Haikou is the capital of Hainan, the tropical island province at China's southern tip, facing the mainland across the narrow Qiongzhou Strait. It is a laid-back port city of palm-lined boulevards, colonial-era arcades and volcanic countryside, and it is the natural starting point for touring the island. Many Malaysian Chinese families trace their roots to Hainan, so for some visitors flights to Haikou are as much about heritage as holidays. This guide covers the airport, the seasons, the sights and the food that make the city worth a trip.

About Haikou Meilan International Airport

Location

Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK) lies in Meilan District, south-east of the city centre, among farmland and new development on the road towards Wenchang. It is one of Hainan's two major airports; the other serves Sanya on the island's southern coast. For the capital, the north coast and the Wenchang area, Meilan is the airport to book.

Terminals

Meilan has grown quickly in recent years and now operates more than one passenger terminal, with separate areas for domestic and international departures. The layout can change as expansion continues, so check the terminal shown on your e-ticket and look for signs on arrival. Allow extra time for international check-in and immigration on busy holiday dates.

Getting from Meilan Airport to Haikou

The airport has its own station on the Hainan Eastern Ring high-speed railway, so you can ride a train to Haikou East station in the city or head the other way along the east coast towards Qionghai, Wanning and Sanya. Airport buses serve central districts, and metered taxis and ride-hailing cars are available outside arrivals. A taxi is often the easiest choice if your accommodation is near the seafront in Xiuying or Longhua.

Direct and connecting flights to Haikou

Air links between Malaysia and Hainan vary by season. Nonstop services from Kuala Lumpur and some Malaysian regional cities appear at times, while at other times the usual route is via a hub in southern China such as Guangzhou or Shenzhen, or via Hong Kong. Travellers searching from Miri, Sibu or Kuantan will typically need to connect first. On Traveloka, switch on the direct-flight filter to see whether a nonstop option is flying on your dates, then compare the layover length on connecting itineraries.

If you plan to see more of the island, one approach is to fly into Haikou and travel south by high-speed train to Sanya, flying home from there. Book each leg carefully so your dates and baggage allowances match your plans.

When to fly to Haikou

Haikou has a tropical monsoon climate. The months from late autumn to early spring are the most comfortable, with warm days and lower humidity, and this is when many travellers from northern China come south to escape the cold. Summer is hot and wet, with heavy downpours, and the typhoon season can bring strong storms from summer into autumn that disrupt flights and ferries. Winter evenings can feel surprisingly cool by the sea, so pack a light layer.

From Malaysia, demand usually peaks during school holidays and around Chinese New Year, when family visits to ancestral villages and reunion trips combine with China's own Spring Festival rush. Hari Raya and Deepavali long weekends also see extra interest. The fare-by-month chart on this page shows how prices tend to move, and a Price Alert helps you catch changes without checking every day.

Popular places to visit in Haikou

Qilou Old Street

Haikou's historic heart is lined with arcaded shophouses whose carved facades blend southern Chinese, Southeast Asian and European styles, a legacy of the merchants and returning emigrants who built them. Many Malaysian visitors find the look strikingly familiar from Penang and Melaka.

Haikou Volcanic Cluster Geopark

South-west of the city, a landscape of extinct volcanoes and lava tunnels is now a protected geopark. You can climb to the rim of Maanling crater, walk through tropical forest and see the old villages built from dark volcanic stone.

Five Officials Temple

Known locally as Wugong Ci, this peaceful complex honours five officials exiled to Hainan in imperial times, and a shrine to the poet Su Dongpo stands in the same grounds. Its courtyards, halls and gardens give a sense of how remote the island once seemed from the imperial court.

Holiday Beach and the seafront

A long stretch of sand west of the centre, Holiday Beach is popular with locals for evening walks, kite flying and seafood. The coastal road running past it makes a scenic ride, especially near sunset.

Dongzhai Harbour mangroves

East of the city, this nature reserve protects one of China's largest mangrove forests. Boat trips and boardwalks let you spot wading birds, and the fishing villages around the bay are known for fresh seafood.

Where to stay in Haikou

Longhua District is Haikou's commercial centre, with malls, restaurants and easy access to both the old town and the seafront. Xiuying District, to the west, sits beside Holiday Beach and the ferry port, and suits travellers who want sea air or plan to cross to the mainland. Meilan District, closer to the airport, includes Haidian Island with its riverside parks and newer apartment towers. Families who prefer resort-style stays with pools often look along the western coast road.

Food to try in Haikou

Wenchang chicken

The poached chicken that inspired Hainanese chicken rice across Southeast Asia comes from nearby Wenchang. Served with ginger, lime and a savoury dip, it tastes lighter and more delicate than many versions back home.

Hainan rice noodles

Thin rice noodles tossed with peanuts, beef or pork, pickles and a thick savoury gravy are a breakfast favourite at local eateries across Haikou.

Qingbuliang

A cooling dessert soup of coconut milk with beans, sago, fruit and jellies, perfect after a hot day exploring the old town.

Coconut rice

Glutinous rice steamed inside a coconut shell absorbs its sweet, fragrant flesh. It is sold at markets and seafront stalls around the city. Look for it wrapped in coconut leaf at morning markets too.

Halal restaurants are fewer in Haikou than in Malaysia, so Muslim travellers may want to note a few options before arriving. When you are ready, compare direct and connecting flights to Haikou on Traveloka and keep an eye on the Price Alert for your dates.