The history of Haikou originates from Han Dynasty. In 110B.C. (the first year of Western Han Dynasty), General Lu Bode of Fubo conquered Baiyue, and set two prefectures-Zhuya and Zhan'er-and 16 counties in Hainan. Haikou was under Zhuyadaimao County. In Tang Dynasty, Haikou became a port of Qiongzhou, and it was the transportation hub to the mainland. In Song Dynasty, in order to consolidate the frontier, Haikoupu was established, hence the name. In 1858 (the eighth year of Emperor Xianfeng), Haikou was opened up to be a trading port, the name was changed into Qiongzhou kou. After that, the consulates of various countries were set up here gradually. In the early days of the People's Republic of China, its name was changed to Haikou. It was liberated on 23, April 1950, and the People's Government was founded on June 1, the same year. After liberation, Haikou was a city under the jurisdiction of the provincial government of Guangdong, and was the capital of Hainan administrative. In March 1983, it was declared to be an open city. In 1988, it became the capital city of Hainan Province.
With no transition from winter to spring and its implied continuous drizzle, no autumn breeze to make dry dead leaves fall from the trees, no brilliant white snows, no bone-chilling wind or spring chill, Haikou instead has jade seas, blue skies, sunshine, sandy beaches and swaying coconut palms as its constant themes. A precious pearl set atop the crown of a treasure island, Haikou is truly the tourist holiday paradise of the South China Sea!
Benefiting from a superior geographical location and climatic conditions, Haikou is the capital city of the international tourism island of Hainan Province, as well as its political, economic, technological and cultural center. The city's charming seaside scenery, rich tropical culture, unique human landscape, complete facilities, hot springs that are increasingly famous both at home and abroad, self-drive tours, golf courses, convention and exhibition facilities all make Haikou the optimum destination for business travel!
Sunny Haikou - Entertainment Capital, Quality City
Haikou, also known as Coconut City, is the capital of Hainan Province, an international tourism island and China's largest special economic zone; it is also the province's political, economic, technological and cultural center as well as its transportation and communications hub. Haikou has a tropical marine climate with and annual average temperature of 23.8 . There is a long summer, no winter and a pleasant climate. The city has jurisdiction over four administrative districts, a land area of 2304 square kilometers and a coastline of 131 kilometers. At the end of 2008 the city's resident population stood at 1,835,000 people.
Haikou boasts numerous tourist resources such as group travel facilities, food, accommodation, tours, shopping, entertainment with six main elements, year-round spring-like climate, charming tropical seaside scenery, romantic coastal hot springs, perfect facilities for business conventions, abundant and unique tropical island golf courses, the famous film director Zhang Yimou's first extravaganza following the Olympics - a large-scale live-action performance called "Impression • Hainan Island,". In addition, people are also eager to experience the "one foot on the accelerator island tour, self-drive experience. Haikou with its richly endowed natural scenery and full-bodied sites of cultural interest is becoming South Chinas flagship resort for tourism, business conventions and exhibitions, golf, self-drive tours and coastal hot spring vacations where everywhere endorses the motto, "Sunny Haikou • Entertainment Capital • Quality City " with a graceful and romantic elegance.
"Jade waters reach for the distant sky, Hainan brims with spring", her bosom open to the four oceans and greeting the wind from eight directions, Haikou welcomes you!
Entertainment City
Haikou is a leisure city with a melodic beat and a colourful selection of night-time entertainment along with varied character rich cultural activities. There are bars and KTV rooms all across the city and the breathtaking national large-scale live action performance "Impression • Hainan Island". In addition, a concert hall full of cultural atmosphere, the Haikou Opera House, Fisherman's Wharf with its 24-hour city and other high-end entertainment facilities are all under construction. All of these add to the colour of this city of the South China Sea that never sleeps. Every year Haikou holds the round Hainan Island Cycle Race, the Haikou International Ironman Competition, the Haikou hot-air balloon festival and the Treasure Island Carnival, the annual Hainan Joy Festival, and the Madame Xian Cultural Festival. Together they write the words "Haikou for entertainment" in bold colourful letters at a single stroke!
Quality City
Haikou's goals are to lay bare the city's essential culture and enhance urban quality to forge China's most refined and most beautiful provincial capital. No matter whether it is the Haidian River's North Shore • Ten-mile Waterfront Leisure Promenade (which is part of the old city redevelopment), the construction of the high quality China Right Bank • Meili Sands, China's top ten historical and cultural streets the comprehensively renovated plazas of the Haikou Qilou Arcades or Jinshan Bay , Haikou Bay, Century Park, the Jiangdong Area, or the more than one hundred tourism and tourism real estate projects starting off on the west coast, the future will bring a famous historical and cultural Haikou city - a modern coastal city that reflects its quality, a city of tomorrow!