Haikou, China

Haikou is a pleasant modern city with a few historical and cultural sights of interest and enough to see and do to hold you for a few days before heading off to the beaches or inland to Hainan's villages. Arguably the most pleasant way to see this city is simply to spend some time wandering and exploring what remains of the back alleys and old streets. Renovation and demolition are under way here and the remaining Colonial Style Buildings are worth catching while you still can. These areas are bursting with atmosphere and are great places to do some people watching! The best thing about the sights here is their intriguing history and the tales that accompany their existence. The Wugong Temple and Hai Ru's Tomb are both testament to the fascinating (and often radical) history prevalent on this little island.
Outside the city center, there are a few pleasant day trips providing a break from the intense heat in the city during the summer months. Holiday Beach is clean with good facilities and the Red Forest Reserve in Qiongshan county, makes another pleasant day trip from Haikou. All in all however, there isn't really much to keep travelers here for more than a couple of days and, once you have gathered your thoughts, baggage and got yourself accustomed to the relaxed atmosphere prevalent here, you'll be ready to move on.