Things to Do in Hainan, China (2026)

🏆 #1 must-do: Relax on Sanya's beaches
🏄 Most underrated: Learn to surf on the east coast
🌿 Best for nature: Tropical rainforest inland
👨‍👩‍👧 Best for families: Atlantis waterpark, Sanya
🏛️ Best for culture: Haikou's old town + Li villages inland
⚠️ Good to know: Sea swimming is restricted in some areas — check the signs

We have not yet visited Hainan on a family trip, mostly because we thought of it as a beach holiday destination. But both me and my husband were lucky enough to explore Hainan on two separate trips organised by Chinese tourist office, and realised that Hainan is much more than the beaches

Yes, Sanya's bays are the reason you think of going, but the same island has tropical rainforest, a growing surf scene, newly build museums, modern medical centre, the thousand-year-old culture of the Li people, a fast-changing capital in Haikou and even a working space launch site. With a high-speed rail line looping the whole island, you can combine several of these in one trip.

One honest note before we start: Hainan is developed mainly for domestic tourists, so a lot of attractions come with heavy infrastructure and organised "things to do." Some are genuinely good; some might not be exactly what a European tourist expects, so I just recommend doing your due diligence and figure out for yourself what you actually want to do.

In This Guide

Sanya's beaches and bays

Sanya, on the south coast, is what initially put Hainan, dubbed as Hawaii of China, on the map. Its bays — Yalong Bay, Haitang Bay, Dadonghai and Sanya Bay — have long stretches of white sand, warm water and plenty of water sports.

One thing to know: swimming in the sea is often restricted, with signs on many beaches saying it isn't allowed. The beaches are still lovely for walking, sitting and water sports, and resort pools fill the gap.

Best Hotels in Sanya 2026: Where to Stay for Every Budget

Your guide to Sanya‘s bays and best hotels for every budget.

Baba goes China!Magda Sawyer

Atlantis Sanya and the Waterpark

In Haitang Bay, the Atlantis resort has a large waterpark with slides, a lazy river and an aquarium. It's a reliable family day out and a big draw for kids. Worth a visit (or a stay) if you're travelling with children.

🎟️ Book Atlantis tickets

Wuzhizhou Island

A small island off Sanya's coast known for clear water, snorkelling and water sports. There are few hotels and guesthouses on the island.

While mostly popular with water sport enthusiasts (which is why my husband was initially not thrilled about the stay), the island comes to life at night when the locals hang out, eat and dance. Take a walk in the evening to experience island life and snap some authentic photos.

Learn to Surf on the East Coast

This is the most underrated thing to do in Hainan. Wanning and the beaches around Riyue Bay have become China's surf scene, with patient instructors and gentle beginner waves. You can take your first lesson straight off the beach, or — to make learning even easier — at a resort with its own artificial waves, which is where my husband had his first lesson.

→ Learn to surf in Hainan

Tropical Rainforest Inland

Go inland and the island turns green and cool. Rainforest parks like Yanoda and Wuzhishan offer trails, waterfalls and ziplines.

These are a good example of Hainan's "developed" style — expect built-up paths, cable cars and crowds rather than wild trails — but they're an easy way to get into the forest, especially with kids.

There are some less developed places with only smaller guest houses, but hiking inland there requires more preparation.

Li and Miao Culture

The interior is the home of the Li people, who have lived on Hainan for over three thousand years, alongside the Miao. There are some of the last Li women who still carry the tattoos that once marked a family's line (now banned), and saw how they use a single tree both to make poison for hunting arrows and naturally antibacterial bark cloth. Cultural parks like Binglanggu (Betel Nut Valley) showcase Li and Miao traditions, though, like much of Hainan, in a polished, set-up way.

Haikou's Old Town and nights

Haikou, the capital in the north, is quieter than Sanya and easy to overlook, which is a mistake. The Qilou (Arcade) Old Street has rows of early-20th-century shophouses, and the city comes alive at night: families in the old town, friends at the riverside bars, and groups of locals dancing by the clock tower. Don't miss the Hainan Museum, the striking Yundong Library on the coast (need to book tickets in advance if you want to go inside!), and the night markets for grilled seafood.

