park), which includes a small zoo, a lake, diverse flora, and broad woodlands, including a large bamboo forest. Haikou exports substantial quantities of agricultural products. In 2005, the city launched the “Day of Haikou Industry”, in order to promote itself as an industrial site to potential companies.
