Sandy white beaches, lush jungle and swaying palm trees—Hainan Island has them all in abundance, and Sanya (Sānyà, 三亚), on the southern coast, is the best place to base yourself for swimming, water sports and sun bathing. Stay at one of the new Sanya luxury hotels along the gorgeous coastline, find budget accommodation in town or hobnob with the backpacking set at one of a number of pleasant hostels (see Sanya hotels for more). Wherever you stay, however you won't be far from the water. You can join the crowds on the popular beaches of Yalong Bay, visit Buddhist temples or linger in tropical gardens and see rare Macaque monkeys on Nanwan Monkey Island.  If you're after a little privacy and a more pristine beach experience, hire a driver, ride a bicycle or take a taxi to one of the island's more remote spots. Today, what was qui... more >>

Tropical Haikou has atmosphere and easy-going charm to spare. Unlike Sanya, Hainan Island's tourist destination of choice, the provincial capital of Haikou remains something of a well-kept secret. Pleasant broad palm-lined streets, French colonial architecture, Tang and Song Dynasty monuments and memorials all make for an attractive backdrop to the everyday hustle and bustle of life in this port, with Han mainland immigrants mixing it up with Li and Miao ethnicities. Haikou's off-the-beaten-path allure is heightened by the fact that it's an excellent point of departure for explorations of the rest of Hainan. Head east toward Wenchang or southeast to Qionghai and continue down East Hainan's South China Sea beach-laced coastline toward Sanya. Travel south into the heart of the island and the highland peaks of Wuzhi Shan and Qi... more >>

A quirky beach town on Hainan's east coast where the Wenquan River flows into the South China Sea, Bo'ao takes its name from Ao, a mythological creature with the head of a dragon and body of a turtle. Legend has it Ao was subdued (bo) by the Bodhisattva Guanyin in the waters of the Wenquan estuary after raising hell when his father, the Dragon King, rejected his half-turtle bastard son.  And, as with many a myth, there's something about this tale of hybrid origins that has the ring of truth. The town lies between the river's fresh-water effluent and the ocean's salty surf, a combination that has created a unique and fertile ecosystem in which all sorts of auquatic life thrives. Bo'ao is also caught in Chinese boom-time opulence and development mania, though not to anything like the degree of five-star-riddled Sanya. As a result, visitors can, with just a few minutes... more >>