Haikou is my personal favourite, because there you no longer feel like in a resort, and you can just slowly explore the city (the thing we like to do most!)

Watch a Rocket Launch at Wenchang

On the northeast coast, Wenchang has a working space launch site. If your trip lines up with a launch, you can watch from a hotel with a view, a nearby beach or the official viewing platform. Launches are scheduled and infrequent, so treat it as a lucky bonus rather than something to plan a trip around — but few beach destinations let you watch a rocket go up at all.

The Maritime Silk Road

Hainan was once a stop on the ancient maritime Silk Road. We followed that history through interactive exhibitions built around cargo only recently recovered from the seabed — the real goods that travelled the route, and the story of how they moved. A good rainy-day option and great for curious kids.

The Museum of South China Sea might not sound exciting, but it is! Not only the architecture of the building is once again spectacular, but the exhibition of items recovered from the sea is truly stunning.

Duty-Free Shopping

Hainan is China's duty-free hub, and the tax-free shopping malls in and around Sanya are huge. If luxury shopping is your thing, this is the place; if it isn't, it's easy to skip.

CDF Sanya International Duty Free City is an enormous shopping mall, so if you have some time and money to spare, head there to buy some electronics or shop premium clothing brands.

I personally enjoyed an %Arabica Coffee, that is our favourite coffee in China (even though it is a Japanese chain).

Eat Your Way Around the Island

Hainanese food is light, tropical and seafood-heavy. Try Wenchang chicken (the original Hainanese chicken), fresh grilled seafood at the night markets, and Qingbuliang, a cold coconut-milk dessert you'll want every day. Coconut turns up in everything, from drinks to chicken.

What You Can Skip

Being honest, not everything is worth your time. Some of the heavily built-up "scenic areas" and staged performances feel more like theme parks than the real thing, and a few attractions are pure tourist traps. If your time is short, prioritise the beaches, the surf coast, Haikou's old town and a genuine bit of nature or Li culture inland, and don't feel bad about skipping the rest.

Best Things to Do in Hainan with Kids

For families, the easy wins are Sanya's beaches and the Atlantis waterpark, the rainforest parks with their ziplines, a gentle surf lesson, and Haikou's parks and night markets. The train makes it simple to combine a few without long drives.

How Long You Need

Five to seven days lets you do the highlights without rushing: the beaches, the surf coast, a day inland and Haikou. → Hainan itinerary | Hainan travel guide

FAQs

What is Hainan best known for?
Sanya's tropical beaches and resorts, which earned it the nickname "the Hawaii of China." Beyond the beaches, it's known for tropical rainforest, surfing, Li culture, duty-free shopping and the Wenchang space launch site.

What are the best things to do in Hainan with kids?
Sanya's beaches and the Atlantis waterpark, the rainforest parks with ziplines and trails, gentle surf lessons, and Haikou's parks and night markets. The high-speed train makes combining them with children easy.

How many days do you need to see Hainan?
Five to seven days for the highlights. Three days covers Sanya's beaches; a week lets you add Haikou, the surf coast and a day inland, moving by train in under three hours.

Can you swim at the beaches in Hainan?
Not always. Many resorts and public beaches, including in Haikou, post signs saying sea swimming isn't allowed. The beaches are beautiful for walking and relaxing, and resorts have pools, but open-water swimming is often restricted.

Where to Go Next

• 🧭 Hainan Travel Guide — when to go, how to get around, where to stay and what to expect.
• 🏨 Where to Stay in Sanya — tested hotels for every bay and budget.
• 🏄 Learn to Surf in Hainan

Plan Your Hainan Trip

🏨 Find hotels in Hainan
✈️ Compare flights
🚄 Book high-speed trains
🎟️ Browse tours & activities

Got a question about what to do in Hainan? Drop a comment below — we're happy to help.

Last updated: June 2026