Climate and weather
Visa Policy
Payment for Goods and Services
Communication and Internet
Emergency Service Phone Numbers
Hotline Numbers
Hainan is the name of an island and a province in southeastern China. The province includes Hainan Island itself and several smaller nearby islands.
In Chinese, the island is written as 海南岛, pronounced "Hainandao".
The capital of the island is Haikou, located on the northern coast, with a population of about 3 million people (2020 census data).
At the southern tip of the island lies the resort city of Sanya, with a population of just over 1 million. However, during the winter season, there is a significant increase in population due to the large number of tourists arriving for vacations.
Other important cities include Dongfang, Danzhou, Qionghai, and Boao.
Time zone — UTC+8.
Hainan is located at the southernmost point of China and is surrounded by the South China Sea.
The island is separated from the mainland by a strait, with a ferry service in operation. The island's area is about 34,000 km².
The northern part of Hainan is mostly flat, while the central and southern parts are mountainous.
Hainan Island is a unique, tropical, and highly ecological zone with its own microclimate. It is often called the "Eastern Hawaii" because it lies at the same latitude as the famous Hawaiian Islands and shares similar climate and weather conditions.
The climate is sub-equatorial. The average annual air temperature on the island is +24°C, and the water temperature is +26°C. A mountain range in the middle of the island divides it into two climatic zones. The southern part, including Sanya, is slightly warmer, with less humidity in winter than in the northern city of Haikou.
According to statistics, Hainan enjoys sunny weather for more than 300 days a year.
In winter, the average temperature on the island is +22…23°C, with January being the coldest month, averaging +20°C during the day and around +14°C at night. However, such cold temperatures usually last only 1-2 weeks in January. The sea water temperature remains at around +25°C during this time.
Spring is a great time for tourists. In March and April, air temperatures rise to 25-28°C, and the sea becomes warm, like "fresh milk." By May, the summer heat starts, with air temperatures reaching 32-34°C.
Summer is consistently hot, with temperatures above 33°C. The water is very warm at +30°C. Despite the peak rainy season, the hot weather persists. The rainy season lasts from June to October, usually with brief tropical showers at night. Late summer and fall are the typhoon season, typically bringing cloudy weather, wind, and rain for a few days.
In autumn, the weather becomes pleasant again. The rains end in September, and by October, the air temperature reaches +28…+30°C.
Throughout the year, remember to use sunscreen to avoid burns. The sun is very intense here, and you can easily get sunburned, even on cloudy days.
Visa-free entry to the island is currently available for the following countries:
Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, UAE, Qatar, Monaco.
This policy applies to both individual tourists and tour groups.
You must arrive via a direct international flight from another country or from Hong Kong (not mainland China).
The maximum stay on the island is 30 days.
Your travel agency must submit information about your arrival.
Recommended travel agency:
Sanya Phoenix International Travel Service Co.
After arrival, you must register your place of stay at a police station within 24 hours (hotels do this for you).
You should not overstay the visa-free period. Violators may receive a warning, a fine, or even detention.
You cannot leave the island.
Payment for Goods and Services
In China, payment is often made using special QR code applications, so even cards are not accepted everywhere. Although it is rumored that these payment methods may soon be adapted for tourists, cash is always accepted. We recommend bringing cash in yuan for your purchases, dining, and other expenses.
Major stores and tourist areas accept UnionPay, VISA and MASTER Card.
There are no currency exchange offices on the island, and exchanges are done at banks. The process can be lengthy and requires knowledge of Chinese.
The best approach is to exchange yuan in your own country and bring cash with you.
Upon arrival, you can purchase a SIM card from a local mobile operator with your foreign passport. However, it's not necessary, as Wi-Fi is widely available in China.
Despite having very fast internet, extensive 5G coverage, and more than 2.64 million base stations across the country, the internet in China has many restrictions. Due to the "Golden Shield" project, many common websites and services are inaccessible (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber, Wikipedia, Google services, and more).
Some cities offer tourist SIM cards that do not allow calls but enable access to all familiar messaging apps. It is hoped these will soon be available in Hainan.
Meanwhile, you can bring an eSIM if your phone supports this type of SIM card or install a VPN on your phone. VPNs are prohibited in China, but tourists who need to notify family of their safe arrival are generally allowed some leniency.
Note that the "Golden Shield" is an advanced system that blocks all free VPNs.
Emergency Service Phone Numbers
Police: 110
Fire Department: 119
Ambulance: 120
Traffic Police: 122
Emergency assistance on highways: 12122
Hainan Expressway hotline: 0898-66711392 (24/7)
Hainan Provincial Emergency Management: 0898-65388812
Hainan Provincial Tourism Development Committee complaint hotline: 12301
Consumer Protection Hotline: 12315
Product Quality Control Hotline: 123655
Hotline for food, cosmetics, and household chemical quality control: 65388335
Hotline for commercial bribery cases: 65388375
Medical care quality hotline: 65388329